Echoes of the Abyss || ✓

Chapter 18: The Farewell

The air within the mansion was thick with the remnants of magic and the echoing vibrations of the now-closed gateway. The ritual had worked; the portal to the otherworld was sealed, but at a dire cost. Laura was trapped on the other side, her fate sealed along with the malevolent spirits they had battled so fiercely against.

Sarah stood in the center of the room, her fingers still tingling from the powerful incantation she had just completed. The ancient journal lay open at her feet, its pages fluttering in the aftermath of the mystical energies. She was surrounded by the others—Alex, Mark, and a few surviving members of their group—all worn out but alive.

"Is it over?" Alex's voice broke the heavy silence, his eyes scanning the room for any lingering threats.

Sarah nodded, her heart heavy. "The gateway is closed. But Laura... she's gone."

Mark clenched his fists, his face a mask of grief and frustration. "There has to be something we can do. We can't just leave her there."

Before anyone could respond, a soft, ethereal glow began to fill the room. It was as if the very air around them was shimmering with a gentle light. The glow coalesced into a familiar form—Laura. She stood before them, her body translucent and radiating a serene aura.

"Laura?" Sarah whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and sorrow.

Laura smiled, her eyes filled with a calm acceptance. "Yes, it's me. The ritual worked, and the gateway is closed. The shadows are gone."

"But you're still there," Mark said, his voice breaking. "You're still trapped."

Laura shook her head gently. "I knew the risks when we started this. It was the only way to ensure the safety of our world. I'm at peace with it."

Tears streamed down Sarah's face. "We can't just let you go. There has to be another way."

Laura's expression softened with affection as she looked at her friends. "You have to let me go. This was my choice, my sacrifice. I've seen the other side, and it's not as terrifying as we thought. I'll be alright."

The mansion began to tremble, the walls groaning under an unseen pressure. Dust and debris started to fall from the ceiling, signaling the imminent collapse of the old structure.

"We need to get out of here," Alex urged, his voice urgent. "This place won't hold much longer."

Laura's form began to fade, her light growing dimmer. "Go," she said softly. "Live your lives. Remember me, but don't let my fate hold you back. You have a future ahead of you, all of you. Promise me you'll live it to the fullest."

Sarah took a step forward, her hand reaching out as if to touch Laura one last time. "We promise," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "We won't forget you."

Laura's figure flickered, her smile the last thing to disappear. "Thank you," her voice echoed softly. "Goodbye, my friends."

With a final, brilliant flash, she was gone.

The mansion shuddered violently, the floors beginning to buckle. Alex grabbed Sarah's arm, pulling her towards the door. "We have to move, now!"

The group raced through the crumbling hallways, dodging falling beams and debris. The once grand mansion was now a death trap, its structure collapsing under the strain of the ritual's aftermath.

 They burst out of the front door just as the roof caved in, the sound of splintering wood and shattering glass deafening.

Outside, they stumbled onto the lawn, gasping for breath and watching in stunned silence as the mansion imploded, sinking into a cloud of dust and rubble. The ancient building that had stood for centuries was now nothing more than a ruin.