The sound of my footsteps echoed in the narrow alleys as I ran, the cold air biting at my skin. My heart thundered in my chest, each beat matching the frantic rhythm of my thoughts. I didn’t know where I was going—I only knew I had to keep moving.

The city loomed around me, its towering structures casting long, jagged shadows across the streets. The glow of the strange lights above was dimmer here, the darkness thicker. It pressed against me, filling every corner and crevice, but it didn’t feel like sanctuary.

Behind me, the sounds of the fight grew fainter, but I could still hear the occasional crash, the sharp clang of metal against stone. Orion was holding them off—for now. I didn’t want to think about what would happen if he failed.

The serpents hissed in agitation, their movements erratic and tense. I reached up, brushing my fingers against one of them, and whispered softly, “We’ll be fine. We have to be.”

But even as I said the words, I wasn’t sure I believed them.

I turned a corner, my breath ragged, and stumbled into an open space. The ground here was cracked and uneven, littered with debris and discarded objects. A faint, acrid smell hung in the air, mixing with the ever-present stench of the city.

I paused, leaning against a crumbling wall to catch my breath. My legs ached, and my lungs burned, but I couldn’t afford to stop for long. Every instinct screamed at me to keep moving, to stay ahead of whatever might be following me.

But as I stood there, a new sound reached my ears—quiet at first, almost imperceptible. A faint scraping, like something being dragged across the ground.

My body tensed, and the serpents hissed softly, their warning unmistakable. I scanned the shadows, my eyes narrowing as I tried to pinpoint the source of the noise.

And then I saw it.

A figure emerged from the darkness, moving slowly but deliberately. Their shape was human, but something about their movements was wrong—jerky, unnatural, like a puppet on tangled strings.

The air around them seemed to ripple, the faint light bending and distorting as they approached. I took a step back, my hand tightening around the dagger at my side.

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“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

The figure didn’t respond. They moved closer, their face hidden beneath a hood that cast deep shadows.

I raised the dagger, my heart pounding. “Stay back.”

The figure stopped, tilting their head as if considering my words. When they finally spoke, their voice was low and hollow, like the echo of a distant scream.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

The words sent a chill down my spine, and I tightened my grip on the dagger. “Neither should you.”

For a moment, there was silence. The figure stood motionless, their presence oppressive, suffocating. Then, with a sudden, jarring movement, they lunged.

I reacted instinctively, dodging to the side as their hand swiped at me. The dagger flashed in the dim light as I struck out, the blade slicing through the air and connecting with their arm.

The figure staggered, but there was no blood—only a faint, black mist that seeped from the wound. They turned to face me again, their movements even more erratic now, and I realized with a sinking feeling that they weren’t entirely human.

I stepped back, my mind racing. The serpents hissed furiously, their agitation fueling my own. I couldn’t stay here. I needed to get away, to find Orion—if he was still alive.

The figure lunged again, and this time, I was ready. I dodged their attack, spinning around them and slashing with the dagger. The blade bit into their side, and they let out a guttural sound that was somewhere between a snarl and a scream.

But they didn’t stop.

Their movements grew more frantic, more aggressive, as they advanced on me again. I knew I couldn’t keep this up. I was fast, but they were relentless, and every attack drained more of my strength.

Desperation flared in my chest, and I felt the familiar pull of the curse. My eyes burned, the glow intensifying as I met their gaze.

For a moment, the figure froze. Their body stiffened, the black mist swirling around them like smoke. Then, with a final, shuddering breath, they crumbled to the ground, their form dissolving into a pool of darkness.

I staggered back, my breaths ragged, and stared at the spot where they had fallen. The air was still now, the oppressive weight lifted, but I knew this was far from over.

The curse had saved me again, but it was a double-edged sword. Every time I used it, I drew more attention, invited more danger.

I turned away, my legs trembling as I forced myself to move. I didn’t know where Orion was, or if he had survived the fight, but I couldn’t stay here.

The city stretched out before me, its shadows deep and unyielding. Somewhere in the distance, the faint glow of the skyline marked the heart of this strange, foreign world.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I had no choice but to face it.

For centuries, I had been silent, forgotten. Now, the world would remember me—whether it wanted to or not.