The group hurried to the entrance of the church, slipping inside with careful steps. The heavy wooden doors creaked as they shut behind them, blocking out the unsettling moans of the undead outside.

Inside, the church was eerily quiet. Pews lay scattered and overturned, as if a great struggle had taken place. Dust hung in the air, and the once-sacred place now bore the scars of the plague. It was clear this church, too, had not escaped the horrors of the land.

They gathered near the altar, the air thick with unease, and took a moment to catch their breath. Xerxes broke the silence first, his tone sharp with tension.

"Madame Red, what really happened back there?"

Madame Red paused, her red eyes narrowing in thought. "I'll explain as simply as I can. A necromancy altar should only activate once someone reads from it. That's why I have no idea why it triggered the way it did. I didn’t even get the chance to open the book."

Dexie, pacing a little, stopped and asked, "But what about that scream?"

Madame Red's face darkened. "That’s what confuses me. I haven’t even laid eyes on the contents of the book yet, so there shouldn’t have been any reaction."

Senshi, ever practical, crossed his arms. "Well, there’s one way to clear this up. Let’s read the book now. We need to understand what we’re dealing with."

Nodding in agreement, Madame Red took a deep breath and carefully pulled the book from her pack. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it, flipping through the brittle pages. The air grew heavier as she scanned the text. Suddenly, her eyes landed on an underlined name: “Mirabelle, the Defiel.” Beneath it was an illustration of a monstrous figure—large, twisted, gaunt, and unsettlingly humanoid.

She began to read aloud, her voice steady:

“Although this monster is blind, it possesses an acute sense of hearing. When encountering Mirabelle, it is crucial to remain silent. Any noise will alert her. Engage only when prepared, or flee as quietly as possible.”

The group listened closely, their expressions hardening. Madame Red continued, “Weakness: Unknown.” A heavy silence followed, each of them processing the information. The threat that had awakened beneath the clinic now had a name, and it was worse than they had imagined.

Dexie broke the silence, “So we’re dealing with a blind creature that hears everything. Great.” Madame Red nodded, her arms crossed. “We’ll need a new plan... and silence.”

Ears twitching, Dexie added, “We should find a way to trap it or avoid it altogether. We’re not ready for this fight.” Madame Red closed the book, her face grim. “We need to move carefully. Every step, every sound could be our last if Mirabelle catches wind of us.”

Senshi cleared his throat, cutting through the tension. "Let’s focus on what’s in front of us," he said calmly, scanning the ruined church. "We know we can’t fight this thing yet. It’s too dangerous. We should search the church for gear and clues to stop this mess.”

Xerxes nodded in agreement. “We’ll need every advantage we can get. There might be something here that could help.” Dexie’s feline eyes flickered across the dark corners of the room. “Agreed. There could be hidden tools or supplies. We shouldn’t waste time.”

Still holding the book, Madame Red slowly tucked it away. “Let’s be careful. We have no idea what else might be lurking here.” As they searched, the weight of what they had just learned hung heavily over them. Mirabelle was out there, somewhere, waiting.

The group spread out across the main area of the church, each taking a different section to search for clues or supplies. An eerie quiet weighed heavily on them as they moved, the dim light from the broken windows casting long shadows across the dusty floor.

On the left side of the church, Xerxes wandered past a row of old, musty bookshelves. His sharp eyes caught sight of something unusual—a shelf that seemed out of place. The books on it were cleaner and less worn than the others, and the shelf itself appeared slightly shifted, as if it had been recently moved.

Across the room, Senshi stood before a confession booth that was completely chained shut, its wooden doors scratched and battered. What once might have been a place for whispered confessions now felt like a prison for something far more sinister. Beside the booth, a small, narrow hole in the wall caught his attention. The gap looked barely wide enough for one person to slip through, exuding an unsettling air as if something waited on the other side.

Meanwhile, behind the altar at the front of the church, Dexie and Madame Red investigated together. Their eyes fell upon a metal latch set into the floor, secured with a lock that seemed far too sturdy for a simple church. They stared at it, puzzled.

“Why would this be here, and locked so tightly?” Dexie asked, crouching down for a closer look. Madame Red frowned, her red eyes narrowing.

“It’s not a normal lock, that’s for sure. This must be hiding something important. But what?”

Each area—Xerxes with the mysterious shelf, Senshi with the chained booth and ominous hole, and Dexie and Madame Red with the locked latch—presented more questions than answers. Each clue held a piece of the puzzle, yet none could shake the feeling that something far worse lay just out of sight.

Xerxes shifted the bookshelf just enough to reveal a narrow passage leading into a dark, winding dungeon that descended into the gloom. His voice echoed off the stone walls as he called out, “Hey, everyone! I found something!”

