Chapter 57: The Darkness Awakens

The ground beneath the temple trembled as Luke, Ava, and Raven stared at the massive stone figure. Its eyes, hidden beneath the hood, seemed to flicker with a dark glow, as if acknowledging the power Luke had just tapped into. The air around them hummed with energy, thick and electric, making it hard to breathe.

Ava glanced at the door, where the creeping shadows outside seemed to swell, growing more aggressive with each passing second. "Luke, if you've got the spell, we need it now," she said, her voice tense but calm.

Luke felt the ancient magic thrumming inside him, like a second heartbeat. It was strong—stronger than anything he had ever felt—but he wasn't sure he could control it. The darkness that surrounded them felt alive, sentient, and full of malice. Whatever was out there, it wanted to break in, to consume them all.