When I wake up, the first thing I notice is the smell. It's sharp, metallic, and foul—a mix of blood and rot that makes my stomach churn.
My head is pounding, my body feels like it's been trampled by a herd of wild horses, and my mouth is dry as sand.
I blink, trying to clear the fog from my vision, and slowly sit up. The ground beneath me is cold and damp, and the air is thick with an eerie stillness.
As my eyes adjust, I realize I'm in some kind of cavern. The walls are jagged and dark, glistening faintly with moisture.
The only light comes from a few scattered crystals embedded in the stone, casting a faint, ghostly glow.
And then I see them—monster corpses. Dozens of them.
Twisted, grotesque creatures with blackened skin and jagged claws, their bodies torn apart as if they'd been ripped to shreds by something far more terrifying than they were.
I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. What the hell happened here? And more importantly, what happened to me?
"Ah, you're finally awake," a voice says, cutting through the silence.
It was the same voice I heard before I blacked out—mocking, haughty, and dripping with amusement. "Took you long enough, brat."
I clench my fists, my mind racing. "Who are you?" I demand, my voice hoarse. "And what the hell are you doing in my head?"
The voice laughs, a low, grating sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "Oh, come on, Lucas. Don't tell me you've forgotten already. We used to be so close, you and I."
I grit my teeth, frustration bubbling up inside me. "I don't have time for your games. Answer me. Who are you?"
There's a pause, and then the voice speaks again, its tone dripping with mockery. "Fine, fine. If you insist. My name is Aro. And as for what I am… let's just say I'm your guide. Or at least, I was. Until you decided to shut me out."
Aro. The name stirs something in the back of my mind, a faint memory of a time long past. But I push it aside for now. There are more pressing questions.
"My party," I say, my voice tight with worry. "Are they… are they okay?"
Aro snorts, the sound dismissive. "The archer girl—Katherine, was it?—was still alive when I left. Barely. As for the others… well, let's just say the high orc wasn't feeling particularly merciful."
My stomach drops. Joseph, Viona, Grant… all of them, gone. And Jessica… I close my eyes, trying to push the memories away, but they come flooding back anyway.
Her lifeless body, the orc's cruel laughter, the blood… I shake my head, forcing myself to focus.
Katherine might still be alive. That's something. But where is she now? And where am I?
"Where are we?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Aro's tone is almost gleeful as he responds. "Oh, you're going to love this. We're in the Shadow's Crypt. A lovely little dungeon, isn't it? Filled with all sorts of nasty creatures. And you, my dear Lucas, have been busy."
I look around again, taking in the carnage. The monster corpses, the blood splattered across the walls, the claw marks gouged into the stone.
My stomach churns as I realize what he's implying. "You're saying… I did this?"
Aro laughed, the sound echoing in my mind. "Oh, don't sound so surprised. You've always had a knack for destruction, even if you've been trying to suppress it. But don't worry, I'm here to help you embrace it again. After all, we've got a lot of catching up to do."
I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "I don't need your help. I don't want it."
Aro's laughter fades, replaced by a cold, menacing tone. "Oh, but you do, Lucas. Whether you like it or not, we're bound together. And if you want to survive this place—if you want to find Katherine and get out of here alive—you're going to need me. So stop being so stubborn and start listening."
I want to argue, to tell him to go to hell, but deep down, I know he's right. I'm in no condition to fight my way out of this dungeon on my own.
And if Katherine is still out there, I need to find her. Afterall it's better me and her are the only survivors than for it to be just me.
"Fine," I mutter, my voice heavy with resignation. "But don't think for a second that I trust you."
Aro chuckles, the sound dark and ominous. "Oh, Lucas. Trust is overrated. All that matters is survival. And trust me, brat, we're just getting started."