Chapter 88: Chains of the Unseen
Kael's breaths came in ragged gasps as Mira steadied him, her hands firm on his shoulders. The shard lay on the floor, glowing faintly, its light casting flickering shadows that danced eerily along the crumbling walls of the watchtower. A heavy silence settled over the group, broken only by Luka's labored breathing as he struggled with his injured leg.
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze fixed on the shard. "It's more than just a fragment," he said, his voice strained. "It's part of a prison. Or... a key to something we don't want to unleash."
Mira knelt beside him, her eyes sharp. "A prison for what? What did you see?"
Kael hesitated, the images still fresh and vivid in his mind—the chasm, the dark tendrils, the chanting voices that reverberated with ancient malice. "I don't know exactly. But whatever it is... it's powerful. And it's trying to escape."
Luka, leaning heavily against the wall, shifted uncomfortably. "So now we've got a cursed orb, a shard from some ancient hellhole, and every monster in the region on our trail. Sounds like we're in great shape."
Mira shot him a glare. "This isn't the time for jokes, Luka."
"It's not a joke," Luka retorted, his voice edged with frustration. "It's reality. We can't keep running with this thing. If it's attracting them, we're as good as dead unless we figure out a plan."
Kael stood shakily, his legs still unsteady. "He's right," he admitted. "But we can't leave these artifacts behind either. They're too dangerous in the wrong hands."
Mira stood as well, her gaze sweeping the room. "Then what's the plan, Kael? If these things are part of a prison, what do we do with them?"
Kael's brow furrowed as he stared at the shard and the orb. The glowing artifacts seemed to pulse in unison, as if responding to each other—or to the tension in the room. "We find out what they're tied to. If we can understand how they work, maybe we can stop whatever's trying to break free."
Luka scoffed. "And where exactly do we start looking for answers? It's not like there's a library of ancient curses around here."
Before Kael could respond, a distant howl echoed through the night, followed by another, closer and more guttural. The sound sent a chill down their spines.
"They're coming," Mira said, grabbing her bow and moving to the doorway. "We can't stay here."
Kael nodded, grabbing the orb and wrapping it tightly in cloth. He placed the shard inside the box and secured it in his pack. "We move fast and quiet. Stay together. Mira, lead the way."
Mira hesitated for a moment, her eyes lingering on Kael's pale face. Then she nodded, her expression hardening. "Let's go."
The group slipped out of the watchtower, the cold night air biting at their skin. The moonlight offered just enough illumination to navigate the rugged terrain, but the shadows seemed to stretch and shift, creating an oppressive sense of unease.
Mira led them down a narrow path that wound through a dense thicket of trees. Her movements were swift and deliberate, her bow at the ready. Kael followed close behind, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. Luka limped along, his face pale but determined.
The howls grew louder, joined by the sound of snapping branches and heavy footsteps. Whatever was hunting them was closing in.
"Faster," Mira urged, her voice low but urgent. "We need to put more distance between us and them."
Kael glanced over his shoulder, his heart pounding. In the distance, he caught a glimpse of glowing eyes moving through the darkness—multiple sets, their unnatural light sending a jolt of fear through him.
"They're right behind us," Kael said, his voice tense. "We need to find cover."
Mira scanned the area quickly, her sharp eyes catching a break in the trees ahead. "There's a ravine up ahead. We can use it to lose them."
The group pushed forward, their pace quickening despite Luka's injury. The sound of their pursuers grew deafening—growls, snarls, and the sickening crunch of something moving with terrifying speed.
As they reached the edge of the ravine, Mira motioned for them to stop. She knelt down, examining the steep drop. "It's risky, but we can climb down. It's better than staying up here."
Kael didn't hesitate. He helped Luka to the edge, guiding him to a more stable section of the slope. "Hold on to me," Kael said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Mira descended first, her movements agile and precise. Kael followed, half-supporting Luka as they navigated the jagged rocks. The glowing eyes appeared at the edge of the ravine, their owners snarling and clawing at the ground.
"Hurry!" Mira called from below, her voice urgent.
Kael and Luka reached the bottom just as the first creature lunged down the slope, its distorted form tumbling awkwardly but recovering quickly. Mira loosed an arrow, striking the creature in the chest and sending it crashing to the ground.
"Keep moving!" Kael shouted, drawing his sword. He stepped forward to guard their retreat, his blade glinting in the dim light.
The creatures poured down the slope, their twisted forms illuminated briefly by the moonlight. They were humanoid but grotesque, their limbs elongated and their movements jerky and unnatural. Their glowing eyes fixed on the group with an intensity that sent a shiver down Kael's spine.
Mira fired arrow after arrow, her aim precise, while Luka, despite his injury, hurled knives with deadly accuracy. Kael swung his sword in wide arcs, cutting down anything that got too close.
But for every creature they killed, more seemed to take its place. The ravine echoed with their unearthly howls, a cacophony of madness and malice.
"We can't hold them off forever!" Luka shouted, his voice strained.
Kael glanced around, his mind racing. His eyes fell on a narrow crevice in the rock wall—a potential escape route. "There!" he yelled, pointing. "Through the crevice!"
Mira nodded, already moving toward it. "Go! I'll cover you!"
Kael grabbed Luka and guided him toward the crevice. The opening was tight, barely wide enough for them to squeeze through, but it led to a winding passage that seemed to stretch deeper into the ravine.
Mira loosed one final arrow before following them, her bow slung over her shoulder as she slipped into the crevice. The creatures clawed at the entrance, their guttural growls echoing through the narrow passage, but the group pressed forward, the tight space forcing them into single file.
The passage eventually opened into a small cavern, its walls glistening with moisture. The group collapsed against the rock, their breaths coming in gasps.
Kael glanced back toward the passage, his sword still in hand. The creatures hadn't followed them inside, but their growls echoed faintly, a constant reminder of the danger still lurking.
"We're safe for now," Mira said, her voice weary but steady. "But they're not going to stop."
Kael placed the orb and the shard on the ground, their eerie glow illuminating the cavern. "We need to figure out what to do with these," he said, his tone resolute. "If we don't, they're going to keep hunting us. And next time, we might not get away."
Mira nodded, her expression grim. "Then we don't rest until we have answers."