Sophia could still feel the cold weight of the dark liquid clinging to her skin, wrapping around her like a shroud. Mr. Lee’s smile, sharp and predatory, cut through the haze, and she shuddered.
The air in the chamber grew even colder, pressing down on her, as though the shadows themselves held their breath.
“Now, Sophia,” he murmured, his voice a silky whisper, “you’re ready to understand what lies beyond mortal reach.”
She felt his hand at her back, guiding her forward toward the center of the room.
The walls around them began to shift again, those strange inscriptions pulsing with a rhythm that seemed almost alive, as if the chamber itself acknowledged her presence.
“Each of these symbols,” Mr. Lee said, his voice low and intent, “holds a memory, a soul, a sacrifice. And now… they’re watching you.”
He turned to her, his gaze as dark and deep as the pool. “They’re waiting to see if you’re worthy.”
Sophia’s heart pounded, the air heavy with an unseen energy, thrumming with potential and danger.
Kai’s footsteps were silent as he moved, his gaze lingering on her, almost… protective. She wasn’t sure why, but she found herself looking to him, seeking some reassurance in his eyes.
He nodded once, a small gesture, and said quietly, “Remember, Sophia. Fear will only consume you here.”
She straightened, drawing in a breath, and nodded back. “I’m not afraid.”
A flicker of a smile crossed Kai’s face, and she caught a rare glint of warmth. “Good. Then it’s time.”
Mr. Lee’s grip on her arm tightened, pulling her closer. “Take a look, Sophia. See the depth of what you’re about to become a part of.”
He gestured to the pool. The liquid seemed to shift, images flashing beneath its surface like a mirror showing glimpses of some other world.
Sophia saw vast, ancient forests filled with monstrous shadows, fiery skies that glowed with an unnatural light, and dark figures moving silently through mist-covered mountains.
But it was the final image that stopped her breath: a woman, bound in darkness, her face hidden, her body frozen in eternal silence.
“What… what is that?” she whispered, unable to look away.
“A reminder,” Mr. Lee replied, his voice hard. “Of what happens to those who falter.”
Sophia’s pulse quickened, and she could feel the chill seep into her bones. Still, something drove her forward, an inexplicable pull toward the pool, the shadows, and the mystery that lay beyond.
She reached out, her fingers inches from the surface, when she felt Kai’s hand on her shoulder again.
“Are you certain?” His voice was soft, but it held a gravity that sent a tremor through her.
“Yes,” she whispered, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her own voice. She steeled herself, repeating, “Yes.”
With one final look, she dipped her hand into the pool. The shock of the icy liquid was immediate, racing up her arm and coursing through her veins. Her vision blurred, and suddenly, the room, Mr. Lee, Kai—all of it faded.
She was somewhere else entirely, a world of shadows and strange, twisting shapes that surrounded her.
She heard voices, felt hands reach out from the dark, grasping, pulling her deeper.
She fought to breathe, struggled against the weight of it all, until she could hear Mr. Lee’s voice, low and commanding.
“You’ve made your choice, Sophia. Now embrace it.”
The shadows twisted, pulling her down, down…
**
Sophia’s eyes snapped open, her lungs drawing in a sharp, ragged breath as she tried to make sense of where she was.
She blinked, and as her vision cleared, she realized she was staring up at the ceiling of… her warehouse.
The musty smell, the faint echo of dripping water, and the dim light all rushed back to her.
She was lying on a makeshift cot, her head throbbing as she slowly took in her surroundings.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Was it… was it all a dream?”
° How long did I stay here?°
As she sat up, her body felt stiff, like she’d been there for hours. Voices filtered through her foggy senses, and when she looked up, she saw a small group gathered around her, each watching her with varying expressions.
And at the front of them stood Mr. Lee, his lips curved in a familiar, dark smirk.
“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth and chilling. “Welcome back to the land of the living, Sophia.
I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever wake.”
Sophia’s stomach twisted. “How… how long was I out?”
Kai, who was standing close by, looked at her with an inscrutable expression. “Two days,” he answered softly. “You collapsed here in the warehouse.”
“Two days?” she repeated, feeling a wave of disbelief wash over her. She remembered the dark pool, the shadows, the feeling of sinking… and it had all been a dream? Her heart raced as she recalled the fear, the mystery, and the overwhelming presence of both Mr. Lee and Kai in that dark, surreal world.
Mr. Lee’s smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with something almost… amused. “Did you have any interesting dreams, Sophia?” He took a step closer, his gaze fixed on hers, sending a shiver down her spine.
She swallowed, struggling to find her voice. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Oh, I think you do,” he said, his tone a mocking purr. “After all, your dreams seemed rather… intense.”
Sophia’s breath caught, her mind spinning. She could feel the memory of that other world tugging at her, the sense that she’d touched something real, something ancient.
But it couldn’t be possible… could it?
Kai’s gaze met hers, his expression softened. “Sometimes,” he said, his voice low, “the mind sees things that lie beyond our understanding.
Not everything is just a dream.”
Mr. Lee chuckled, a sound that was somehow both warm and chilling.
“Yes, indeed. So tell me, Sophia—do you feel… bound?”
Sophia felt her cheeks flush, the weight of his words heavy in the air. She looked away, her heart still racing with the echo of that dark world, the sense of power, of danger.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, half to herself.
Mr. Lee inclined his head, still wearing that knowing smile. “Perhaps one day you’ll find out, then.”
As she took a shaky breath, she couldn’t help but feel that, dream or not, something had changed. The shadows she’d seen felt closer, as though they were watching, waiting. And Mr. Lee… that smirk told her he knew more than he was letting on.
And though she tried to shake it off, Sophia knew one thing for certain—whatever had happened in her dreams, a part of it was still with her, lingering, waiting in the dark places of her mind.
°....................°
YOU ARE READING
SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness whispers secrets and power knows no bounds, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are crushed by the cruel betrayal of her own blood. Sold into an unforgiving fate, she finds herself in the eni...
