As Albert and I stood before the entrance of the cave, its dark abyss seemed to mock our curiosity. The feeble rays of sunlight penetrated only a short distance, fading into an impenetrable blackness. Silence hung in the air as we exchanged apprehensive glances.
"Well, who's going in there?" Albert finally spoke, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Summoning a shaky tone to mask my own fear, I replied, "Heh, what's the worst that could happen?" Gathering my courage, I took a step towards the ominous cave. "I'll go inside. You two can wait here," I announced, determined to uncover the mysteries hidden within.
Albert and our friend Arthur remained silent, their faces etched with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "We will just wait for you here!" Arthur called out, his voice tinged with a touch of anxiety.
Stepping into the cave, I felt an immediate chill in the air, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin. With each step, the sound of my own breath grew louder, echoing through the narrow passageway. The daylight quickly diminished, giving way to an all-encompassing darkness. Yet, I pressed on, hoping to find something of value, something ancient and extraordinary within these cavernous depths.
Lost in my thoughts and the eerie surroundings, I suddenly realized that I had strayed too far. Panic gripped me as I turned around, searching for the comforting glow of daylight, but it had vanished. Darkness enveloped me completely, leaving me disoriented and isolated in this shadowy labyrinth.
Fear surged through me, my heart racing, as I called out desperately, "Albert! Arthur! Where are you?"
No response came, only the haunting silence of the cave. Determined to find my way back, I stumbled forward, my hands outstretched, searching for any semblance of a path. But the darkness seemed to stretch infinitely, and the weight of hopelessness settled upon me.
Then, a glimmer of red caught my attention from around a corner. A feeble light, barely discernible, beckoned me towards it. Renewed with a flicker of hope, I hastened towards the source, my steps quickening as the light grew brighter, dispelling the oppressive darkness.
As I rounded the corner, a breathtaking sight unfolded before my eyes. Five colossal mushrooms, radiating a crimson glow, formed a perfect circle. At the center of this enigmatic display, perched upon a stone chair, sat a skeletal figure.
Drawn closer by an irresistible force, I approached one of the glowing mushrooms, my gaze fixated upon it. Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed behind me, startling me from my trance. I spun around, and to my astonishment, witnessed the impossible—the skeleton stirred to life. A surge of wind encircled the chamber, and a whirlwind of dust engulfed me, obstructing my vision.
The man's bones rearranged themselves, gradually transforming into a middle-aged figure. In a matter of seconds, he stood before me, his eyes penetrating, filled with a malevolent intelligence. My body froze, incapable of movement, as he drew closer, his presence commanding and overpowering.
"Ah, Edward. How long I have waited for you," the man spoke, his voice both chilling and oddly familiar. I stammered, unable to comprehend the surreal situation unfolding before me. "Wh-who are you?" I managed to utter.
The man smiled wickedly, his gaze piercing into my very soul. "You want revenge, Edward. The darkness within you burns bright," he continued, his words resonating with an unsettling truth. Memories of my mother, wrongly accused and executed as a witch, flooded my mind, fueling my desire for retribution.
A realization dawned upon me—I was chosen for a purpose. The man knew my name, knew my darkest desires. In that moment, I admitted to myself what I had concealed for so long: an insatiable thirst for vengeance.
Desperation and resignation filled my voice as I asked, "What must I do?"
The man's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Not much, Eddy," he replied, his voice dripping with sinister satisfaction. "Take a seat upon that comfortable chair over there."
With my body finally under my command, I slowly approached the stone chair upon which he had perched. As I settled into its cold embrace, the man's gaze intensified. "You shall outlive every man and woman for centuries to come," he intoned, his voice resonating with an otherworldly power. "You shall be impervious to man-made weapons, wielding darkness itself as your instrument of destruction. Never shall you see the light again."
In a language unknown to me, the man began an incantation. The wind howled with intensity, and an excruciating pain seared through my body. The very essence of life seemed to drain from me, as if my existence was being rewritten. Darkness descended, and my consciousness slipped away.
When I awoke, the man was gone, reduced to a mere pile of dust. My wounds had healed, and an insatiable hunger gnawed at my insides. Yet, it was not physical sustenance I craved; it was the pursuit of my darkest desires.
I came out of the cave, headed straight to the village where my mother was hanged.
600 years later
Carl stood at the mouth of the forbidding cave, his heart heavy with grief. The recent loss of his father, who had been wrongfully sentenced to life in prison, still haunted his every thought. The pain of injustice burned within him, fueling a desire for answers, for revenge.
