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Chapter 13:The True Thomas

Eleanor ran through the twisted landscape, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The laughter behind her had faded, but the sense of being pursued lingered, a primal fear driving her forward. The talisman around her neck pulsed with a steady light, its glow cutting through the oppressive darkness. She clung to it like a lifeline, her mind focused on the voice she had heard—a voice that sounded like Thomas.

The terrain shifted as she ran, the ash-covered ground giving way to jagged rocks and gnarled roots that seemed to reach out and grab at her feet. The air grew colder, and the sky above churned with dark, swirling clouds. Eleanor's legs burned with exertion, but she didn't dare stop. She had to find the real Thomas. She had to get him out of this nightmare.

Finally, she spotted a faint light ahead, flickering like a beacon in the gloom. It was different from the false light of the cabin—brighter, purer. She pushed herself harder, her heart pounding with hope.

As she drew closer, she saw a figure standing in the light. It was Thomas, his back to her, his shoulders hunched as if weighed down by an invisible burden. This time, Eleanor hesitated. She couldn't afford to be tricked again.

"Thomas?" she called out, her voice trembling.

The figure turned, and Eleanor's breath caught in her throat. This was her brother—she could feel it in her bones. His face was pale and drawn, his eyes hollow with exhaustion, but there was no mistaking the warmth in his gaze as he saw her.

"Eleanor," he whispered, his voice cracking. "You came."

Tears streamed down Eleanor's face as she rushed to him, pulling him into a tight embrace. This time, he felt real—his body warm and solid, his arms wrapping around her in a familiar, comforting grip. She held him tightly, afraid that if she let go, he might disappear.

"I'm here," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm not leaving without you."

Thomas pulled back slightly, his hands gripping her shoulders. "You shouldn't have come. This place… it's dangerous. It gets inside your head."

"I know," Eleanor said, her voice firm. "But I couldn't leave you here. We're going home."

Thomas's expression darkened. "It's not that simple. The Veil… it doesn't let go easily. And there's something else. Something worse."

Eleanor's stomach churned. "What do you mean?"

Before Thomas could answer, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The light around them flickered, and the air grew heavy with a suffocating pressure. Eleanor clutched the talisman, its glow intensifying as the darkness closed in.

"We need to go," Thomas said urgently, grabbing her hand. "Now."

They ran together, the landscape shifting and twisting around them. The light from the talisman guided their path, but the shadows seemed to be alive, reaching out to block their way. Eleanor's mind raced as they sprinted through the nightmare, her grip on Thomas's hand tight.

"What did you mean, something worse?" she asked between breaths.

Thomas glanced at her, his expression grim. "The creature you saw… it's not the only one. There's something bigger. Something ancient. It's been waiting for someone like you—someone strong enough to cross the Veil."

Eleanor's heart sank. "Why? What does it want?"

"It wants to cross over," Thomas said. "Into our world. And it's using me as bait."

The words hit Eleanor like a punch to the gut. She had walked right into a trap, just as Miriam had warned. But she couldn't let fear paralyze her. Not now. Not when Thomas was counting on her.

"We'll figure it out," she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. "Together."

As they ran, the landscape began to change again. The twisted trees and jagged rocks gave way to a vast, open plain, its surface covered in a thick, black mist. In the distance, Eleanor could see a faint shimmer—a tear in the fabric of the Veil. It was their way out.

But standing between them and the exit was a figure—a towering, shadowy presence that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its form shifted and writhed, its glowing eyes fixed on Eleanor and Thomas.

"It's here," Thomas whispered, his voice filled with dread.

Eleanor's grip on the talisman tightened. "Then we fight."