Chapter 9: The Buried Truth

[The Dark Arena – The Fateful Confrontation]

The air was cold… but not a natural cold. No… it felt like a wind blowing straight from the realm of the dead.

Nadia stood frozen, her heart pounding violently as she stared at "Lamar," who stood before her.

Nadia (whispering, trying to convince herself): "That's not Lamar… That's not Lamar…"

Adam (frustrated, pulling Nadia): "If we stay here any longer, we'll be next!"

But before he could move, Lamar extended her hand… and the darkness around her shifted.

As if the very ground was responding to her.

Lamar (mysteriously): "Remember when I told you… No one gets out?"

Suddenly, black tendrils emerged from the ground, like smoke—yet solid. They slithered toward Nadia and Adam.

Nadia (screaming, stepping back): "What the hell is that?!"

Adam pulled out his weapon and fired directly at Lamar… but the bullet passed right through her, as if she were an illusion.

Adam (shocked): "It's useless…"

Nadia (her eyes filled with fear): "Are we going to die?"

But before anyone could answer…

A strong voice came from behind them.

??? (exhausted but firm): "Not if I have a say in it."

Nadia froze.

She knew that voice…

Youssef.

---

[An Unexpected Return]

Youssef stood there, exhausted, his body covered in bruises—signs that he had fallen from a great height.

But he was alive.

How? No time for questions.

Adam (shocked): "You… how?!"

Youssef (pressing on his wound): "I fell… but the pit was just a trick. There was a tunnel leading somewhere else… and I heard you."

But Lamar didn't wait. The black tendrils moved again, faster this time.

Youssef (firmly): "We have one chance to escape… but we need to distract her!"

Nadia (nervously): "How?!"

Youssef locked eyes with her… then smiled. A sad, knowing smile.

Youssef: "I have a plan… but you're not going to like it."

---

[The Reckless Plan – The Final Sacrifice?]

Youssef suddenly sprinted toward Lamar, yelling at the top of his lungs:

Youssef: "Come get me! I'm the one who wants to die!"

Lamar turned toward him, her black eyes glinting, and the dark tendrils lunged straight at him.

Nadia (shocked): "Youssef!!"

But Adam grabbed Nadia quickly and whispered:

Adam: "We have to run. Now!"

The plan was clear… Youssef was sacrificing himself to distract Lamar, and they had to take the chance to escape.

Nadia wanted to run to him, to help… but Adam held her back tightly.

Nadia (teary-eyed, screaming): "Youssef!!!"

The last thing she saw… was the black tendrils wrapping around Youssef, dragging him into the darkness.

And then… silence.

To be continued…