The silence that followed was worse than the creature's voice. It settled like smoke in their lungs, heavy and choking. The walls of the cave had peeled open to reveal a narrow path of glowing stone leading out.
Karen was quiet, her fingers intertwined with Alex's. She felt different...like the cave had pulled something out of her, or worse, awakened something.
Alex's grip on her hand tightened. "We're leaving now."
"No," Karen said softly, stopping him.
Alex turned, confused and frustrated. "What?"
"We can't just leave like nothing happened. That thing… it said I'm the vessel. What does that mean?"
Alex clenched his jaw. "It means I'm not letting anything touch you. Not again."
Luca stumbled beside them, holding his bleeding shoulder. "He's right, we can't stay in here arguing. Let's get back to the main resort first. We regroup, then figure out what the hell that thing meant by three days."
They moved fast, the glowing path beneath their feet gradually fading as they exited the cave and reentered the forest. It was already nightfall, but no stars hung in the sky, just thick clouds and the looming shadow of Avalon watching from above.
Back at the resort
The atmosphere was wrong.
The air was colder.
The staff members that were once gossiping now walked with hurried steps, whispering nervously. Carla rushed to Karen the moment she stepped into the hallway.
"Where have you been?! You just disappeared into thin air without a word, i was damn worried girl and you weren't even picking your calls....Alex, are you hurt?"
Carla's eyes darted to Luca's blood-soaked sleeve.
Alex ignored her. "Where's my room key?"
She blinked. "Uhm, still with me"
He took it and didn't wait another second. "Karen, you're coming with me."
Karen followed, numb.
Inside the suite, Alex slammed the door shut and turned to her. He was breathing hard like he was trying to keep something inside from exploding.
"You're staying here from now on. You're not going anywhere without me or Luca."
Karen's voice was barely a whisper. "Do you really think they'll come for me?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "But I know they've done this before. To my family and I won't let them do it again."
Karen sat on the bed, staring at the floor. "Three days… what happens after that?"
Alex didn't answer.
Because deep down, he didn't know.
Elsewhere in Avalon Resort:
In a dim-lit room hidden deep behind the wine cellar, a woman sat watching the security footage from the forest.
She smiled faintly, her eyes pausing on the moment the horned creature appeared.
"Finally," she whispered. "The vessel has awakened."
She tapped her nails against the desk.
"And the Knight boy brought her straight to me."