Curiosity and concern flickered across the faces of his companions as they gathered around him. Xerxes pointed through the narrow opening. “Beyond this bookshelf is what looks like a dungeon. Unfortunately, I can’t fit through, but maybe some of us can.”

Dexie's eyes gleamed with excitement. “Nice work, Xerxes! It seems like only Madame Red and I can squeeze through.”

Madame Red nodded in agreement. “Yes, Dexie and I will explore the dungeon. You and Senshi should stay here and keep watch.”

Senshi gave a decisive nod. “Understood. We’ll keep an eye out and alert you if anything comes up.”

With their roles decided, Madame Red and Dexie carefully maneuvered through the cramped opening and into the dungeon. The air grew colder as they descended deeper into the darkness. The musty, dim hallway they entered was filled with flickering shadows. At its end, they faced three passageways: a staircase leading further into the bowels of the dungeon directly ahead, and two dark hallways branching off to the left and right. Each option promised uncertainty.

Madame Red and Dexie ventured into the left hallway, their footsteps echoing softly in the dim light. As they progressed, Dexie’s keen senses detected something amiss. He halted Madame Red with a quick gesture.

“Wait! Stay here. I’ll check for traps first,” he said.

With careful precision, Dexie maneuvered through the hallway, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger. Just as he slipped past a particularly suspicious section of the floor, a sudden whirring noise erupted, and three large spikes shot up from the ground where he had just been.

Madame Red gasped, but Dexie had already cleared the danger.

“Thanks, that was close,” she said, her voice steady yet laced with relief.

Dexie nodded, a hint of satisfaction crossing his face.

“No problem. Glad I could help.”

He resumed his careful inspection, expertly disarming traps and clearing a safe path ahead.

Once the traps were neutralized, the duo entered what appeared to be a chamber. Dim light cast eerie shadows over three tombs arranged before them. Madame Red's sharp eyes quickly spotted runes etched into the floor, radiating dark magic. “Be watchful of your steps,” she cautioned, her tone serious. “These runes are not safe.”

Dexie nodded, his attention split between the runes and the tombs. As they cautiously approached, he noticed a chest placed directly behind each tomb. Ancient and weathered, the chests were covered in dust. Dexie turned to Madame Red. “So, what’s the plan here?”

She considered the situation carefully. “We’ll open each chest and see what’s inside. I trust you to handle these situations. Just avoid the runes.”

“Understood,” Dexie replied with a nod. With practiced precision, he approached the first chest, examining it closely for any hidden traps before lifting the lid. As it creaked open, he reached inside to retrieve the contents, while Madame Red kept a safe distance, scanning the room for further danger.

One by one, the chests were opened, Dexie’s expertise ensuring they remained safe from hidden traps. Madame Red maintained her vigilance over the runes, ready to act if needed. The tension in the room was palpable as each step brought them closer to unraveling the secrets concealed within the tombs.

After Dexie finished rummaging through the three chests, he returned to Madame Red, proudly laying out their finds: a pristine white robe, a dusty tome, a ward etched with strange symbols, a map, an ancient journal, a torn journal note, a necromancy tome, and an eerie-looking rune. Dexie grinned, his feline eyes gleaming.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“That wasn’t easy, but look what I got,” he said.

Madame Red’s gaze settled on the white robe. “A white robe? I’ll take that,” she replied, her fingers brushing the fabric before tucking it away. “We should keep the rest safe for now. Let’s head back and explore further.”

Dexie nodded, his tail swishing behind him. “Right behind you.”

As they turned to leave, an icy breeze swept past them, chilling their skin. They paused mid-step, the eerie draft flowing from the room they had just left. A deep silence followed, broken only by a distant, piercing screech that echoed down the hallway. The sound reverberated through the stone walls, unsettling and unnatural.

Madame Red cautiously peeked from the entrance of the chamber, her heart pounding. Above the tombs, a malevolent figure hovered effortlessly, radiating an ancient, sinister power.

“Who dares wake me from my slumber?” it snarled, its voice reverberating through the stone walls.

Panic rising, Madame Red whipped around and grabbed Dexie’s arm, trying to drag him away. But before they could flee, the figure shrieked again, its voice colder and sharper. “You! Who took my belongings?”

Madame Red froze, her mind racing. Slowly, she and Dexie turned back toward the chamber, their feet heavy with dread. They stood before the floating figure, heads bowed slightly. With an unsteady voice, Madame Red confessed, “I’m sorry, but... we did.”

The being’s eyes blazed with fury, and a deafening scream erupted, shaking the very ground beneath them. It glared down at the two adventurers, malevolence palpable in the air.

