KIRAN 14.1

Sky finally reached the top of the pyramid, emerging from the shadows behind the hooded figure. He couldn't make out the man's face, but he watched intently as the figure extended his hand, crushing something in the distance. Ahead, a temple teetered on the verge of collapse.

With a tight grip on his blade, Sky lunged from the shadows, aiming to strike the man down. At the last moment, the figure turned, thrusting his hand forward as if pushing through the air. Sky's momentum came to an abrupt halt, his body frozen in mid-air. Though he gripped his blade and spear tightly, he couldn't move. His muscles contracted, shaking violently as he desperately tried to break free.

The man finally focused on Sky, and upon laying eyes on him, he cried out, "You dare to fool me with your trickery?" Slowly, he closed his fingers, a force twisting around Sky's body, threatening to bend his joints at unnatural angles. Sky's head tilted forward, his skull and jaw pulled in opposing directions.

As the man held Sky suspended in mid-air, he leaned closer, his voice dripping with malice. 

"I have him. Your friend will die, and you are trapped. There is nothing you can do to save him." His words echoed ominously, reverberating through the air.

On the verge of death, Sky looked up to see a golden light in the distance, its warmth reflecting in his eyes. Eve stood in the crumbling temple, her heart racing as the deafening roar of falling rubble echoed around her. Each crash reverberated in her chest. With every tremor, she felt an overwhelming sense of dread creeping in, tightening around her like a vice.

Amid the destruction, a gut-wrenching realization washed over her—Sky was in danger. She could sense it in her bones, a cold certainty that he was near death, teetering on the brink. Memories of their shared moments flooded her mind: his laughter, his determination, and the way he had looked at her with hope. The thought of losing him ignited a fierce protectiveness deep within her. It was as if a dam had broken, unleashing a torrent of emotion she could no longer contain. The shadows that had encased the temple felt suffocating, as if they conspired to snuff out the light of hope.

Suddenly, she heard it—Sky's pain transformed into a gut-wrenching scream, the sound piercing through the chaos like a knife. The figure had allowed his suffering to resonate throughout the city, each cry resonating in her heart.

"No! Sky!" The desperation in her voice mingled with the echoes of his agony, creating a cacophony of fear and determination. She could feel his pain as if it were her own, a deep ache swelling within her. It consumed her, amplifying every emotion she had tried to contain.

As the darkness threatened to engulf them both, something within Eve ignited. With the temple swaying around her, she closed her eyes, envisioning Sky's face. The agony of knowing he was suffering pushed her to the edge. "I won't let him die!" she thought, each word resonating in her mind like a war drum. "I'll do whatever it takes!"

Suddenly, a surge of warmth spread from her heart, filling her with a golden light that radiated from her hands. The energy swirled around her, illuminating the dark corners of the temple, repelling the shadows.

Time slowed, the chaos around her fading into the background. Eve could feel the light growing stronger, an extension of her will, a shield formed from her fierce love and determination to protect Sky. She was no longer just a girl; she was a force to be reckoned with, fueled by her emotions and the bond she shared with him. With a determined cry, she thrust her hands outward, channeling the brilliant light into a protective barrier.

The man turned to witness a colossal explosion of energy erupting where the temple had once stood. A cloud of dust billowed outward, obscuring everything in sight. He looked up to see crashing debris raining down on the city, rocks tumbling toward the pyramid. With urgency, he raised his other hand to push back the falling stones, but there were simply too many.

In an instant, the man released Sky, his body falling like a rag doll to the ground. He hit the floor hard, coughing up blood as he struggled to catch his breath. Just as a massive stone came hurtling toward him, he dove for cover.

Both Sky and the man screamed as falling rocks, each impact sending shockwaves through the ground, pummeled the area. Dust clouded their vision, enveloping them in a suffocating fog of dirt and debris.

Rocks crashed around them, sharp fragments spraying the man and throwing him off balance, finally revealing his face. He appeared to be in his fifties, disheveled and worn. His clothes, once made of the finest silks in white and gold, had been reduced to rags that barely clung to his frame. The stress etched deep lines on his face, making him look far older—a man who had lost his sanity long ago.

Meanwhile, the light that had enveloped Eve dissipated, leaving her momentarily in shock at what she had just unleashed. She looked down at the gemstone cradled in her hands, whispering to herself, "What is this?"

Before long, the anguished cries of the man above the pyramid reached her ears, mingling with the dust clouds rising from the fallen rocks. Hearing Sky's screams sent a jolt of urgency in her, and she dashed toward him without hesitation.

As the last rock crashed down, Sky regained his bearings, his breathing stabilizing as he refocused. The man, still with his back turned, frantically searched for him. With the spear still clutched in his hand, Sky hurled it toward the man's chest. The man turned at the last moment, attempting to deflect the strike. He barely deflected it, but not before the spear punctured his shoulder.

Sky seized the fleeting moment to charge at the man once again, desperation fueling his every movement. But the figure held firm with his remaining hand, pinning Sky in place. This time, he had no intention of showing mercy; he could crush Sky until his bones crumbled into dust.

Sky screamed as a wave of pain surged through him, his body freezing once more under the immense pressure. His muscles shook violently, desperate to break free from the iron grip of the man's power. The raw terror coursing through him was palpable, as if it was all that was masking his fragility.

"This is the end for you!" the man shouted, his voice booming with twisted triumph, reveling in Sky's despair.

"No!" Eve shouted, her voice breaking with desperation as she sprinted up the stairs, each step fueled by the urgency of the moment. The thought of losing Sky ignited a fire within her, pushing her forward against the overwhelming odds.

