Chapter 5: Shadows of Betrayal

The scent of blood still lingered in the air. The ruined tower stood in weird silence, its walls cracked and cold. A chilling wind howled through the shattered windows, sending shivers down Evelyn's spine.

But it wasn't the wind that made her tremble.

It was Ronan who appeared from nowhere after the attack.

He stood at the threshold, a ghost from her past, a storm brewing in his eyes. His dark coat was torn, streaked with mud and something darker-blood. His hands were clenched at his sides, his jaw locked so tightly she thought it might snap.

"You're alive," Evelyn whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Ronan's piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. But there was no relief in them. No warmth. Just a cold, unreadable fury.

You think I abandoned you? His voice was rough, edged with something dangerous. You think I had a choice?

The words hit her like a slap.

You left me. Her voice quivered, but she refused to look away. You let me to suffer while he…. She shot a sharp glance at Damien, who stood smugly by the ruined stone wall. "You let him take me." 

Ronan's fists tightened. You don't understand, Evelyn.

Then make me understand! she snapped.

For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Then Damien laughed, low and taunting. Go on, brother. Tell her the truth.

Evelyn's stomach stiffened. There was something sinister in the way Damien spoke, something that sent a chill racing down her spine.

What truth? she demanded, turning back to Ronan. What aren't you telling me?

Ronan's chest rose and fell heavily, his expression tormented. But he didn't answer.

Damien looking unbothered, a cruel smirk curving his lips. He was enjoying this. He won't say it, Evelyn. So I will.

Ronan's entire body tensed. Shut. Up!

But Damien only grinned. "He wasn't just missing that night in the forest." He stepped forward, his voice dangerously smooth. "He was given a choice."

Evelyn's face frowned.

Damien's gaze darkened, his voice dropping into something almost mockingly soft.

To let you live… or to kill you.

It felt like the world was crumbling beneath her.

Evelyn's throat tightened as she turned to Ronan. Tell me he's lying, she whispered. Tell me you weren't deciding whether to let me die.

But Ronan said nothing…He just stood there.

The silence was deafening.

Evelyn's pulse pounded against her ribs. Her legs felt weak, her stomach twisted in knots.

You… She swallowed hard. You were supposed to save me.

Ronan's head bowed, his eyes shuttering with something unreadable. I never wanted to hurt you.

"But you did." Her voice broke. "You let me suffer because you hesitated!"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. You don't know the full story.

Then tell me! she shouted. Tell me why you even considered letting me die!

He exhaled sharply, as if the weight of his own guilt was crushing him. Because….

Because she was never meant to live, Damien cut in.

Evelyn froze.

Damien took another step closer, his red eyes gleaming. She wasn't supposed to survive that night, was she, Ronan?

Evelyn's fingers curled into fists. What do you mean?

Ronan's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came.

Damien chuckled. "Oh, sweet Evelyn. You're asking the wrong person." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. You should be asking yourself.

Her breath caught. What?

Damien smirked. Deep down, don't you feel it? The way your blood calls to us? The way you shouldn't exist?

Evelyn staggered back. No. He was trying to mess with her. He was twisting the truth like he always did.

But the look in Ronan's eyes told her Damien wasn't lying.

Tell me the truth, she whispered.

Ronan ran a hand through his hair, his whole body coiled like a man on the verge of breaking.

"There's more to your past than you know, Evelyn," he finally said. "And it's far worse than you can imagine."

A sharp gust of wind rattled the tower, making the ruined stones groan.

Then…..

The walls exploded.

A deafening roar shattered the moment.

Evelyn barely had time to react before a monstrous force slammed into them, sending her flying.

She hit the ground hard, pain jolting through her limbs. Dust and scraps filled the air, blinding her.

And then she saw it.

A creature emerged from the shadows.

The same one that attacked her before.

Its body was warped, half-rotted yet terrifyingly fast. A beast of twisted flesh, a creature of the old world.

Damien cursed under his breath, his tooth elongating. "Perfect timing."

Ronan was the first to move. His blade was in his hand instantly. "Evelyn, stay behind me!"

The creature let out a shriek, its glowing white eyes fixed on her.

It didn't care about Ronan. It didn't care about Damien.

It wanted her.

Damien lunged, his speed inhuman, a blur of shadow and fangs. Ronan followed, his sword clashing against razor-sharp claws.

The fight was brutal, the air thick with the scent of blood.

Then, a sickening crack.

Ronan staggered back, blood dripping down his arm.

Damien's eyes flashed red as he lunged at the creature, sinking his canine tooth into its throat. It let out a piercing shriek before disintegrating into black ash.

Silence followed.

The air was heavy, the ruins drenched in moonlight and blood.

Damien wiped his mouth, exhaling sharply. "Well. That was unexpected."

Ronan shrink back, pressing a hand to his wound. "We need to leave. Now."

But Evelyn barely heard them.

Because her gaze had locked onto something in the wreckage.

A piece of parchment, burned and torn.

A letter…The same one she received.

And the words still visible on the scorched edges?

The lie you believe is your own existence.

Her blood turned to ice.

She wasn't supposed to exist.

And someone or something was making sure she didn't.

 ….Continue...