“I’ll give you one chance,” it hissed. “Put it back.”

Hands trembling, Madame Red quickly retrieved the journal and the torn note from her pack, raising them toward the being. Its gaze burned into hers.

“Is that all?”

“Y-Yes... T-That’s all,” she stammered, her knees weak.

With a simple gesture, the items levitated from her hands, drifting back into the chest from which they had been taken. The malevolent being’s eyes never left Madame Red, its presence suffocating.

“Very well,” it said coldly. “But disturb me again, and it will be your last.”

Without another word, the figure vanished, leaving only crackling energy behind. Dexie, visibly shaken, swallowed hard.

“W-We need to get out of here,” he urged.

Madame Red nodded, still reeling from the encounter. “O-Of course.”

Without looking back, they hurried out of the chamber toward the crossroads, choosing the left tunnel as they moved deeper into the dungeon, their breaths still shaky from their narrow escape.

As Madame Red and Dexie ventured deeper into the hallway, they found themselves in a circular room, dimly lit by the faint glow of distant torches. In the center stood a lone sarcophagus, its surface weathered by time. The air was thick with dust, and an oppressive silence hung around them.

Dexie scanned the room, his feline eyes narrowing. “It’s just the sarcophagus. What now?”

Madame Red crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the ancient tomb. “As terrible as it sounds, I think we should open it. There might be something inside that can help us.”

Dexie sighed, his tail twitching in mild frustration. “Not this again.”

She met his gaze firmly. “Look, Dexie, it could hold something important. There’s only one way to find out.”

“Fine,” he muttered, stepping toward the sarcophagus. With a grunt, he slowly pushed the heavy stone lid. Dust billowed into the air as it slid open.

Leaning over, Madame Red peered inside. Beneath layers of ancient cloth lay an intricately designed sword, its blade gleaming despite the centuries, along with a crumpled note resting beside it.

“It’s safe,” Madame Red said, her voice steady. “Grab the sword. I’ll take the note.”

Dexie nodded, carefully lifting the sword from the sarcophagus while Madame Red unfolded the note with a quick glance. Satisfied, they both stepped away from the ancient tomb, the air still heavy with unease.

“We should head back,” Madame Red suggested, tucking the note away securely. “Let’s tell the others what we found.”

Dexie hefted the sword over his shoulder. “Right behind you.”

Together, they retraced their steps, slipping past the bookshelf that concealed the hidden dungeon and emerging back into the church. Xerxes and Senshi waited near the altar, their eyes lighting up as Dexie and Madame Red returned.

Xerxes raised an eyebrow. “So, what did you find?”

Madame Red glanced at the items they had gathered, her expression troubled. “We’ve got a bunch of stuff, but none of it seems useful yet.”

Dexie chimed in, visibly shaken. “And whatever you do, don’t go down the right hallway.”

Senshi tilted his head, slightly confused. “Right hallway? Anyway, while you two were gone, we were thinking of checking out that hole next to the chained-up confession booth. The problem is, neither of us can fit through.”

Madame Red nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll go in. You three stay here.” Taking a deep breath, she crawled into the narrow hole. Her night vision helped her navigate the dark tunnel until she emerged in a small room. Two dark openings loomed on either side, and scrawled in blood-red ink on the wall were the words: “Offer one, and you shall be blessed.” She studied the ominous message before crawling back to the group.

Senshi frowned. “Offer one, and you shall be blessed?”

Madame Red nodded. “Yes. Does anyone have something we can offer?”

Xerxes perked up, rifling through his pack. “I’ve got this carrot! Maybe we can try offering it?”

Madame Red gave him a skeptical look but took the carrot. “Let me try.” She crawled back to the eerie room, holding the carrot in her left hand. As she reached through one of the holes, the carrot vanished in an instant. Before she could react, a searing pain ripped through her arm, and she gasped, biting back a scream. She hurriedly crawled back to the others, her left arm gone from the elbow down.

Dexie's eyes widened in horror. “Oh no…”

Senshi stepped forward, alarmed. “What happened?!”

Xerxes rushed to her side, guiding her to sit on a nearby pew. “Madame Red!” He scanned the wound, his voice urgent. “Quick! Find something to cover this!”

Madame Red winced but managed to speak through gritted teeth. “I—In my pack... there’s a robe. T-tear some cloth from the bottom.”

Xerxes quickly rummaged through her pack, tearing a strip from the robe. He carefully wrapped it around her wound, staunching the flow of blood. After a tense moment, Madame Red sighed in relief.

“How’s that?” Xerxes asked, his voice low with concern.

“Good enough,” Madame Red replied, her face pale but steady.

