Eternal Echoes ✔

Chapter 37: Confrontation with the Unknown

The group stood in a tense silence, the cavern's ethereal glow casting an otherworldly light on their faces. Thomas's eyes met Olivia's, searching for any sign of doubt. He gave a hesitant nod.

Olivia stepped forward, the ancient amulet glowing with an eerie light in her hand. She closed her sightless eyes, focusing her thoughts. The air around them grew colder, and a low hum filled the cavern.

The hum grew louder, resonating off the cavern walls, intensifying with each passing second. It vibrated through their bones, a pulsating energy that seemed to blur the line between reality and the supernatural.

And then, with a suddenness that took their breath away, the hum ceased. The group looked at each other, wary of the abrupt silence, their breaths visible in the chilled air. All eyes turned to Olivia, who stood in the same spot, her face serene but unnervingly still. For a moment, it even looked like she wasn't breathing.

A shiver ran down Thomas's spine. "Olivia?" he called softly, but she didn't respond.

A low, mocking voice echoed in Olivia's mind, sending a chill through her consciousness. "Well, look who's finally decided to use the power."

The young artist looks around, all is dark with sometimes a small light ball flying around. A dark and tall hooded figure stands before her. Under the hood, she can see its sharp teeth through his smile.

"Listen" Olivia starts, her words sharp and straightforward. "I do not want this. I do not care for you or your powers. All I want is to get home, with my friends. I want this all to be over, to stop."

The figure's smile widens even more. "You can have so much more, young, naïve child. You can have everything your heart desires."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She nervously wipes her hands off the beautiful navy blue dress her friends had given her.

"Oh silly little girl, I have been living in your mind for quite a while now. I know everything." The figure moves behind Olivia, its hand resting on her shoulders. "All your thoughts, Emotions, longings." The whispers in her ear felt cold and sent a shiver down her spine.

"Whatever you think you know," Olivia breaks free from him and positions herself in front of him again. "No, you don't, you don't know anything."

"O honey, yes I do." The figure steps closer. "I know about the girl."

"What girl, there is no girl." Olivia turns on her heel and steps away from the figure while playing with the rings on her fingers.

"Child, I am more than a millennia old, there is no fooling me. I have seen this a thousand times." The figure moves closer and takes Olivia's hand from behind. "The way your heart beats faster when she holds your hand, the way your thoughts drift to some very visual and creative scenes of you two performing the marital act when she laid next to you." In one easy pull, it turned her around. "Honey, I'm not blind, you are... in more ways than one."

"Nope, I have no idea what you're talking about." Her voice was shaky and she took a moment to swallow some saliva that had formed. "You're making it all up."

"Deny it all you want, I know you want the girl with the shoulder-length raven black hair."

Olivia can feel her cheeks getting warmer, her legs are starting to shake and her heart is beating out of control. "I- ... I-" All she can do is stutter.

The figure's presence seemed to grow darker, the air thickening with its ominous power. Olivia's mind raced, but she forced herself to stay calm, taking deep breaths to steady her shaking legs. She had to remain strong, for herself and her friends.

"I see I've struck a chord," the figure murmured, its voice a silky whisper that wrapped around her like a snake. "But denying your desires won't make them disappear. Embrace them, and you will live a happier life."

Olivia straightened her spine, finding a spark of defiance within herself. "I don't need your power. I don't need anything from you. All I need is to protect my friends and find a way out of this place."

The figure laughed, a low, chilling sound that echoed in the dark void. "Noble sentiments, but your heart tells a different story. You can't hide from me, Olivia. I am a part of you now."

She clenched her fists, feeling the cold metal of the rings against her skin. "You may be in my mind, but you do not control me. I will find a way to break free from you."

The figure's smile faded, replaced by a look of calculated menace. "Very well. If you insist on defying me, I won't help you getting out of here." The figure lowered itself to match Olivia's height. "But you will have no trouble finding your way out on your own right." It mocked her, its tone dripping with sarcasm.

Olivia's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her expression stern. "We don't need your help."

The figure's eyes glinted with a dark amusement. "Let's see how far your stubbornness gets you," it hissed. "Remember, Olivia, every step you take without my guidance brings you closer to the abyss."

The cavern around her seemed to pulse with the figure's words, the eerie glow flickering ominously. Olivia felt a chill run down her spine, but she forced herself to stand tall. "I'm not afraid of you," she said, her voice steady. "My friends are on my side."

"How long do you think that will last?" The figure growled. "Until they find out how you have been deceiving them? Or until you show them who you really are?"

Olivia's breath caught in her throat. She fought to maintain her composure, but the figure's words struck a nerve. "I haven't deceived them," she retorted, though her voice wavered slightly. "They know who I am."

The figure's dark laughter echoed through her head. "Do they? Truly? Do they know about the power you harbor? The thoughts you keep hidden? The girl you dream of?"

Olivia's heart pounded, and she clenched her fists tighter. "They know enough. And they trust me. That's what matters."

The figure leaned closer, its breath cold against her face. "Trust can be so fragile. One crack, one hint of betrayal, and it all crumbles. Are you ready to risk that?"

Before Olivia could respond, Thomas, unable to bear her distress any longer, reached out and grabbed the glowing amulet from her hands. "Olivia, snap out of it!" he urged, his voice laced with worry.

The moment Thomas touched the amulet, the figure vanished abruptly, leaving Olivia in mid-sentence. The cavern's glow flickered back to its original state, and Olivia gasped, stumbling as if the ground beneath her had shifted.

"Thomas!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of frustration and relief.

Rachel's eyes were wide with concern. "You were just standing there, not responding. We didn't know what was happening to you. Are you okay?"

Olivia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I... I think so."

The group gathered around Olivia, their faces etched with concern and confusion. The eerie glow of the cavern cast long shadows on the walls, amplifying their anxiety.

"Olivia," Micheal began, his voice soft but urgent, "what happened?"

Olivia took another deep breath, steadying herself. "I was... confronted by the entity. It knows everything about me, my thoughts, my desires. It tried to tempt me, but I refused."

Daniel frowned, glancing around the cavern. "So, what now? How do we get out of here without its help?"

Before Olivia could respond, a deep, rumbling voice echoed through the cavern, making the ground beneath them tremble. "You think you can defy me and leave this place? Foolish mortals."