Chapter 18: Into the hollow

Chapter Eighteen: Into the Hollow

It was a still, quiet night as Damien and Ava prepared to head out toward the Hollow. It seemed the air itself hung in wait, thick with what the night would bring. Hours had passed, it felt, since they spoke of the thing, but its weight fell between them. Every fiber of Damien's being screamed that going into the Hollow was a bad idea-not for him, but for Ava. But there was no choice. The Bloodstone was their only hope of stopping Aric, and it had to be found before it was too late.

The moon was high in the sky, casting a pale, silvery glow over the landscape. Damien could feel the presence of the wolves out there, their energy humming through the trees, but tonight, the forest seemed even more alive-watchful. It was as if the forest itself knew what they were about to do.

Ava stood by the door, her dark, practical clothing a testament to her resolve. She had insisted on coming, and Damien knew better than to argue. He had seen the strength in her eyes, the determination to stand by him, no matter the danger. But that didn't make him feel any better. The Hollow was a place of power, a place that had never been kind to those who ventured in with ill intentions.

"You ready?" Damien asked in a low tone, closing the space between them. His eyes ran over her, checking she was suitably armed for the road ahead. Her hand was resting on the hilt of the small blade she'd taken from the cabin earlier, and while the knife was small, he knew she was capable.

Ava nodded, her eyes steady. "I'm ready. We need to do this, Damien. We can't let Aric win.

Damien nodded, but a part of him wished she wasn't so keen. He couldn't keep her safe from what lay ahead, and he hated the thought of her getting hurt. But she had proved time and time again that she was strong, that she could hold her own. Still, the Hollow was a place of ancient magic, its history steeped in secrets that not even Damien fully understood.

He took a deep breath. "Stay close to me. The Hollow's dangerous. It's not just the wolves we'll have to worry about."

Ava raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. "What else is there? I'm not afraid."

Damien gave her a tight-lipped smile. "You should be."

With that, they went outside, the cold air biting their skin as they trudged through the forest. The path was rough and perilous, the trees heavy with branches that seemed to stretch out like skeletal hands. Every step they took seemed to echo, magnified by the silence that enveloped them. The forest was unnaturally quiet, it felt, holding its breath and waiting for something to happen.

As they walked deeper into the forest, Damien's senses began to heighten. The familiar sounds of the woods-the rustling of leaves, the distant calls of animals-had all but disappeared. There was something about this place, something unsettling that gnawed at him. The Hollow was not a place for the faint of heart. It had been said that those who entered without purpose were never seen again. It was a place of power, both beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.

"We're getting closer," Damien muttered, his gaze scanning the shadows around them.

Ava's voice cut through the silence. "How do you know?"

"I can feel it," Damien said, his voice tight. "The energy here is different. The Hollow is a nexus of power, and it knows we're coming."

They walked on in silence, the air growing heavier with each step. Ava could feel the tension in Damien's posture, his muscles tight, his senses alert. She could see the strain in his jaw, the way his eyes flickered back and forth, scanning for threats. It wasn't just the Hollow that had him on edge. It was what they were searching for-what they both knew could be the key to stopping Aric.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, they reached the entrance to the Hollow. The trees ahead of them were thick, their trunks twisted and gnarled, the branches entwined in a way that almost seemed unnatural. The air was colder here, sharp against their skin, and the ground was uneven, littered with rocks and roots that seemed to reach out like hands trying to pull them in.

Ava stepped forward, feeling an unnatural pull toward the darkness within. She could hear the whisper of the wind as it rustled through the leaves, but it wasn't a normal sound. It was almost as if the forest itself was alive, watching them.

Damien threw up a hand, and Ava stopped. He stepped forward, his movements cautious as he entered the Hollow, his senses on high. The trees seemed to close in around them, the darkness swallowing them whole. She could feel her heart beating in her chest as she followed him, the weight of their mission weighing heavy upon her.

"This is it," Damien whispered, stopping in the middle of the Hollow. He looked around, his eyes scanning narrowly. "The Bloodstone should be close."

Ava's breath caught as she looked around, trying to find anything that seemed out of place. The Hollow was silent now, the oppressive stillness more unsettling than ever, and every inch of the place felt like it was charged with energy, as if the very earth beneath their feet held the remnants of ancient power.

"Where exactly are we looking?" she asked, her voice low.

Damien was scanning the area, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "There's a monument here—something like a shrine. It should be near a pool of water. The Bloodstone is hidden beneath it."

Ava nodded, and they continued to walk once more, maneuvering their way through the thick trees until they reached a small clearing. The center of the clearing contained a stone monument with ancient carvings covering its surface; those carvings had long since faded with time. A pool of water lay at the base of the monument, still, reflective, and seemingly electrified by the air that surrounded it.

Damien stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the monument for any sign of the Bloodstone. Ava stood by his side, her breath shallow, her senses heightened.

"This is it," Damien said softly, kneeling down beside the pool. "The Bloodstone is beneath the water."

Ava knelt beside him, her eyes following his as he reached out and started to carefully lift the stone monument. As he did, a low growl rumbled through the trees, a sound that froze them both in place.

Ava's heart sk

ipped a beat as she realized—they weren't alone.

---