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 courthouse
Inside the palace, trumpets blared in unison from the top of the tower. The rising anxiety gnawed at the agents' nerves; Bernard almost wished that sound was heralding the beginning of Armageddon, to finally end the cruel nightmare they were trapped in. Liz, on the other hand, was frantically searching for Chris, scanning the palace's grand facade, but there was no sign of him. She took advantage of a distracted guard to try and contact him, but there was no response.
With the guard momentarily off-guard, they managed to assess the area as relatively safe. The Forest of Doom lay behind them now, but the grotesque creatures that prowled these chambers were a stark reminder that they were stepping into another domain of unimaginable horrors.
The urgency to devise a strategy to infiltrate the palace and the fear of what awaited them if they failed had prevented them from truly appreciating the imposing structure before them. The palace, with its two main wings forming a "C" shape, featured pristine white walls and vivid roofs, a prime example of Baroque architecture. At its center, a capitol tower rose high, crowned by a bell tower. None of the agents had ever had the chance to visit the old continent under better circumstances, but what they saw now resembled one of the majestic buildings one might expect to see on a dream vacation.
"I know this is gonna sound crazy," Bernard said, gazing at the nuances of the magnificent construction, "but... this place is stunning."
"It's not that different from people," Liz replied, her gaze lingering on the building. "They draw you in with their exterior beauty—their faces, their bodies—but once you get to know what's inside, they're rotten."
Bernard found himself at a loss for words, his expression showing he understood what she meant. Once they refocused on their objective, they tried to reach Chris again through the radio. This time, his voice came through immediately.
"Liz, Bernard," Chris's voice was labored, like someone who'd been running, "they're right on my tail. I just made it through the west lobby. You two should circle around to the other side; things are heating up here. I'll get in touch once I'm in the clear. For now, over and out."
The brief report gave them some relief. With the queen's crown recovered, their priorities were clear: continue investigating the blood transfer ritual and locate Max. Liz noticed arched wooden gates flanking the palace, marking the entrance to the main halls. Without consulting Bernard, she drew her weapon, bracing herself for a new confrontation filled with unimaginable adversities.
"Hold up," Bernard warned, preparing his gun. "We're inside, sure, but we still don't have a real plan. How are we supposed to find Max? And what if we do find him—then what? What if he's not even here?"
"I'm glad you asked," Liz answered with a forced smile. "We'll link up with Chris, but until then, we assume Max is in some dungeon. If he's alive, we get him out and back to camp—but not before I get to break the bastard's nose for ditching us." She cracked her knuckles, eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.
