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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Chris's past
The eerie, ghostly atmosphere created by the starbursts was starting to fade, signaling to the agents that the nightly nightmare in this hellish place might finally be ending. The vibrant colors of the garden flowers were slowly becoming more visible, along with the glistening morning dew. However, the transition from night to dawn was agonizingly slow.
The agents moved in silence, lined up as they headed toward their shelter. Chris's face was still obscured by his gas mask. Bernard avoided eye contact with the others, his expression clouded with guilt. Liz suddenly stepped in his way, her eyes locked on his with a serious look—she seemed irritated. Bernard shifted his gaze to the side, uncomfortable. But to his surprise, Liz's expression softened into a smirk, and she pulled him into a gentle hug.
"Just like that? You're not mad at me?" Bernard asked, still ashamed.
Liz shook her head subtly. "You weren't exactly in your right mind," she said, her tone sympathetic. "Trust me, I've been through some weird stuff too. I get it. But next time..." She paused, grinning slightly, "I'll break your nose. Just to snap you out of it quicker, no hard feelings."
Bernard chuckled, knowing she was half-joking. He was used to Liz's sarcastic humor, especially in tense moments. Though he couldn't quite wrap his head around how he had ended up in that state, he hoped never to experience it again. He continued walking, keeping his eyes forward.
The warmth of the cabin soon embraced them, the only place they could feel remotely safe. The fire in the hearth crackled as it consumed the wood, casting a soft glow. Under different circumstances, Liz might have enjoyed a quiet moment there with a hot cup of cocoa. But the thought of stepping back into the cursed atmosphere of the forest outside quickly dispelled any comfort.
Chris scanned the corners of the dining room, submachine gun in hand. Once he deemed the area clear, he removed his mask and tossed it onto the table.
"What's with the mask?" Liz asked, raising an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.
Chris wiped the sweat from his forehead with the palm of his hand, remaining calm. "I can't rule out the possibility that Bernard's behavior was triggered by some kind of spores in the garden," he said with a sigh, reloading his gun. "And as you've noticed, it's almost dawn," he added, gesturing to the windows. "But there's still one area of interest in the graveyard—where Agent Allen might have been. We should check it out right away."
Bernard frowned. "Isn't it still too dark? And besides, we need to rest," he objected, clearly exhausted.
Chris nodded in understanding. "I get it, but every day we wait, there's less light. That means less time to investigate. Once we check that spot, we'll leave the cemetery through the other exit. Then it's back to the forest, and that's where we'll need daylight the most."
Although Bernard didn't like the idea, he reluctantly agreed. The thought of finding some clue about Max pushed him forward. Despite the sleepless night, Liz didn't feel tired enough to sleep.
