the silent heartbeat

Chapter 40

[Note: This is the last Chapter of the story. The next one will be the Prologue. Thank you for supporting Constance Everdeen's story from the start until the end]

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Chapter 40

As I raced through the forest just as what they have told me, my heart pounded with a mixture of desperation and determination. The shadows of the trees seemed to grow darker, twisting and stretching like they were alive, as if they could sense my urgency. Every step brought me closer to the faint glimmer of hope in the distance—the place where I might find Oliver. The pouch containing all six keys dangled at my side, a heavy weight that reminded me of the importance of my mission. I could feel its energy pulsing, almost as if it were alive, guiding me forward.

As much as I want to go back and help them, I can't. I have to finish this mission and I have to follow what they said. If I don't, then everyone's efforts will be put to peril. And guessing from their eyes, they wanted to finish the mission.

Damn, two weeks really came by pretty quickly. In many fantasy books, missions like this can end up to one month or two. Others, years. But this one, is a hell of a short one. I don't know why. Maybe the writer is really excited to finish this story that's why he moved the events far too fast.

I just sighed.

I continued to run away and tried to find something that will lead me to Oliver. I remember that Elowen said that if I obtained the six keys, there must be a door that leads to what I want to find. But until now, I can't see it.

Maybe I need to search more.

But then, just as I thought I was getting farther, I felt something tighten around my ankle. My heart sank as I looked down to see a thick, dark rope wrapping itself around my foot, binding me in place. Before I could react, the rope yanked me backward with a violent force. I struggled, trying to shake it off, but it was relentless. Panic surged through me as I was dragged through the dirt and leaves, my fingers clawing at the ground in a futile attempt to free myself.

I fought and thrashed, but the rope was too strong. In moments, I found myself pulled into a shadowed clearing, and my heart froze. Standing before me was the entity, cloaked in darkness, its eyes gleaming with a malevolent satisfaction. It wore a twisted smile that made my skin crawl, a smile that seemed to relish in my fear and helplessness. The cold grip of terror settled deep in my stomach as I realized that there was no escaping him this time.

"Ah, young woman," the entity hissed, its voice a mixture of amusement and malice. "So determined, so foolish." It loomed closer, and I felt its cold breath on my skin, chilling me to the core. I tightened my grip on the pouch, clinging to it as if it were my last hope.

The entity's gaze fell on the pouch in my hands, and its smile grew wider, more sinister. "You really think you can complete this mission? That you can save your friends?" It laughed, a deep, hollow sound that echoed through the trees. "I will not let you finish this mission. I told you, I will kill you all."

Before I could respond, before I could even gather the strength to defy it, the entity extended a clawed hand. In its grip appeared a long, dark thorn, sharp and menacing, almost as if it were forged from the essence of despair itself. My eyes widened in horror as it brought the thorn toward me, slowly, deliberately, savoring every second of my dread.

I tried to pull away, but the ropes binding my feet held me fast. I was trapped, unable to escape, unable to defend myself. The entity leaned closer, its cruel smile stretching wider as it pressed the thorn against my stomach. I felt a sickening pressure as the tip of the thorn broke my skin, piercing through the layers of flesh with excruciating slowness.