Chapter 16 – Ershem's Fury
The tremor shook the house from its foundations, causing pictures to fall from the walls and glass to vibrate with a deafening crash. The storm outside seemed like a distant whisper compared to the chaos unleashed by the entity.
Rei struggled to stand, but the shadow surrounding him seemed to want to fuse with him, a dark mist spreading over his arms and chest like a second skin. His eyes, once dull, now glowed with a crimson light, revealing that Ershem had taken control of his will, at least partially.
"No!" Yuki shouted, clutching Rei desperately. "Fight it, Rei! Don't let it consume you!"
Noah, heart racing, grabbed an old oil lamp from a dusty shelf and lit it. The warm light was like a temporary shield against the spreading darkness. But the entity didn't retreat; instead, it roared with a force that shook the air, making the glass rattle and the old wood creak.
Suddenly, a spectral figure appeared at the end of the hallway: the blurred silhouette of a child, eyes full of sorrow, with a hand extended toward them, as if asking for help.
"Noah!" Yuki whispered, recognizing the figure from the legends. "It's one of the children trapped here… in the basement."
Fear mixed with compassion. Rei, struggling against the darkness consuming him, reached a trembling hand toward the ghost, and for a moment, Ershem's fury seemed to weaken.
But the relief was brief. A guttural scream emerged from the basement, resonating with Ershem's voice, demanding dominion.
"We have to go down," Noah said firmly. "This nightmare begins there. And that's where we'll have to face it."
The three slowly descended the stairs, knowing each step brought them closer to a confrontation that could be the end… or a new beginning.