The Midnight Key

The creatures crawled out of the mist.

Their limbs stretched too long. Their faces twisted into something half-formed. Their bodies flickered, as if caught between existence and nothingness.

Rene barely had time to react before Adrian and Adriel struck first.

Twin bursts of silver exploded outward, colliding with the figures. The mist shrieked as the attacks landed, tearing through them—

But they didn't fall.

Instead, they bent, reforming instantly.

And their hollow gazes locked onto Rena.

Rene's heart pounded. "They want her."

Nyra stepped forward, blade gleaming. "Like hell they're getting her."

She lunged. Her sword sliced clean through one of the creatures—

Only for it to split in two.

Nyra stumbled back. "What the—"

Lucien cursed. "We're not killing them. We're multiplying them."

More figures rose from the mist. The whispers grew louder.

"She must not remain."

"Unravel the key."

"Seal the door."

The shadows closed in.

And then—

Rena lifted her tiny hand.

"You cannot have me."

The world stopped.

For a single breath, everything froze.

Then the creatures screamed.

It wasn't a normal sound. It was a distortion—something that ripped through the air, through reality itself.

Their bodies twisted, convulsed—

And then they were gone.

The mist settled. The ruins were silent once more.

Lucien lowered his sword. "What the hell just happened?"

Selene's voice came again.

"Proof."

Rene turned toward the sound, her grip tightening on Rena. "Proof of what?"

Selene stepped out of the mist.

But something was wrong.

Her body flickered at the edges, like she wasn't real.

Lucien noticed too. His golden eyes narrowed. "You're not really here."

Selene's smirk widened. "No. I am not."

Nyra's expression darkened. "Then what are you?"

Selene tilted her head. "An echo."

The air lurched.

Rene stumbled, the weight of something unseen pressing down on her.

Selene's voice echoed one last time.

"Wake up, Rene."

And then—

Everything collapsed.