Chapter 34: Attraction in Shadows

Arthur's head throbbed as he slowly regained consciousness, his mind swimming in a haze of confusion and pain. The last thing he remembered was the sensation of falling—plummeting through the darkness after the ground beneath him had given way. Now, as he opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange, desolate place. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and the ground was uneven, covered in a strange, dark substance that seemed to pulse with an eerie energy.

"Where... where am I?" he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and dry. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision, and then he saw her—Trayona, lying motionless a few feet away. His heart skipped a beat, and he felt a surge of fear. "Trayona!"