The black door opened another inch.
A freezing wind rushed out, carrying the smell of ash and something rotten. The candles died instantly. Only the red veins glowing through Arin's skin lit the chamber now.
Mira ran to him. "Don't listen to him. There has to be another way."
Arin stared at the iron key in his palm.
Seal the door.
Or kill yourself.
The creature laughed softly. "He still thinks he has time."
Kael pushed himself up from the rubble, blood running down his chin.
"There is one more way…"
Everyone turned.
Even the creature's smile faded.
Kael's voice was weak but steady.
"If Arin enters the door willingly… the two halves merge inside the void, not in this world."
Mira stepped back. "No."
Arin looked at him. "And then?"
Kael held his gaze.
"You may never return."
The chamber trembled harder.
The walls split open completely.
Hands burst out from the stone—hundreds of them, pale and twisted, grabbing at anything alive. One caught Mira's shoulder and dragged her down.
She screamed.
Arin moved instantly.
He seized the arm and tore it free with unnatural strength. Black smoke burst from the broken limb. More hands crawled over the floor like spiders.
The creature watched, delighted.
"Yes… become what you are."
Arin's body shook. Every second, the darkness inside him grew stronger.
He could feel it.
Its hunger.
Its joy.
Its need to destroy.
Mira grabbed his face with both hands.
"Look at me."
His glowing eyes met hers.
"You are not a monster."
For one second…
The voices inside him went quiet.
Then the creature roared and charged.
Kael intercepted it, blade meeting claws. Sparks and shadows exploded. The two crashed through pillars, tearing the chamber apart.
Mira shouted, "Arin, now!"
The black door was opening wider.
Inside it, Arin saw something impossible—
A hallway.
Their house hallway.
A dining table.
His father sitting there, waiting.
"Son," the figure said softly. "Come home."
Arin froze.
Mira pulled him back. "That's not real!"
The father figure smiled.
Then its face peeled open into darkness.
Arin staggered in horror.
The creature screamed from across the chamber, "HE IS MINE!"
It hurled Kael aside and leapt straight at Arin.
There was no time.
Arin grabbed Mira, pushed her behind him, and drove the iron key into his own chest.
The chamber exploded with red light.
The creature stopped midair, shrieking.
Every hand on the walls burned away.
The black door slammed shut.
Then cracks spread across Arin's body like broken glass.
Mira caught him before he fell.
Blood on her hands.
"Arin… what did you do?"
He tried to speak.
Instead, another voice came out through his mouth.
Cold.
Ancient.
Awake.
"Thank you for freeing me."
Arin's eyes opened again—
Completely black.
To Be Continued…