The Weight of His Chains

Chapter 4

I shake off my feelings of unease and square my shoulders. I must continue on, because I've wasted so much precious time in this first level, who knows if Sky is still breathing right now.

Just the thought sends shivers down my spine, making my heart heavy with the feeling of being blamed for his death.

I stand at the edge of the darkness, the staircase yawns before me like a haunted abyss. Fear flows through my veins, a strange, haunted fear. My heart races, my legs feel like a ton each. They both feel uncooperative, barely holding me up. The darkness feels as if it's a physical force enveloping me whole.

I force myself to move, my footsteps echoing into the abyss. The air grows colder, grows heavier with every move going deeper into the void. My skin crawls, my eyes narrowed as I try not to slip and fall down to... whatever is under me.

Finally, I reach the bottom, my feet screaming in relief for stable ground. A large domed door stands idly before me, its presence like an evil mist. The yellow orb floats behind me, giving much needed light to this dark void. My fingers trace the shape of the black obsidian circle on the door, feeling the icy cold surface. Panic sets in as I realize something. I can't open the door. Without calling him...without calling Rainer.

"Only the touch of an otherworldly being can open these doors." he once said.

My mind recoils at the thought, dreading another encounter with that enigmatic being. He's so unsettling, how he knows my name, how he seems so familiar to me. I square my shoulders and bottle up my fear.

Just as my lips open to utter Rainers name, I feel a presence behind me. His hand closes on my shoulder, his fingers touch the obsidian circle, leaving behind bloody fingerprints.

I spin around, my heart racing, and I meet his gaze. Rainers eyes seem to bore into my soul, making my skin crawl.

"Do you fear me, Amelia?" he asks, his voice low and hypnotic.

I try to speak, but my voice disappears in my throat. Rainer's grip on my shoulder tightens, his translucent fingers digging into my skin.

"Your soul called out to me," he whispers, his breath cold in my ear. "It resonates with mine."

The door begins to open, creaking ominously, revealing a dimly lit hallway.

"Go." He whispers, his eyes never leaving mine, a small, mournful smile playing on his lips.

He gently pushes me forward, urging me to enter the unknown. My heart is pounding out of my chest, as I look back at him for the last time, a wide smile on his face, as he stands there, watching me walk into the void maw.

I turn around, my hands tightened into fists. I walk into the pitch black hallway, my footsteps echoing off the walls. My soul called out to him.. It resonates with him...

How could we even know each other?

The only people I know here are Sky and Yuu.

But there is a feeling, nibbling at my mind, that me and Rainer had an earlier connection I do not remember.

As the hallway ends, I step into what seems like a library. Cobweb shrouded bookcases stretch towards the ceiling, holding long lost spell books and ancient evil. The architecture is etched with symbols of the Black Sun, haunting eyes embedded onto the dusty floor. The air is heavy with the scent of forgotten knowledge and rotting wood, a disgusting odor that makes my nostrils burn.

Candles flicker on the floor, casting eerie shadows on the wall as I walk deeper into this abandoned library. Creepy piano music echoes through the library, with a bone chilling melody. The architecture itself seems to be a twisted maze of hidden chambers, designed to disorient. I feel like I'm being led deeper into a labyrinth of madness, my head pounding.