The clearing was silent except for the labored breathing of the group. Alaric leaned heavily against a tree, his face pale, his injury throbbing under the bandages that Finn had hastily wrapped around his side. The others huddled nearby, their faces grim as they debated their next move.
Time was running out, and Malakhor’s forces were closing in faster than they could recover. The tension hung thick in the air, like the humid fog that clung to the dense forest around them.
“We can’t stay here,” Maelis said, her voice low but urgent. “Malakhor knows we’re close. If we don’t move soon, he’ll send more of those creatures, and we won’t stand a chance.”
“We can’t move with Alaric like this,” Finn retorted, frustration edging his voice. “And if we charge in without a plan, we’ll just end up like those soldiers we saw back there—another group swallowed by the darkness.”
“Then what do you suggest, Finn?” Maelis shot back, eyes blazing. “We don’t have time to sit here debating. Lysandra doesn’t have time.”
Finn turned away, his hands gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. The weight of his decision was pressing down on him. He couldn’t stand the idea of Lysandra trapped inside Malakhor’s stronghold, suffering in ways he could barely imagine. His heart ached with the need to act, but every choice felt like it was leading them toward disaster.
“Sometimes, the cost of saving those we love is higher than we imagined,” Finn muttered, almost to himself, but loud enough for the others to hear.
Alaric, his breath ragged, lifted his head, his voice weak but steady. “But if we don’t try, we lose them anyway.”
The group fell silent, Finn’s words echoing in the stillness. It was a hard truth—one that none of them could deny. The darkness was closing in, and the longer they waited, the more difficult their mission would become.
As if summoned by their despair, a shadow stirred in the distance. Maelis’s hand immediately went to her sword, and Finn took a step forward, ready to defend against whatever new threat was emerging from the trees.
But the figure that appeared wasn’t a creature of darkness. It was a man, cloaked and hooded, moving with a slow, deliberate gait. He stopped just beyond the edge of the clearing, his face hidden in the shadows, but his presence was unmistakable—there was something dangerous about him, something that sent a chill down their spines.
“Who are you?” Maelis demanded, her sword half-drawn. “And what do you want?”
The man lifted his head slightly, revealing the sharp lines of his face. His eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and there was a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m someone who can help you,” he said in a voice that was smooth and cold, like the whisper of a snake. “But help comes at a price.”
Finn narrowed his eyes. “We’re not interested in making deals with strangers.”
“Strangers?” the man chuckled softly. “I’m hardly a stranger to this land. In fact, I know Malakhor’s stronghold better than anyone. Better than you, certainly.”
Alaric winced, trying to pull himself up straighter. “You’ve been inside?”
“I have,” the man replied. “Many times. I’ve seen the darkness that lies at its core. I know the secrets it holds—and I know how to destroy them.”
There was a pause as the group exchanged uneasy glances. Could they trust him? It seemed too convenient, too easy to believe.
“What’s the catch?” Finn asked, his tone sharp. “People like you don’t offer help out of kindness.”
The man’s smirk grew wider. “Very perceptive. You’re right—kindness has nothing to do with this. I offer knowledge, a way inside Malakhor’s fortress, a path that no one else knows. But in return… I require something valuable.”
“What do you want?” Maelis asked, her grip tightening on her sword.
The man’s eyes flicked to Finn, then to Alaric, then back to Maelis. “I want something you’re not willing to part with. Something precious. Something that will cost you dearly.”
Finn stepped forward, his chest tight with apprehension. “Like what?”
The man’s smile faltered, and his voice grew cold. “Your sword, your gold, those are of no use to me. I deal in greater currencies. I want a memory. One that burns the brightest in your mind. One that you hold close to your heart.”
Maelis frowned. “A memory?”
“Indeed,” the man continued, his tone as smooth as ever. “A memory of love, of hope, of friendship. I take it, and in exchange, you get my knowledge. The deal is simple.”
Finn felt his heart clench. The idea of giving away a memory—especially one that meant so much—was almost too much to bear. But then he thought of Lysandra, alone in Malakhor’s grip. What was one memory compared to her safety?
“No,” Alaric said weakly, his hand reaching out to Finn. “We don’t make deals like this. It’s too dangerous.”
But Finn’s mind was already made up. “If it’s the only way to save Lysandra, then I’ll do it.”
Maelis’s eyes widened. “Finn, wait. You don’t know what this will cost you.”
Finn’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head. “I know exactly what it’ll cost me. But I’m not losing her.”
“Are you sure?” the man asked, his eyes gleaming with a sinister glint. “Once the memory is gone, it’s gone forever. You’ll never get it back.”
Finn hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “I’m sure.”
Alaric struggled to speak, his voice filled with regret. “Finn, please—”
“I can’t just stand by and do nothing,” Finn said quietly, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’d give everything for her.”
The man stepped forward, his smile returning. “Good. Then we have a deal.”
Before anyone could protest further, the man extended his hand, and Finn reached out to take it. As their hands clasped, Finn felt a sharp, searing pain in his chest, like something was being ripped away from him. His mind raced as the memory—the one he cherished most—slipped through his fingers, leaving an empty, aching void in its place.
The man’s eyes flashed with satisfaction as he pulled his hand back. “It is done. Follow me, and I will show you the way.”
Finn staggered back, feeling the absence of the memory like a weight in his soul. He couldn’t even recall what it had been, but he knew something precious was gone.
“Finn, are you alright?” Maelis asked, her voice filled with concern.
“I’m fine,” Finn replied, though his voice was hollow. “Let’s go.”
They followed the man deeper into the forest, their footsteps silent, their hearts heavy with uncertainty. The trees grew darker, the air colder, as they descended into the depths of the land.
But something wasn’t right. The path seemed to twist unnaturally, and the further they went, the more ominous the feeling became.
Maelis slowed, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the man leading them. “This doesn’t feel right.”
Just as the words left her lips, the man stopped abruptly, his smile turning cruel. “You’re right. It doesn’t.”
The ground beneath them shifted, and suddenly, iron bars shot up from the earth, encircling them in a cage of darkness.
“It’s a trap!” Finn shouted, his sword already drawn, but it was too late.
The man’s laughter echoed through the trees as shadow creatures emerged from the darkness, surrounding them. “You’re in Malakhor’s domain now,” he sneered. “Did you really think a bargain would be that easy?”
Finn’s heart sank as the realization hit him—they had been double-crossed.