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 queen's cave
The horses rounded a large boulder, covered in moss and damp soil, the sharp scent of the earth lingering in the air. They stepped over fallen logs, arriving at the entrance to the catacombs. The entryway was marked by a stone arch, showing signs of decay. The ground sloped downward, vanishing into a pit of impenetrable darkness. Beside the entrance stood a stone statue of Anneliese Holzmann, encircled by black candles, only one of which remained lit.
The cavern's entrance was wide enough for the agents to pass through on horseback, but they opted to tie the horses off to the side, hoping no predators would find them. Bernard struggled to control his emotions; his breathing was labored, and his hands, slick with sweat, trembled slightly. In one hand, he clutched a picture of his family—Vanessa and Jayden, his wife and son—with their names written on the back. He held onto it whenever he needed strength. Liz couldn't blame him; they were about to walk straight into the lion's den, chasing after an object they weren't even sure existed. Still, she was determined. The more she thought about becoming part of the Holzmanns' deranged clan, the less she valued her own life.
Florian was the last to approach the cave, staring at it in awe before letting out a heavy sigh. He lowered his head, biting his lip, his brow furrowed with doubt.
"This is your last chance to back out," the villager warned, his tone serious.
"No way!" Liz burst out, surprising the others with her sudden energy. "We're not backing out now. Not after everything we've been through. I'm done with all the hesitation! If there's even a chance to end this nightmare, we're taking it—even if it kills us!"
The men exchanged astonished glances. Bernard knew Liz could be impulsive at times, but he had never seen her so willing to throw herself into the fire. Chris, who didn't want to get into the details, nodded in agreement.
"Enough said," the officer declared, his resolve firm. "We go in. It's our duty." He sighed, biting his lip. "How I wish the captain and the others would answer so we could call for reinforcements."
When he finished, he turned to Florian.
"We appreciate you getting us this far, but now I have to ask you to stand back and let us do our job."
Florian, still with his head bowed, pondered for a moment. His eyes reflected a mixture of resignation and determination. When he finally looked up, a spark of resolve flickered in his gaze.
"No... on second thought, I'm coming with you!" His decision startled the agents. "By now, the hunters are probably looking for me. If they find me, they'll drag me to a chapel for the transfer ritual—or they'll execute me publicly. That's just how it works around here. And honestly, I'm sick of this hellhole. I'll help you any way I can!"
Chris couldn't believe what he was hearing. He glanced at his comrades, searching for their reaction. Seeing no objections, the officer nodded, lowered his head, and stepped into the cave first, illuminating the path with his flashlight.
