The group's journey took them into an uncharted wilderness, the thick canopy of ancient trees overhead blocking most of the sunlight. Despite the seeming serenity of the forest, an uneasy stillness hung in the air, as though the land itself were holding its breath.
Taro lagged slightly behind, his steps hesitant. Every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves caused him to glance nervously over his shoulder. Kaito noticed his discomfort and slowed his pace to match.
"Relax, Taro," Kaito said, grinning. "If anything jumps out at us, Lysara will slice it in half before you even blink."
Taro chuckled weakly but didn't respond. His unease wasn't just from the unfamiliar terrain; it was the dreams he'd been having. They had grown more vivid since he joined the group, fragments of a world both wondrous and terrifying. Each night, the golden city loomed closer in his mind, its crumbling spires reaching out to him like ghostly fingers.
Yumi, walking ahead with Lysara, stopped abruptly. She knelt down, brushing her fingers over a patch of disturbed earth. "Something was here," she said, her voice low.
Lysara unsheathed her sword in one smooth motion. "Something—or someone?"
Yumi studied the ground, her brows furrowing. "The footprints are strange. They're too large for a human, but the stride is uneven, like it's injured or... struggling to walk."
Kaito joined them, his expression turning serious. "Could be one of those shadow creatures. If it's injured, we should find it before it finds us."
"Agreed," Lysara said, her tone clipped. "Stay alert."
---
As they followed the trail, the forest grew denser, the air heavy with moisture and the scent of damp earth. The faint sound of running water reached their ears, leading them to a narrow stream cutting through the landscape.
On the far bank, they saw it—a creature unlike any they had encountered before. Its form was humanoid but distorted, as though it had been twisted and reshaped by some unnatural force. One of its arms was elongated, ending in sharp, claw-like fingers, while the other hung limp at its side. Its skin was a sickly gray, and faint wisps of shadow seemed to rise from its body like smoke.
The creature crouched by the water, its head bowed as though drinking, though no movement came from its lips.
"What is that?" Taro whispered, his voice trembling.
"I don't know," Yumi replied, her hand tightening around the hilt of her sword. "But it's not like the other shadow creatures. It feels... different."
The creature turned its head sharply, as though sensing their presence. Its eyes, glowing a dull red, locked onto them. It let out a low, guttural growl that echoed through the forest.
"Well, it's not friendly," Kaito muttered, raising his weapon.
Before anyone could act, the creature stumbled forward, collapsing onto the ground. The growl turned into a pained whimper, and it clutched its chest as though in agony.
Yumi hesitated, stepping closer despite Lysara's warning glare. "Wait. It's not attacking."
"It's a trap," Lysara said, her sword at the ready. "Don't get too close."
But Yumi ignored her, her instincts pulling her toward the creature. As she approached, she noticed something strange—a faint shimmer around its body, like the remnants of a broken barrier.
"It's connected to the dream," Yumi said softly, kneeling beside it. The creature's breathing was labored, its eyes flickering between red and a pale, almost human-like hue.
"Yumi, this is a bad idea," Kaito said, his tone edged with concern.
Yumi reached out, her hand hovering over the creature's shoulder. "I think it's trapped between worlds. The dream and reality—it's caught in the fracture."
The creature let out a low moan, its head lolling to the side. For a moment, Yumi thought she saw a flicker of something familiar in its eyes—not malice, but sorrow.
"What do you mean, caught?" Taro asked, inching closer.
"Look at the shadows," Yumi said, gesturing to the faint wisps rising from its body. "They're not solid like the other creatures. It's like... it doesn't fully belong here."
Before anyone could respond, the creature convulsed violently, a dark mist erupting from its body. The mist coalesced into a swirling vortex above them, and from its center, a voice boomed:
"Fools! You meddle with forces beyond your understanding."
The vortex shifted, forming the faint outline of a humanoid figure cloaked in shadow. Its presence was overwhelming, the air around it crackling with energy.
"Who are you?" Lysara demanded, stepping protectively in front of Yumi.
"I am a fragment of what was lost," the figure replied, its voice resonating like the toll of a bell. "This creature is but a pawn, a piece of a greater puzzle you cannot hope to solve."
"We've faced your kind before," Kaito said, his grip on his sword tightening. "You're nothing more than a shadow."
The figure laughed, a hollow, bone-chilling sound. "And yet, even a shadow can eclipse the light. You seek to restore the balance, but you are blind to the cost. Every step you take draws you closer to the abyss."
Yumi stood, her resolve unshaken. "We're not afraid of the abyss. The dream is broken, but it can be healed. And we'll do whatever it takes to stop you."
The figure's form wavered, its edges blurring as though it were struggling to maintain its shape. "Then you are more foolish than I thought. The threads of the dream are fragile, and you are unworthy of wielding them."
With a final, echoing laugh, the vortex collapsed in on itself, leaving behind only silence. The creature at Yumi's feet had dissolved, its body fading into a faint shimmer that vanished into the air.
"What just happened?" Taro asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"They're testing us," Lysara said grimly. "Whoever—or whatever—is behind this, they're trying to break us before we get too far."
"But why?" Yumi wondered aloud. "What are they so afraid of?"
Kaito sheathed his sword, his expression serious for once. "Maybe they know we're closer to the truth than they want us to be."
Yumi glanced at the spot where the creature had been, a sense of unease settling over her. The path ahead was more dangerous than ever, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of uncovering something crucial—something that could change everything.
As they pressed on, the forest seemed to grow darker, the shadows deeper and more oppressive. But Yumi's resolve burned brighter than ever. Whatever lay ahead, she knew they couldn't turn back now.
The dream was waiting.
🚨 Chapter Locked!To read the next chapter:🔗 Copy this link: https://unlockcontent.net/cp/i/q8320?preview=1📖 Chapter will unlock right after. Enjoy the secrets!