Chapter 41: Wraiths of the Forsaken

The streets stretched on endlessly, each corner more twisted than the last. The blood moon above bathed the world in crimson light, making everything appear as if soaked in blood. Nathan, Angel, and King moved quietly through the alleyways, their eyes darting between the shadows that seemed to creep closer with each passing moment.

King's breathing was labored, his steps heavier with each block they passed. He hadn't said much since Angel's return, but the tension was clear in his stiff movements and clenched fists. Angel, floating slightly above the ground, led them forward without a word, her once vibrant personality muted, replaced by a cold, spectral determination.

Nathan couldn't shake the growing sense of dread, like the world itself was closing in on them. Every sound—the distant scraping of metal, the soft hiss of wind through shattered windows—felt like a warning. The creatures in this realm were regrouping, he could feel it. And soon, they would strike.

"Where are we going?" Nathan finally asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Angel didn't look back as she responded, her voice soft but firm. "There's an old temple, hidden deeper in the city. It's a place of power, where Ching Fang once ruled over this world. If we reach it, we might find a way to break the curse of this realm."

King let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Might? That's not exactly reassuring, Angel.**" His tone was harsh, laced with anger and fear. "We're heading straight into the heart of this nightmare, and all we've got is a 'might'?"

Angel finally stopped, turning to face them. Her glowing eyes bore into King's with a calm intensity. "This world doesn't give us guarantees, King. We either fight, or we die."

King stared at her, his fists tightening, but he said nothing. Nathan could feel the tension between them, a mixture of grief, anger, and fear that none of them could escape.

They continued in silence, weaving through the twisted streets until the landscape began to change. The ruined buildings gave way to something darker—shattered statues of demonic figures, their hollow eyes watching from every corner. The ground itself seemed to pulse with a strange, sickly energy, like the very earth was alive with the remnants of ancient evil.

"We're close," Angel whispered, her voice barely audible over the rising wind. "But so are they."

As if on cue, a distant screech echoed through the streets, followed by the sound of scraping claws on stone. Nathan's heart skipped a beat as he turned toward the noise, his grip tightening on the rusty metal pipe he had scavenged earlier.

"They're coming," King muttered, his voice grim.

Angel's eyes glowed brighter, her body tensing. "We don't have time to fight them. We need to move faster."

But before they could react, the first of the creatures appeared—pale, twisted wraiths with long, bony fingers and empty black eyes. They moved like shadows, slithering across the ground and walls, their mouths twisted into grotesque grins. Behind them, larger forms began to emerge, hulking monstrosities with skin stretched too tightly over their bones, their teeth dripping with dark, viscous fluid.

"Run!" Angel commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Nathan didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted forward, his legs burning with effort as the wraiths closed in behind them. King was right beside him, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as they darted down a narrow alley, the walls closing in on them.

But the creatures were relentless. Nathan could hear the hissing, the scraping of claws getting closer and closer. He risked a glance over his shoulder and saw one of the wraiths lunge toward him, its long, bony fingers stretching out, ready to tear into him.

Before it could reach him, Angel appeared between them, her hand raised. A pulse of light erupted from her, sending the creature screeching back into the shadows. But the strain was visible on her face, the glow around her flickering like a dying flame.

"Keep going!" she shouted, her voice strained. "I'll hold them off!"

Nathan hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to leave her behind—not again. But he knew there was no choice. If they stayed, they would all die.

"Come on, Nathan!" King yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him forward.

They ran, the sound of Angel's light clashing against the wraiths fading into the distance. Nathan's mind raced as they turned corner after corner, the dark streets blurring together. He couldn't stop thinking about Angel—about what she had become, and what it would cost her to save them.

After what felt like an eternity, they burst out of the narrow alley and into a wide, open courtyard. In the center stood the temple—an ancient, crumbling structure, its walls covered in grotesque carvings of demonic figures. The air around it was thick with the stench of decay, and the ground was littered with bones—human and otherwise.

King staggered to a stop, his eyes wide with fear and disgust. "This... this is where you think we'll find answers?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Nathan didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the temple, on the massive, rusted doors that stood at its entrance. There was something wrong about this place—something deeply, horribly wrong. The very air felt alive with malevolence, pressing in on them from all sides.

But they had no choice. This was their only hope.

"Let's go," Nathan said, his voice shaking. He didn't wait for King to respond before moving forward, his steps slow and hesitant as he approached the doors.

They creaked open with a deafening groan, revealing a dark, yawning void beyond. Nathan swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his ears as he stepped inside. King followed close behind, his hand resting on the hilt of a knife he had picked up along the way.

The darkness inside was suffocating, thick and oppressive. As they moved deeper into the temple, the faint sound of whispering began to echo through the halls, like a chorus of voices just out of reach.

Nathan's skin crawled, every instinct screaming at him to turn back. But he forced himself to keep going, his mind focused on one thought—Angel. They had to find a way to save her, to bring her back fully, no matter what it took.

But as they moved deeper into the heart of the temple, the voices grew louder, and the walls seemed to close in around them. The air grew colder, and a deep, unnatural darkness began to creep in from the edges of their vision, as if the very shadows were alive, waiting to devour them.

And in the distance, something stirred—something ancient, something dark.

They weren't alone.