Chapter 4 The Abyss

I fell into darkness as the ground crumbled beneath me. I reached out, hoping to grab something, but only found emptiness. The ground shook violently, stealing my breath and drowning out my heartbeat. Just when I thought I would fall forever, I crashed into something hard, and pain shot through my back. My vision filled with stars as I gasped for air.

For a moment, I lay still. Shock made my body rigid, and I struggled to breathe. The cold, damp stone beneath me felt rough, and the air was heavy with a rotten smell. A low moan escaped my lips as I tried to roll onto my side, but every movement sent sharp pain through me. I lay there, feeling like hours passed, listening to my uneven breaths echo in the dark.

I struggled to my knees, each movement filled with pain. My head ached, and everything looked blurry after the fall. I blinked to figure out my surroundings. It seemed like a big underground cave, faintly lit by a strange blue light from the walls. Sharp rocks me, and the ceiling loomed high above, resembling the gaping mouth of a massive creature.

Fear washed over me as I realized I was by myself. I had been with Asher and Julian-hadn't I? Memories of the forest, the glowing eyes, and the ground splitting beneath me flooded back, but then everything went blank. Where had they gone? And what about Thane?

My heart raced as I recalled Thane's smile, the satisfaction in his eyes as I fell. He had been so close. He had to be nearby. Was this part of his scheme? To isolate me from the others? To trap me in this darkness while he plotted his next move?

"Asher," I murmured, my voice shaky. "Julian?"

Only silence surrounded me. I battled the growing fear in my chest. I needed to keep going. I had to find them, discover where I was, and how to escape this place. But first, I had to see if I could even walk.

Clenching my teeth, I pushed myself up, swaying a bit as the pain in my legs flared up again. But I could stand. That was a start. I stepped cautiously forward, then took another step. The cavern expanded before me, with blue light casting odd shadows on the stone walls. As I ventured further into the depths, an intense cold seeped into my very core. The atmosphere of this location was unsettling, instilling a sense of discomfort within me.

Pressing onward into the cavern, I focused on the potent energy I had previously experienced-the raw, unrestrained force that had coursed through me in the alley and once more in the forest prior to my collapse. Although I did not completely grasp its nature or how to control it, I hoped that if I could access it once more, it might aid me in mounting a defense. Maybe it would guide me to Asher and Julian.

No matter how much I tried, the power remained buried deep within me, just beyond my grasp. It felt like trying to catch smoke with my hands.

Frustration clawed at me, yet I continued onward, my gaze sweeping the cave for any hint of life. The atmosphere was heavy with anxiety, reminiscent of the stillness before a tempest. I sensed something observing me, lurking just beyond the glow. My footsteps resonated sharply, a stark reminder of my solitude in this place.

Out of nowhere, a low growl reverberated through the cavern, halting me in my tracks. My heart raced as I swiftly turned, scanning the shadows for the origin of the noise. My pulse accelerated, and every fiber of my being urged me to flee, yet my legs remained immobile. I stood there, paralyzed, breathing shallowly as the growl intensified and neared.

"Who's there?" I should, my voice trembling, but only silence answered me.

The air changed, and I felt someone behind me before I could look. A hand grabbed my shoulder, cold and stiff like ice. I spun around, prepared to fight, but the face I saw froze me with fear.

It wasn't Thane. I didn't know this person at all.

It was a shape-no, not just a shape. His skin was as white as a dead body, and his eyes glowed with a strange blue light that lit up the cave. His lips twisted into a wicked smile, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth. He towered over me, his fingers pressing into my shoulder, keeping me still.

"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice a harsh whisper. "The Blackwood blood... it has no place here."

My heart raced. "Let me go," I said, though my voice shook. I tried to break free, but his grip only grew stronger.

"Do you know where you are, kid?" he asked, squinting his eyes. "You've stepped into the Abyss." The space between life and death. And here... here your power is useless."

I felt a lump in my throat. "The Abyss?" I echoed, fear settling in my stomach. "What do you mean?"

The man's grin grew wider, but it lacked any kindness. "This is where the lost come to meet their end," he murmured. "Those who can't decide between light and dark. You shouldn't be here, yet... you're stuck just the same."

My thoughts raced, but before I could respond, a voice rang out in the cavern-strong and familiar.

"Let her go."

The man's hold relaxed immediately, and I stumbled back, my gaze shifting to the voice's origin. Asher emerged from the shadows, his eyes blazing with anger. He moved with the elegance and strength of an Alpha, each step exuding power.

Asher!" I exclaimed, feeling a wave of relief.

The pale figure hissed but retreated, disappearing into the darkness without a sound. Asher kept his gaze on him until he vanished completely. Only then did he turn to me, his face softening as he reached out to support me.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

I nodded, though my legs felt shaky. "I... I think so," I murmured. "What was that creature?"

Asher's expression grew serious. "A spirit from the Abyss," he replied grimly. "It's a realm where the boundary between life and death is fragile. It targets those who are lost. You shouldn't have been here by yourself."

"I had no choice," I said, my voice rising a bit. "I fell-there was an earthquake or something. And Thane-"

Asher interrupted, scanning the dark surroundings. "Thane is close, but we need to go. This place isn't safe for you."

I wanted to argue, but a sharp howl pierced the silence, making me shiver. It was a sound I knew well.

"Thane," I breathed, feeling a chill run through me.

Asher's face grew serious. "He's here, and he's on the hunt."

My heart raced with fear and adrenaline. I sensed the enemy drawing near, like wolves closing in on their target. We had to escape the Abyss before it was too late.

As we started to walk away, the ground shook once more. My eyes grew wide with fear as cracks appeared in the stone walls around us. The air buzzed with energy, and I felt a familiar, frightening force thumping in my chest.

"Asher," I breathed, holding my chest tightly. "It's starting again."

He met my gaze, his face serious. "You need to control it, Bonnie. Stay focused."

But I couldn't manage it. The energy was overwhelming, wild, and it surged within me like a storm ready to explode. I felt it racing through my veins, threatening to take over completely.

Suddenly, the stone floor beneath us collapsed completely. My scream filled the cavern as Asher and I fell into the dark below, consumed by the Abyss once again.

As I plummeted into the endless void, a surge of power erupted within me, creating a brilliant light that shone from my body . But instead of rescuing me, it seemed to attract something-someone-toward me. A dark figure rose from the depths, its eyes glowing with ancient evil. Before I could grasp what was happening, the darkness enveloped me, leaving me fate in the grip of a force far more frightening than Thane.