Gateway of shadows

Chapter 13: The Reckoning

The moment she took that step, the ground beneath her feet cracked open. The shadows surged forward, engulfing her in a wave of darkness. Her mind screamed as she felt herself slipping into the abyss. The power inside her surged uncontrollably, forcing its way to the surface.

"Elena!" Eligh's voice cut through the darkness, and in the next instant, he was by her side, pulling her from the grip of the shadows.

"Stop fighting," the figure hissed. "You belong to us."

But Eligh didn't let go. He held Elena tightly, his body tense with the force of her power. "You're not alone. You never were."

Elena could barely hear him. The power inside her was drowning her, pulling her toward the darkness. Her body trembled as she fought for control, but the shadows pressed in from every side.

"Elena," Eligh said, his voice desperate. "You have to choose. You can't let it take you."

And then, for the first time, Elena felt it. The darkness was not just external. It was inside her-woven into her very soul. She had unlocked it, but she also had the power to destroy it. The choice was hers.

With a gasp, she drew in a deep breath, pushing the shadows back with everything she had left. The power inside her erupted, a surge of pure energy that blasted through the cemetery, tearing the figure apart.

The darkness screamed, but it was no use. Elena had found her strength. She had chosen.

But it came with a cost.