Just then, Senshi stiffened, hearing a slow drip behind him. He turned, eyes narrowing as blood began to seep from the chained-up confession booth, pooling ominously at its base. The sound grew louder, an unsettling rhythm echoing through the quiet church.

Senshi’s gaze fixed on the dripping blood. "What the...?" he murmured. Dexie, visibly uneasy, turned away. "I can’t bear to see this."

For a few tense moments, the blood continued to drip, then suddenly stopped. Xerxes, still holding Madame Red steady, gently helped her to her feet. "Now that’s dealt with," he said, exhaling. "Is there anything else we can explore?"

Dexie nodded quickly. "Behind the altar! There’s a locked trapdoor, but the lock’s solid. We couldn’t get it open." The group followed Dexie to the front of the church, where he pointed out the trapdoor embedded in the floor. "See? It’s sealed tight. I’ve tried, but it won’t budge."

Xerxes inspected it, gripping his sword. "I’ll give it a shot. Everyone, step back." He raised his blade and swung hard at the lock. The sword struck with a sharp clang, but the lock remained intact, only a faint scratch marking its surface. "That thing’s tougher than it looks," Dexie muttered.

Before they could devise another plan, a loud knock reverberated from the front doors of the church, startling them all. They exchanged glances, the tension thick in the air. Another knock echoed, slower this time, as if whoever—or whatever—was outside was waiting for an answer. Without speaking, the group quickly ducked behind the scattered pews, each preparing for what might come next. Silence fell again, broken only by the sound of their own shallow breathing.

As the group huddled in the dim light of the ruined church, the heavy wooden door creaked open, sending a chill through the silence. Tension hung in the air; weapons were ready. A tall figure stepped cautiously through the doorway—a woman with long white hair cascading down her back, her elegant silver-blue robes shimmering faintly. Her elven ears peeked out from beneath her hair, and her sparkling blue eyes scanned the room.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” she called softly, her voice calm yet wary.

The group exchanged glances before slowly rising from their hiding places to step into view. The elf gasped slightly. “Oh! You almost scared me.”

Madame Red was the first to speak. “Hmm... And who might you be?”

“My name is Daenerys,” the elf replied with a gentle smile. “It’s a relief to see others of my kind here.”

Madame Red offered a nod. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Daenerys. I’m Madame Red. That large human is Xerxes, the dwarf is Senshi, and our feline friend is Dexie.”

“Well met,” Daenerys said, her relief evident. “May I ask if you know what’s happening outside?”

Madame Red sighed. “A plague of the undead has taken over Greystone.”

Xerxes added, “We’ve gathered some clues on how to stop it. You’re welcome to join us if you want.”

Daenerys hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. “The more, the merrier, right, Xerxes?” Senshi chimed in, grinning up at her.

Xerxes nodded. “We could use all the help we can get.”

“Alright,” Daenerys agreed, smiling. “I’ll join you.”

“Great!” Dexie said, his tail flicking with approval.

As they gathered to share what they had uncovered in the church, the air thickened with mystery. But before their discussion could deepen, another knock echoed through the hall, resonating from the church doors.

The group quickly ducked behind the scattered pews, now with Daenerys by their side. As they waited in tense silence, a soothing melody drifted from beyond the door. The music stopped abruptly, followed by another knock. This time, feeling a strange sense of assurance, they decided to open the door.

Xerxes stood in front, gripping his sword tightly.

"Who’s there?" he called out.

A voice answered, "Hello! I really need to come in—there’s a lot of them out here!"

Xerxes quickly swung the door open, revealing a man with pointed elf-like ears, boots caked in mud, and a lute slung over his shoulder.

"Thank you," the man said, catching his breath. "What’s your name?"

"I’m Xerxes, and this is our group: Madame Red, Senshi, Dexie, and our newest member, Daenerys."

The stranger smiled warmly. "Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Daeron."

Senshi’s eyes lit up. "Nice to meet you! Wait—are you an elf too?"

Daeron chuckled. "Correction, I’m a half-elf. But it seems there are plenty of elves here! Nice to meet you, ladies."

"Nice to meet you, Daeron," Daenerys said with a nod.

Madame Red added, "A pleasure."

Daeron's eyes then drifted to Madame Red's hand. "Wait, your hand..."

Madame Red glanced down at it, her expression guarded. "Yeah... it’s complicated."

"I’m sorry, but I can’t heal that kind of wound," Daeron said, looking apologetic.

Senshi brightened up. "A healer? We’d be glad to have you in the group."

Xerxes nodded. "What do you think?"

Daeron grinned. "Of course! So... what exactly are we doing here?"

Before Senshi could answer, a loud, ominous thumping sound echoed from outside the church, interrupting the moment.