Chapter 16: The Price of Freedom

The Keep was dying. Its walls twisted and screamed as they collapsed inward, devouring everything in their path. The air itself felt like it was being sucked into the void, an invisible force dragging them all toward the endless pit forming beneath their feet.

The portal was closing.

Evelyn could see Damien and Orion rushing toward the exit, guiding her mother through the last stretch of collapsing ground. They were almost free. But she and Ronan…

She wasn't moving. Something held her back.

A sudden, violent force pulled at her like unseen chains wrapping around her body, pulling her toward the pit. Ronan was still beside her, struggling just as much, his face twisted with effort as he fought against the pull. The Keep wasn't letting them go.

Her heart pounded. Ronan….

His grip on her arm tightened. "It's binding itself to us. It won't let go."

Orion turned at the last moment, his eyes wide with horror as he reached out. "You have to break free! Now!"

But Evelyn couldn't move. The shadows tightened their grip, sinking their claws into her energy. The Keep wanted to drag them down with it.

The pit opened wider. The last remains of the fortress crumbled, falling into nothing.

The portal was flaring. Fading. If they didn't get through it in the next few seconds, it would be gone forever.

Ronan's gaze flashed to the exit. Then to Evelyn. And she saw the moment he made his decision.

No, she whispered, shaking her head. Don't….

Ronan grabbed her by the waist and threw her forward.

The force hit her like a blast. She screamed as she was drawn toward the portal, her body weightless as she tumbled through the air. The last thing she saw was Ronan, standing firm against the shadows, holding them back with everything he had.

Then the portal snapped shut.

 A World Without Him

Evelyn hit the ground hard. The moment she landed, reality felt wrong. Too quiet and too still.

A deep, empty void spread through her chest. Something was missing. She raised to her feet, her eyes running wildly, her mind refusing to accept what had happened. The Keep was gone. The ancient fortress that had held them prisoner had crumbled into nothing. But so had Ronan.

He wasn't here.

"No…" Her breath fastened. Her hands trembled as she stepped forward, as if expecting to see him appear from the ruins. But there was nothing left. No portal. No shadow remains. Just… emptiness.

Orion stood a few feet away, his expression dark. Damien's emotions written all over his face, his fists tightening.

Her mother let out a soft gasp, covering her mouth. "Evelyn, where is he?"

Evelyn couldn't answer.

She shook her head, stepping forward, shoving Orion aside. "No. He's not gone."

She pushed past them, her mind racing. This wasn't real. This wasn't happening. She would feel it if he was truly gone.

Right?

Evelyn… Orion tried to stop her, but she wasn't listening. She dropped to her knees, pressing her hands against the ground where the portal had been. She reached deep into her energy, trying to feel anything some trace of his presence, some thread of magic connecting them still.

But there was nothing, her heart shattered.

She let out a loud scream from her throat, raw and filled with pure agony.

No.

No, no, no.

This couldn't be how it ended. Not after everything. Her vision blurred as hot tears filled her eyes. She tightened her teeth, her body trembling with fury. She wasn't going to accept this.

She was going to bring him back. Somehow…..She had to.

 The Whisper in the Dark

Then…A sound.

A whisper. Soft. Distant. Familiar.

Her head snapped up.

The air around them had shifted, something stirring in the darkness beyond the ruins. A cold chill swept through the air, making Orion and Damien go firm.

Evelyn's pulse spiked, because she knew that voice. She turned slowly, her heart pounding against her ribs.

And then… she saw him.

A shadow stood at the edge of the ruins, just beyond the flaring light of the fire Damien had created.

Tall. Still. Watching.

Her breath ceased. Ronan?

Damien and Orion turned sharply, their weapons instantly drawn.

The figure stepped forward. Closer.

And Evelyn's blood ran cold.

It looked like him. But something was wrong.

His eyes no longer gold, but a creepy, unnatural black. His skin, paler than before. Shadows gripped to him like smoke, twisting and curling around his body, almost as if they were a part of him.

And when he spoke…

It wasn't just his voice.

It was many, low and Hollow. Like something ancient had creeped inside him and made a home.

"You shouldn't have left me."

Evelyn's chest tightened painfully. "No. You're…."

But the words caught in her throat.

Because deep down, she knew.

The Keep didn't let him go. It took him instead, transformed him.

And now, the Ronan she knew… might be gone forever.

 The Enemy Within

Orion's hand tightened around his sword. "That's not him."

Damien tensed. "It can't be."

But Evelyn couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Because no matter what they said, it was him. She could feel it.

His presence. His energy. Buried beneath the darkness.

But… could she reach him?

Or was it already too late?

Ronan took another step forward, looking directly into her eyes. The air around him filled with dark energy, his entire being surrounded by something unnatural.

And then…He smiled.

A slow, cold smile that sent ice down her spine.

Did you miss me, Evelyn?

Her hands shook.

She had fought monsters before. Faced impossible enemies, but nothing terrified her more than this.

Because this wasn't a stranger.

This was Ronan.

The man she had fought beside. The man who had thrown her to safety. The man who had saved her life.

And now…

He might be the greatest threat of all.

 …continued…