Liora

Liora felt a sense of relief wash over her as she looked at Finn. His easy smile helped her control her breaths, which gradually became steadier.

She glanced down at herself. Her uniform was filthy, stained with dirt, and speckled with scratches. A thin cut marred her leg, the dried blood marking a dark line.

She sighed, allowing her body to relax. The exhaustion she had been holding at bay now seeped into her bones. The adrenaline that had powered her flight through the forest was fading, leaving her acutely aware of the toll her ars had taken on her, making her faster and stronger.

'I hope that thing is gone,' she thought.

The cabin they had taken refuge in was starkly different from the one she had been in before. It was neat and orderly, with simple wooden furnishings.

A small table stood against the wall with two chairs tucked beneath it. A faded rug partially covered the floor, and a single window let a sliver of moonlight pierce the dimness. Shelves lined one wall, filled with an assortment of books and trinkets.

Turning to Finn, she asked, "Do you know what is happening?"

Finn was gazing out the window, holding a pair of binoculars. He replied without looking at her, "Do you mean the Eruption?"

Curiosity piqued, and Liora moved closer, her eyes fixated on the binoculars in his hands. She nodded slowly, her brow furrowing. "Yes. I remember it being daytime, we were at the pool. Then everything went dark, and I woke up here at night."

Finn didn't reply for a while, his silence stretching out as the only sounds were their breaths and the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards. Just as she was about to ask again, Finn raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to keep silent.

Liora's heart began to race, a flutter of fear rising within her. Was it the creature that had been pursuing them? Her mind churned with doubt, each thump of her heart echoing her uncertainty.

She focused on listening, feeling as if her senses had sharpened. The rustle of leaves and the whisper of the wind filled her ears.

A ghostly mist began to seep into the cabin, curling ominously through the cracks in the walls and gaps around the door. As it spread, it carried a chill that crept into Liora's bones, like the fingers of dread tightening their grip around her heart.

Finn's hand on her shoulder startled her, grounding her for a moment. His face drew close, his expression serious, as he signaled for her to keep quiet and follow him.

They moved silently, Finn leading Liora to a hidden entrance on the cabin's floor. Concealed beneath a loose floorboard, the entrance was nearly invisible unless one knew where to look. Finn lifted the board, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

"Go," he whispered, urgency lacing his voice.

They descended into the basement, the dim orange glow from an old lamp casting eerie shadows across the space.

The light flickered, creating a rhythmic dance of light and dark that played across the cracked walls and discarded furniture. Boxes and crates were piled haphazardly, their corners catching the faint glow, while cobwebs shimmered in the corners like silken veils.

Liora's ears caught the faint sound of scurrying, the soft pitter-patter of tiny feet moving across the damp floor. She shivered, imagining unseen creatures darting in and out of the darkness.

"What is this place?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Finn stopped, the lamp's light reflecting off his glasses and illuminating his stern expression.

"It's a hidden passage," he replied, his voice low and urgent. "I've explored it a little, but we need to hurry. Something is approaching the cabin."

Just as he spoke, a deep, resonant thump echoed from above, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Dust rained down from the ceiling, settling like a fine mist over their heads.

A cold wave of fear washed over Liora, her heart pounding like a drum. The very air seemed to thicken, pressing in on her from all sides, as if she were caught in the maw of a great beast.

"Let's go," Finn said, his voice cutting through the tension.

They ventured deeper into the basement. Passing through an open door, they found a narrow staircase leading downward. The stairs were steep and uneven, forcing them to descend carefully.

At the bottom, the pathway twisted sharply, zigzagging left and right, the tight walls pressing close on either side. For a fleeting moment, it felt like navigating the labyrinthine corridors of the academy, but the pungent smell quickly snapped them back to reality.

The stench of decaying carcasses filled the air. Liora instinctively covered her mouth with one hand while using the other to hold the shoulder strap of her backpack over her nose, trying to filter out the foul odor.

As they navigated the winding path, it eventually opened up into a more spacious room. The ceiling was low, forcing them to hunch their shoulders and bend their knees slightly as they entered.

In the center of the room, a flickering lantern provided the only source of light, casting a pale, wavering glow over the scene. The shadows danced grotesquely on the walls, giving the impression of lurking phantoms waiting to pounce.

