Chapter 19: The Hall of
Shadows
The path
opened into a vast chamber filled with towering stone pillars. Each one was
covered in intricate carvings that glowed faintly, casting eerie reflections
across the cavern. At the center of the hall stood a pool of inky black liquid,
its surface perfectly still.
“What
now?” Kiran asked, scanning the room warily.
As they
approached the pool, it began to ripple. Slowly, three figures emerged from its
depths, each a perfect reflection of Rhea, Mira, and Kiran—but twisted. Their
eyes glowed an unnatural red, and their expressions were cruel.
“Great,”
Mira said under her breath. “Evil doppelgängers. Because this day wasn’t
terrifying enough.”
The
twisted versions stepped forward, their movements fluid and unnatural.
“Why do
you fight what you fear most?” Rhea’s double said, her voice dripping with
malice. “You think you’re brave, but you’re just reckless. You’ll lead them to
ruin.”
Mira’s
double turned to her, a cruel smile on its lips. “And you. Always hiding behind
your intellect, pretending you don’t care. They don’t trust you—they never
will.”
Kiran’s
double sneered. “The strong one, the protector. But when it matters most,
you’ll fail them. You know you will.”
“Enough!”
Rhea shouted, stepping forward. Her shard flared, and the light pushed the
shadows back, though they did not disappear entirely. “We know what you are.
You’re not real.”
“Are we
not?” her double replied, smirking. “We are your doubts. Your fears. And no
matter how far you run, we will always be with you.”