The man diverted his attention to Eve, lifting her into the air with a flick of his wrist. She felt the invisible force tightening around her, as though a vice were slowly crushing her. Panic clawed at her throat, each gasp for breath a struggle against the suffocating grip of despair. At that moment, the weight of hopelessness threatened to swallow her whole.

"Who are you? Trying to break in here?" he cried out, a manic glint in his eyes. But as he turned back toward Sky, a figure emerged from the shadows, radiant even in her ghostly form.

"Daddy, stop!" Kiran's ethereal presence appeared, standing between her father and Sky just as the man was about to strike. She was pale, her spectral body marred by gaping wounds that bled cold liquid smoke, trailing wisps of sorrow around her. The sight of her struck the man like a bolt of lightning, his face draining of color, trembling with horror.

"Kiran? No, it cannot be." His voice trembled, disbelief clouding his mind as memories rushed back—moments of laughter and warmth, long buried beneath layers of madness and regret. As he confronted the truth of his daughter's presence, the anguish surged within him, igniting a flicker of recognition that pierced the veil of despair. Sky, renewed with a surge of adrenaline, charged through Kiran's ghostly form, thrusting his blade into the man's abdomen. The contact sent shockwaves through them both, and the man felt his breath leaving his body in a ragged gasp, the world around him fading into a blur. As he exhaled, his grip on Sky faltered, and they both collapsed.

The invisible binds that held Eve released their grip, gasping for air as she rushed to Sky's side, helping him up with trembling hands. Her heart raced, a whirlwind of relief and fear swirling within her.

Kiran kneeled beside her father, who lay weakened and broken. She pulled back his hood, revealing a face twisted by age and despair. He was old and frail, the darkness within him having warped him into a feral maniac. His skin was pale, marred with blots of black corruption that crept over him like a shadow. But now, as he gazed upon Kiran, the memories he had lost surfaced, ignited by the love he had thought lost forever.

"Daddy, I'm here now." Her voice was soft, filled with a tenderness that echoed through the chaos surrounding them.

His eyes focused on Kiran, tears streaming down his face as he whispered, "Kiran, why are you here? I thought you escaped. You ran… with your mother."

Kiran shook her head, desperation filling her voice. "How couldn't you have made it out? I taught you the secret passageways. They were coming for us, for you."

"It doesn't matter now, Daddy. I found you. I don't want to run anymore; I want us to be together." Kiran's heart ached, finally seeing her father again and yearning for the happiness that once was.

The void continued to burn away his form, and the man reached for Kiran's face, feeling the coldness of her skin. In that moment, the remnants of his memories flooded back—the warmth of her laughter, the joy of their time together, and the promises they had made.

"I see," he whispered, his voice a mere breath as realization washed over him. The love he had sought to protect had slipped through his fingers, replaced by darkness.

Eve placed a gentle hand on the dying man's shoulder. "You can rest now." Compassion filled her voice, soothing the surrounding turmoil.

His gaze shifted to Eve, taking in her attire—the shimmering earrings, the delicate jewelry, the vibrant colors of her robes. He didn't need words; the look in his eyes revealed a flicker of recognition, a haunting memory of a life once lived. In that moment, the weight of his failures settled upon him like a heavy shroud.

"I'm sorry. I have failed. There is no stopping this." Tears streamed down his face as he closed his eyes, surrendering to the inevitability of his fate. "I am tired, and I just want to rest."

Deep down, remorse overwhelmed the man. He had envisioned a completely different life, yet in his last moments, he fought a battle lost long ago. What he had sought to protect had consumed his sanity, his life, and ultimately, his family.

As the light around them faded, Kiran leaned closer, her voice a soft echo of hope. "Daddy, it's not too late. I'm here. You're not alone anymore."

"Don't go into that room." The man spoke in a weak, gasping voice, his finger trembling as he pointed toward the large, ominous black steel door looming at the top of the pyramid. The air around them felt heavy, as if the very walls were listening.

"Do you know a way out?" Sky asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside him.

"There was an entrance that led to the forest," the man replied, his eyes flickering with fading hope.

"That's where we entered, but the entrance is now collapsed," Sky said, glancing back toward the encompassing darkness.

The man lowered his head, letting out a weary sigh that seemed to echo in the stillness. "Then the only way out is through that door, but you mustn't," he protested, his voice a mere whisper as he recognized the futility of his warning.

"What is your name?" Sky asked, his tone gentle, seeking connection amid the chaos.

The man turned to him, pondering the question with an inquisitive look. His memories flickered in his eyes.

"So we can remember you," Sky continued, his words laden with sincerity.

Out of all the dark, twisted expressions on his face, the man broke into a gentle smile, warmth illuminating his features for a fleeting moment. "Uriel."

As the last of his breath left his body, his hands slipped away, becoming lighter as he shed his last tears.

"You returned my daughter to me. Thank you. Let's go home, Kiran," Uriel whispered, his voice growing weaker until his head fell back, and he closed his eyes. His frail hands held onto Kiran's.

Swirls of golden light emerged from his body, encircling Uriel and Kiran like a protective embrace as their forms faded. With her father in her arms, Kiran gave one last, lingering look at Eve and Sky.

"Kiran..." Eve reached out, desperation in her eyes, trying to touch her face, but Kiran's ethereal form dissolved into black smoke and vanished. They stood in stunned silence, wondering if this was all real or some kind of insane dream.

"Thank you." Kiran's warm words echoed in the air, accompanied by her gentle smile. Eve and Sky smiled back, their hearts heavy yet filled with a bittersweet warmth. Eve covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

Their skin glowed, and their bodies dissolved into light, evaporating as the winds carried away the last fragments of their beings. A calm breeze brushed past them, carrying with it the last whispers of Kiran and her father. A heavy stab of sorrow pierced their hearts as they contemplated what had transpired, yet a faint sense of contentment lingered in knowing they had helped someone.