"Where now?" Liora asked, glancing between the two passageways leading out of the room — one to the left and one to the right.

Finn stood up, adjusting his glasses. "We have a good chance on the left and a bad chance on the right."

"How do you know?" Liora's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Finn grinned. "It's my power."

"Chance of what?"

Finn turned to look at her, sighing as he thought hard. "Chance to live, I guess. I don't know much about my power yet, but I know it allows me to see probabilities."

Liora nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line as she seized the opportunity to voice a nagging doubt. "How did you find me?"

Finn flashed his binoculars from his backpack. "It allows me to see far ahead of me. I saw you sliding in a landslide. I used the system to confirm you're a human and then followed you."

A wave of gratitude washed over Liora, and she smiled. "Thank you. You really saved me."

They headed left, with the narrow passage leading them to another staircase. The steps descended steeply, each creaking ominously under their weight. It took them several minutes to navigate the winding staircase, the air growing colder and damper the deeper they went.

'Why is this place even here beneath a cabin?' Liora wondered. 'What kind of person builds an elaborate underground maze like this?'

Her thoughts spiraled further into the strangeness of her situation. 'First, the academy and its secrets. Then my awakening and discovering my ars abilities. Now this Eruption, and everything has gone dark and twisted. Nothing makes sense anymore.'

They reached the bottom of the staircase, and before them stood a red-painted ladder. The darkness was absolute, pressing in on them from all sides.

"What now?" Liora asked.

Finn fixed his backpack, shaking his head slowly. "I don't know," he admitted. "My power doesn't always work. I can't see the chances here."

Finn tested the ladder with a cautious hand before chuckling softly. "I'll go first," he said, starting to climb.

As they ascended, the faint, muffled sound of a knife being sharpened reached their ears, accompanied by the distant, eerie murmur of someone singing in a tenor voice.

They paused, uncertainty gripping them both. For a moment, they considered going back down, but Finn's earlier confidence about the chances spurred them to continue.

Slowly, they climbed until they reached a hidden opening that looked like a narrow pit. Finn pushed his body through first, then turned to help Liora up.

They emerged into a space shrouded in deeper darkness than the passage below. The sound of the knife and the strange, melodic singing grew louder. As their eyes adjusted, they saw what appeared to be a barn, bathed in a sinister red light emanating from within.

They bent their knees, moving cautiously and making sure not to make any noise. Each step was measured, and their breaths were held as they pressed against a wall. Finn tilted his head to peer into the barn, signaling for Liora to follow suit.

The interior of the barn was strange. The red glow came from three lamps, their deep crimson light casting an eerie hue over everything. The lamps hung from the rafters, their chains swaying slightly, causing shadows to dance across the stone walls.

The barn itself was old, its wooden beams heavy with history. Above them, bundles of hay were precariously stacked, some spilling over the edges, threatening to fall with the slightest disturbance. The air was thick with the scent of straw and dust, mingling with the sharp, metallic tang of blood.

On one side of the barn, a wooden ladder led up to a loft, its rungs worn smooth from years of use. Beside it, a large, weathered wagon wheel leaned against the wall, its once-sturdy spokes now brittle and cracked.

An ancient wooden door, half-rotten and barely hanging on its hinges, stood partially ajar, revealing a glimpse of the room beyond where the red light was most intense.

Scattered around were various tools of the trade — pitchforks, sickles, and a grinding stone.

Liora and Finn fixed their gazes on the figure standing in the middle of the barn. The creature appeared almost human at first glance, but a closer look revealed the unsettling truth.

Its face was a grinning skull; the bone was yellowed and cracked, with dark hollows where eyes should have been. A tattered, wide-brimmed hat sat atop its head, casting deeper shadows over its ghastly visage. The thing wore a long, filthy coat, stained with years of grime and blood.

Beside the creature, a thick rope dangled, coiled like a serpent at its feet. "The Tainted Farmer of the Night," as Liora read, sharpened a long, wicked knife with a slow, deliberate rhythm. Its deep, gravelly voice filled the barn with a haunting melody.

"Night is long, night is long. And papa will cut the line and make the dishes, make the dishes. Night is long."

