Midnight call

Echo

"No," Ivory whispered, her eyes wide with horror. "It can't be."

Malakai's smile grew wider as he began to transform. His body began to twist and contort, his limbs elongating and merging with the shadows.

"You may have won this battle," he hissed, his voice no longer human. "But the war is far from over."

Ivory stumbled back, her mind reeling with fear. She knew that she had never seen anything like this before.

Lucien and Ariana grabbed her arms, holding her steady.

"What is he?" Lucien whispered, his eyes fixed on the horror before them.

Ariana's face was pale. "I don't know," she said. "But we need to get out of here. Now."

As they turned to flee, Malakai's transformation completed. He rose to his feet, his body a twisted mass of darkness and shadow.

"You can't escape me," he hissed, his voice like a knife cutting through the air. "I will always find you."

Ivory knew that they had to get as far away from Malakai as possible. She grabbed her friends' hands and ran, the darkness closing in behind them like a living thing.

But as they emerged into the bright sunlight, Ivory knew that they weren't safe yet. Malakai's powers were growing stronger by the minute.

And she knew that she was the only one who could stop him. 

Ivory led her friends through the winding streets, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that Malakai could appear at any moment, his twisted form emerging from the shadows.As they ran, she could feel his eyes on her, boring into her skin. She knew that she had to come up with a plan, and fast."Where are we going?" Lucien asked, his breath coming in ragged gasps."The old windmill on the outskirts of town," Ivory replied, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "It's the only place I can think of where we might be safe."Ariana nodded, her face set in determination. "I know the place," she said. "Let's go."As they approached the windmill, Ivory could feel a strange energy emanating from within. It was as if the ancient stones themselves were humming with power.She pushed open the creaking door, revealing a dimly lit interior. The air was thick with dust, and the smell of decay hung heavy over everything.But Ivory knew that this was their only hope. She led her friends inside, slamming the door shut behind them.As they caught their breath, Ivory began to search the windmill, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of Malakai.But as she reached the top floor, she realized that they were not alone.A figure stood waiting for them, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.The figure stepped forward, its features becoming clearer with each passing moment. Ivory's heart skipped a beat as she realized who it was."Echo?" she whispered, her voice trembling with shock.Echo, the mysterious witch who had trained Ivory in the ways of magic, stood before them. Her eyes gleamed with a knowing light, and her presence seemed to fill the entire room."I've been waiting for you," Echo said, her voice low and husky. "I knew you'd come here eventually."Ivory's mind reeled with questions. "How did you know?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Echo smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I have my ways," she said. "But we don't have much time. Malakai will find you soon."Ariana stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. "What do you know about Malakai?" she demanded.Echo's expression turned serious. "I know that he's not what he seems," she said. "He's been consumed by a dark power, one that threatens to destroy us all."Lucien's eyes widened in shock. "What power?" he asked.Echo's gaze locked onto Ivory's. "The power of the Shadow Weaver," she said. "And Ivory is the only one who can stop him."