Chapter 27
1149 Words
"It really looks like the other side, but... I don't know... I think it’s going to be too dangerous..."
His consciousness gradually returns, and as his heavy fingers move among the stones, voices echo nearby.
"At least it would be over quicker, right? Two or three steps should be enough to reach the other side."
Blinking briefly, blurry images come into view. Darkness dominates most of what he can see, but... there’s an illuminated path that stands out from the rest of the environment, and two shadows... that’s all he can make out.
"That’s the problem. Clearly, the paths have been getting larger, one after the other. I'd even say they're doubling in size with each level, but... this? Not only lit, but also a path that can be crossed in a few steps...? It's obvious this is a trap, they didn’t even try to hide it."
Bracing his hands on the stones, he struggles to stand. His eyes open, but for some strange reason, his body feels incredibly heavy. Still, he doesn't give up.
"Yeah, maybe so, but what path are we going to take then? The one with the creatures?"
"No, if the paths are increasing in size, then the number of creatures likely follows the same pattern. This is the fourth level, so... I can't even imagine how many there might be."
"In that case, we’re left with two options. The one unlocked at the third level and this one, the smaller one. Neither seems to have traps like the others, and obviously, no creatures. The problem is, I’m not sure if my gear can withstand another challenge like the last one, especially if it’s even more intense."
A sigh echoed.
"Fine, we’ll go with the smaller one."
"In that case, I won’t need this, so..." Hearing the sound of stones shifting, Hye turned, his cold eyes settling on someone in a deplorable state. "Hm... So you woke up..."
His vision sways along with his body, and after stumbling, he walked toward his "companions." No "Are you okay?" or any sign of concern. On the contrary, those cold eyes seemed to convey that this shouldn’t have happened, that his standing up again was a stroke of incredible luck.
"Yes... thanks for waiting..."
With skin growing paler and veins visible even on his face... as Hye analyzed him, he realized he wasn’t wrong. No... indeed, he shouldn’t have woken up. A poison so cruel, acting slowly, and the pain he must be feeling right now is not something to be ignored.
"But still, he keeps walking..."
"Excuse me?"
"No, it’s nothing..." Turning away, Hye started walking toward the illuminated path. "We’re moving now, come if you want."
"Ah, yes, of course..., I’ll go too."
[Congratulations]
[The third level of the second floor of the Tower of Six has been successfully completed]
[Complete the mission on the fourth level to proceed]
As they enter the path, their steps falter. Walking is no longer possible. Their bodies become paralyzed, the pupils in their eyes vanish, leaving only the whites. But within them, the paralysis doesn’t exist, nor does the white. Darkness consumes everything from all sides.
"Hye...?!"
Looking around, Samantha turns pale. Dark-skinned, with smooth black hair and dark eyes, standing before her is...
"Carol..."
Stepping back, she takes a single step. Her hands tremble, and her body feels heavy; no further movement is possible. Surrounding her rises the graveyard of the fallen; the cradle of heroes.
"You were supposed to take care of him... so why...?"
Golden tiles extend beneath her feet, and around her, dead trees sway with the blow of a cold wind. From the ground, hands rise, grabbing onto her legs.
"Why?!"
A voice so familiar, one she hasn’t heard in so long... Samantha knows it’s not real, her mind is absolutely certain of it, but... she can’t resist at all.
"Why is he in a place like this? In a dungeon! Is this how you’re taking care of him?!"
The hands pull her, and her body sinks as if being absorbed into the ground.
"No, I... it wasn’t my fault... I didn’t..."
"I had no choice...?"
The warmth of blood-covered hands on her face... soft and comforting... made Samantha forget, for a moment, that this wasn’t reality.
"Our parents didn’t have a choice either, right? And yet..."
"No...! That was..."
"An accident?"
The fingers slide down to her neck, and while Samantha can't even lift her arms or think about resisting, her breath fades slowly.
"Of course, an accident! Always an accident, right, Sam?!"
The appearance of such a twisted smile on a face that was always full of so much joy and tenderness made Samantha smile for a brief moment. As her consciousness fades, the desire to fight back never reached her, but that sickening smile, at least, reassured her... reminding her of the fact that this wasn’t the one she knew and loved...
"When are you going to stop running and take responsibility?! Just as pathetic as you’ve always been. Our parents didn’t deserve such a miserable end, not because of you! So do everyone a favor and just die! Come on, Sam! Die! Die..."
Suddenly, the voice vanished.
"Aunt...?"
Lifting her head and opening her eyes, Samantha saw Hye standing in front of her.
"Are you alright?!"
Raised eyebrows and wide eyes. Such a worried expression that, due to her condition, seemed completely unreal. But the warmth of his hands on her arms... again... how could this be possible?
"Hye, I..."
Something shatters, and as she covers her eyes, a red liquid runs down. The metallic smell spreads, and destruction rises around her—destroyed houses and wrecked cars, bodies littering the ground as far as she can see.
"Samantha..."
The claws sunk into the chest of the one before her extend backward, forming the monster that controls them. But the one who should have been Hye changes before her eyes. Her legs give out, and as she collapses onto the blood-stained ground, Samantha finds herself facing a scene she had tried for so long to forget.
"Girls... run..."
Exactly like before, the creature’s claws are embedded in her parents’ chests and... just like what happened that day... without even looking back... Samantha ran...
The blood-soaked ground stretched beneath her small feet, while her sister’s cries for help echoed from where their parents were. Ignoring everything, including the bodies scattered around, once again, repeating the same act, she simply ran away from it all... until... everything vanished...
"Aunt..!" a voice echoed distantly. "Aunt! Are you alright?"
Her eyes opened once again, and once more, Hye stood before her.
"No! Get away! Stay away! Stay..."
Curling up in the darkest corner of the waiting room, her eyes shut tight, and while the touch of that hand on her neck lingered, the tears streamed down her face.
"Stay away... please... please, stay away..."
- Writer