The sight filled her with mixed emotions. Encountering a Tainted creature unexpectedly built confidence she didn't know she possessed.

The farmer suddenly stopped singing and pulled on the rope. From the ceiling, a boy descended, hanging upside down by his feet. His mouth, hands, and feet were tightly bound, rendering him helpless.

The boy struggled, his body writhing like a caught fish, thrashing against an invisible hook. His muffled cries blended with the farmer's moving closer.

Finn pulled Liora back, pressing her against the wall for cover. His eyes, wide with urgency, locked onto hers. "Are you good at fighting?"

Liora inhaled deeply, her head shaking slightly as if to clear away lingering doubt.

Finn tried again, a note of desperation in his voice. "At least good enough to stall that thing?"

Liora nodded, affirming.

Finn closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts before laying out the plan. "Use the element of surprise. Strike it with the pitchfork near the wood beam closer to him. Move silently."

He continued, "I'll use my weapon to cut the rope from afar. Then I'll need you to act as bait, drawing its attention so it doesn't notice. Can you do it?"

Liora felt a surge of fear and doubt. 'Am I really doing this? Am I capable of facing this creature?' But beneath the dread was a resolve she hadn't realized she had. 'If I don't help, that boy will die.'

She nodded again, determination settling over her like a shroud.

"Good, let's do it," Finn said.

Liora watched as Finn drew a slingshot from his pocket and moved away to a strategic point where he could get a clear shot.

She steeled herself, her inner dialogue a mix of fear and determination.

'Alright, Liora, time to show what you're made of. No pressure. It's just a walking skeleton.' She couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at her own dark humor.

As she entered the barn, the farmer resumed his singing, the eerie melody filling the air. He began sliding his knife against the boy, deriving visible joy from the child's desperate struggles.

Liora prayed silently, 'Please don't see me, please don't see me.'

Her blood boiled as she crept forward. Reaching for the pitchfork, she used both hands to strike the creature's back without thinking. The force sent it flying a few meters, the fork's tines embedded in its skeletal frame.

She heard the boy fall to the ground with a crash as the rope was cut.

Rushing to the boy, Liora raised her dagger and quickly cut the bindings on his feet. As she worked, she saw the creature rise, pulling the pitchfork from its back. Bits of its clothing and decayed flesh hung from the tines, revealing its skeletal frame with patches of rotting meat.

The farmer raised his knife diagonally and lunged at Liora. She barely managed to parry with her dagger, but the impact threw her off balance, causing her to miss a sidestep and almost stumble.

Just as the creature was about to strike her head, a fast projectile struck its skull, giving Liora a crucial moment. She kicked the farmer in the chest, sending him reeling back.

"To the pit!" Finn yelled, his voice sharp and urgent.

Liora understood. She saw the pit and knew she had to lure the creature there. She dashed toward it, feinting an attack before rolling left and upward. The farmer pivoted to follow her movement.

As she neared the pit, she glanced at it briefly, then turned back to face the creature. She waited for it to attack, her heart pounding in her chest. At the last moment, she evaded to the right, using the creature's momentum and her own hands to send it tumbling into the pit.

The Tainted Farmer fell with a clatter, disappearing into the darkness below. Liora stood at the edge, breathless and trembling, the reality of what she had just done sinking in.

She felt a surge of happiness. 'I did it. All my efforts, my training... it was all worth it.'

"I did it!" she shouted, laughing hard.

But her joy was short-lived. She saw Finn waving his hand in distress. She was about to ask him what was wrong when she felt something grab her ankle.

She turned, expecting to see the Tainted Farmer climbing back up. Instead, she was met with a pallid, horrifying face. The creature's eyes were sunken and lifeless, and its smile was a grotesque mimicry of human emotion.

"Liora, sweet Liora, your aunt is here. Come with me," it crooned, its voice sending shivers down her spine.

The creature grabbed her legs with both hands, its grip like iron. With a sudden, violent jerk, it dragged her down into the pit. Liora screamed, her hands scrabbling for purchase on the edge, but the creature's strength was overwhelming.

"Help!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the dark. But the pit swallowed her cry, and she was pulled into the abyss.