Expelled Souls

Into the abyss

Noah stood in the dim, eerie light of Alethra's room, desperation etched on his face. His heart was heavy with the weight of the recent events and the need to find Ivy. He knew he had to get Alethra to help him find her, to talk with her.

“Alethra,” Noah began, his voice trembling with urgency, “I need you to come with me to the hospital. I need to speak with Ivy. I need to make sure she’s alright.”

Alethra’s blind eyes turned toward him, her expression calm but inscrutable. “And why should I help you?” she asked, her voice steady. “You and Ivy are not spirits, but expelled souls. To help her, you must first understand the cost of what you ask. Join us.”

Noah’s heart sank. He knew that joining the retribution meant fighting against Ivy’s family, the very people who had caused so much suffering. But he was determined. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said, his voice firm. “Just please help me find her.”

Alethra studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. “Very well. But know that this comes with a price. If you falter in your duty, you will be bound to the retribution forever.”

Noah nodded, a sense of resolve settling over him. “I understand. Let’s go.”

With Alethra by his side, Noah made his way back to the hospital. The sterile white walls and the humming of fluorescent lights seemed more oppressive than ever. Alethra began her search, her hands moving through the air as if feeling for something intangible.

“She’s not here,” Alethra said after a moment, her voice tinged with frustration. “You and Ivy are bound to each other in a way that goes beyond mere spirits. You are expelled souls, and you are tethered to this place.”

Noah’s heart pounded as Alethra placed her hand gently on Ivy’s forehead. “Where is she?” Noah asked, panic rising in his voice.

Alethra closed her eyes, her expression softening as she concentrated. “Ivy is not in the hospital in the way you think. She is trapped inside her own mind, living through her most traumatic memories over and over again. She is stuck in a maze of her own making.”

Noah’s heart ached at the realization. “Is there any way I can help her?”

Alethra’s gaze turned serious. “You can enter her mind and help her navigate her trauma. But be warned—it is a dangerous journey. If you cannot help her break free from her memories, you may become trapped within her mind forever.”

Noah’s determination flared. “I’ll do it. I need to help her.”

Alethra nodded, her expression somber. “Prepare yourself. The path ahead is fraught with peril.”

As Alethra began the incantation to connect Noah with Ivy’s consciousness, he felt a strange sensation pulling him into a whirlpool of swirling darkness. The world around him dissolved, leaving him suspended in an abyss of chaotic thoughts and emotions.

When the sensation eased, Noah found himself in a distorted, unsettling landscape. The ground was uneven, the sky a swirling mix of dark colors. It felt as though he was standing in a world that defied all logic. The air was thick with the echoes of Ivy’s pain and guilt.

“Noah?” he heard a faint voice. He turned, his heart racing as he saw Ivy’s figure in the distance, her form blurred and ethereal. “I’m here, Ivy!” he called out, trying to reach her. “I’m here to help.”

Noah’s breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted after Ivy. The oppressive darkness pressed in from all sides, and his heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination. He could hear Ivy’s voice, faint but unmistakable, and he followed it desperately.

“Ivy!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the whole basement, seeing the horror he lived once and Ivy lived for uncountable times. “Stop looking! You have to let go. Let go of this!”

But Ivy was caught in a relentless loop, her murmurs barely audible over the clamor of her guilt and regret. “It’s my fault… I’m a failure…”

The sight of her suffering tore at Noah’s heart. Tears filled his eyes as he knelt beside her, gently cupping her face to force her to look at him.

“Ivy, look at me,” he pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’m right here. It’s not your fault. You are not a failure. I’m so sorry for everything. I’m sorry for getting mad. Please, forgive me.”

Her eyes, clouded with pain, slowly focused on him. He could see her confusion melting away as she began to process his words. The oppressive darkness around them seemed to lift slightly as she realized he was there for her.

Noah took her hands, his own trembling. “We’re in this together. I know it’s hard, but we can get through this. You don’t have to face this alone.”

As she reached out to him, the air around them shimmered with the intensity of their emotions. They embraced tightly, their connection becoming a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness. But just as they began to feel a semblance of peace, a chilling presence approached.

Her father appeared, his face cold and menacing. “You think you can escape this?” he sneered. “You think you can defy me?”

“Noah, look out!” Ivy’s voice was urgent, but the oppressive force of her father’s presence made it hard to act.

Her father raised his hand, preparing to strike. Noah and Ivy faced him together, their resolve hardening. The battle that ensued was fierce, their movements fueled by a mixture of fear, anger, and determination. Noah could feel Ivy’s strength and pain merging with his own as they fought back.

“Dad stop!” Ivy shouted, her voice breaking through the chaos. “Dad please!”

In a final, desperate effort, Ivy unleashed her pent-up emotions, channeling them into a powerful force. “I am sorry, dad... ” Noah stood by her side, their combined strength overpowering her father. With a final, powerful strike, they brought him down, turning him into dust.

As her father fell, Ivy felt a surge of liberation. The crushing weight of guilt and fear began to lift, replaced by a profound sense of relief and freedom. The maze of her mind started to dissolve, revealing a bright, welcoming light.

Noah and Ivy stood together, their breathing heavy but their spirits lifted. They were slowly disappearing, but this time not in uncertainty. They were going home.

“Ivy,” Noah said softly, his voice filled with awe. “You’re awake.”

Ivy’s eyes fluttered open. She was back in her hospital room, and Noah was no longer a ghost but solid and real. She reached out, her hands trembling with joy and disbelief.

“Noah…” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “You’re alive…”

Noah’s eyes filled with tears as he reached for her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I thought I’d lost you forever. I can’t believe this is real.”

“I was so scared,” Ivy said, her voice choked with emotion. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again.”

Noah held her tightly, his heart pounding with relief. “I’m here now. We’re together. And we’re going to get through this.”

Ivy looked up at him, her eyes full of warmth. “Thank you for coming back for me.”

Noah pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his voice soft. “I’d do anything for you. You mean everything to me.”