Chapter 28: The Hollow Remade

The Hollow was not what they remembered.

Where once stood thorned gates and cursed wind, there was now silence. Still. Waiting.

Selene stepped through the veil first, her bare feet touching Hollow ground with reverence—and dread.

Alina followed, clutching her side where remnants of the Shattered Veil still burned against her skin.

Everything looked the same. And yet… nothing did.

The trees wept gold.

The skies bled lilac.

And the curses etched into every surface? Gone.

Selene whispered, "She's really gone."

But the Hollow did not answer.

Instead, a voice older than the gods stirred.

"You are the Hollow now."

A throne emerged from the forest's heart—formed not of stone or vine, but memory. And on it, inscribed in fire, was Selene's true name.

Alina moved to her side, hand clasping hers.

"You don't have to sit," she said.

Selene turned to her. "But if I don't… it all begins again."

A rumble echoed beneath them.

Something in the Hollow began to wake—a dormant hunger, a cost unpaid.

Selene closed her eyes.

She took the first step toward the throne.

And just as she reached it—

The ground split.

A scream rose—not hers.

Alina's.

And she was gone.

Swallowed whole.