Chapter 24

Chapter 24: A Twisted Reflection

Evie's vision swam in and out of focus, a kaleidoscope of swirling colors assaulting her senses. The raw power of the Wellspring resonated within her, a chaotic symphony threatening to shatter her very being. Finally, with a gasp, she ripped her eyes open, a harsh, unfamiliar light burning into her retinas.

She sat up, coughing and rubbing her gritty eyes, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Gone was the cavern bathed in golden light. Instead, she found herself sprawled on a cold, damp stone floor, surrounded by jagged obsidian pillars that reached towards an unseen ceiling.

A sickly green glow emanated from luminescent fungi clinging to the pillars, casting grotesque shadows that danced across the cavern walls. The air was thick with the stench of decay and damp earth, a suffocating atmosphere that sent a shiver down her spine.

Panic clawed at her throat. Where was she? What had become of Liam? A desperate cry escaped her lips, her voice echoing