Several disappearances and unexplained events have been registered shorty after the commercialization of an ancient statue linked to some legends from a mysterious place called "Reich der Finsternis" in eastern Germany, there is no know route leadin...
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The awakening
Control of her body slowly returned, while Liz's mind still struggled to process her surroundings. A flash of light from the ceiling illuminated a disorienting scene: a mix of red and black colors merging together like a broken screen. The image soon transformed into a horrifying Renaissance art gallery, imbued with Machiavellian terror. Distressed faces depicted visceral pain, their suffering intensified by demonic figures lurking at the edges. The blow she had received was beginning to subside, and with considerable effort, Liz managed to sit up, feeling the rough stone of the bed beneath her.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, a sharp burning sensation radiated from her abdomen. An unsettling image flashed involuntarily in her mind and vanished instantly: deformed, cruelly mutilated beings. The agent moaned, struggling to erase the ghastly scene from her thoughts. She took a deep breath, touching her body to anchor herself in reality. Then she realized: her jacket and all her belongings were missing.
Although things seemed to be improving momentarily, a burning sensation halted her. She lifted her shirt, revealing scarred wounds in the shape of a five-pointed star, identical to the symbol she had discovered in the cabins. As she touched the area, a pain as intense as a second-degree burn shot through her, but more surprisingly, the wound had already begun to heal. She pulled down her shirt, still troubled. Looking around for answers, she was surprised to find her jacket and belongings, including her gun and radio transmitter, nearby. Yet, it was the enigma of her captors' intentions that troubled her most.
With quick, unsteady movements, she gathered her belongings. She took a deep breath, recalling the meditation techniques she had learned with Rick to calm her nerves. Inhaling and exhaling, she remembered her instructor's patient advice, even though the place she found herself in was the complete opposite of a peaceful refuge.
Her immediate goal was clear: to investigate and report on the mysterious individuals who had attacked her and to uncover the identity of the old woman who had tried to stop her. The chapel where she was located was filled with dark symbols and strange aromas of incense and other substances. The images on the walls evoked the worst nightmares, and on a stone altar rested a large heart covered in dark blood.
Relief washed over her as she realized she had not met a grim end in that place. She glanced at the walls, adorned with a crimson tapestry with gold stripes. But the real horror lay in the grotesque images covering the chapel: dismemberments, vampirism, and extreme tortures, all seemingly guided by the motto "the bloodier the death, the better." Liz sensed that a ritual had been performed there, and her survival only fueled her curiosity.
She took a deep breath, pushing the disturbing images from her mind and recovering from the disorientation that had overtaken her. With one last look at the place that bore witness to its horrors, she decided it was best to leave.
She hurried to the heavy chapel gates, opening them with determination; the sunlight momentarily blinded her. The oppressive silence of the chapel was broken, replaced by the sounds of the forest. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized it was still daytime. The stark contrast between the gloomy interior and the bright exterior made her feel as though she were waking from a nightmare.
Darkness was creeping into the forest, accompanied by the incessant cawing of crows. A biting cold cut through to the bone, unusually intense for the season. A thick fog enveloped the surroundings, shrouding everything in a veil of mystery. Liz knew she didn't have much time left to rejoin her team.
Her heart pounded as she drew her gun, remaining alert while searching for her companions. Every sound and movement around her seemed potentially dangerous. Suddenly, the radio transmitter emitted a sound that filled her with hope. Without hesitation, she answered.
"This is Liz, any updates on the situation?" she asked anxiously, expecting to hear Bernard's voice, but it was her leader's voice that responded.
"This is Max. Everything okay with you, babe?" Max's words felt uncomfortable to Liz, but the relief of being able to communicate with someone made her overlook the condescending tone. "I've been waiting here for quite a while. I ordered you all to meet here," he added, pretending to be concerned. "Anyway, now that you know, I expect you to show up. Tell your buddy."
"Why didn't you tell him in the first place?" Liz asked, confused. "You're our leader, I'm not your secretary."
"Oh, he's not with you?" Max replied with a mocking tone. "I didn't think he had the guts to investigate on his own. Maybe he's hiding under a bed or in a closet since he hasn't responded. Next time, I'll invite my little niece to take his place."
"Great," Liz said with irony. "Now, if you can stop being a jerk for a moment, I'd appreciate it if you'd listen," she shouted, tightening her grip on the radio transmitter. Max laughed and didn't take the insult seriously. Liz seized the opportunity to describe in detail everything she had experienced.
"Maybe they wanted something from you," Max commented, without much surprise.
"Yes, but that's not all," Liz replied. "There's something not right about these people," she said, struggling to describe the situation as disturbing images returned to her mind. "I swear I've never seen anything so horrifying, and I've faced degenerates, pedophiles, and sadistic serial killers."
"Interesting," Max said, in a questioning tone. "Anyway, when we meet, you'll tell me everything in more detail. Now let's find your buddy. You know, that's the downside of traveling with little girls: you have to play babysitter. Over and out."
Liz felt the urge to respond to Max's comments, but the overwhelming anguish she was experiencing forced her to remain silent. Thoughts of Bernard brought back the horrific images of the chapel, prompting her to confirm to her leader that she was on her way and set out in search of her friend.
The macabre atmosphere of the forest did not make the search any easier, and Liz had no idea where she was or which direction to take. As she assessed her situation, a movement among the large clumps of leaf litter caught her attention, making her heart skip a beat. She recalled the terrified faces of the villagers with scarlet eyes and golden pupils glimpsed through the shadows. Through the trees, she could only make out a shadowy figure of a man before he disappeared from view. Liz decided to follow him, hoping he would lead her to her destination, though she first loaded her gun, determined not to be caught off guard again.
The forest was shrouded in a dense grayish haze. Despite the conditions, she did not lose the man's trail. Her agility allowed her to avoid stumbling over the logs and branches scattered along the path, though these obstacles slowed her progress. It was hard to imagine that beings with a cadaverous appearance could move so quickly, and the man's trail grew fainter and fainter. She ignored the raucous screeching of the crows as she ran with increasing speed, striving not to lose the man who had taken the lead. Among the tall trees, she saw lights similar to those of the hut where she had her first encounter with the villagers. She came to a halt as she heard shouts and gunshots that sent birds flying from the trees. The sounds came from the village a few yards away, accompanied by spectral moans and more gunfire.
Determined to help and hoping to gather information about Bernard, Liz moved deeper into the village. She stepped onto a cobblestone path and quickly scanned the half-timbered houses and a small stream. Without time to fully assess the scene, she jogged across a bridge over the creek, the creak of her footsteps echoing in the village's eerie silence. After zigzagging between the cottages and narrow alleys, she heard a voice and gunshots as she approached a small square where another gothic church stood. It was Bernard, fighting desperately against one of the decomposed beings, who attacked with a violence reflecting the intense hatred of the infernal entities. Next to him lay another of those creatures, dead on the ground with bullet wounds that leaked dark fluid.
A peasant was fiercely attacking Bernard with an axe, determined to kill him at all costs. With a strong push, Bernard stopped the attack and, without hesitation, took a firm stance. With a few precise shots, he felled the man with mortal wounds from which gushed the characteristic dark blood that increasingly aroused Liz's curiosity.
"LIZ!" Bernard shouted in terror, noticing his companion's arrival. "I could use some help!"
