Crimson & Light: Starting Over In A World Isn't As Easy As It Seems

Berethia, Jane, Merrick, and Changra sprinted toward the source of the screams, their hurried footsteps echoing eerily in the narrow corridor. The oppressive atmosphere weighed down on them, making every step feel like wading through invisible sludge. The dim light from the magical sconces along the walls flickered faintly, casting dancing shadows that seemed alive.

"Stay close!" Merrick barked, his deep voice cutting through the tense air like a blade.

"I am close," Changra snapped back, though he wasn't entirely sure if he was trying to reassure Merrick or himself. His hand instinctively brushed over his side where the Crimson Dagger hung, dormant but humming faintly, as if it, too, sensed what was ahead.

Then they saw it.

Liora was slumped against a crumbling stone wall, her face pale as death. Blood poured from the jagged stump where her arm had once been, the dark liquid pooling on the cracked ground beneath her. Her chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, but her eyes were fluttering closed, as if she were teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

"No, no, no!" Jane cried, rushing toward Liora, but Merrick threw an arm out to stop her.

"Wait!" he hissed. "Look!"

Just beyond Liora, Tessa and Callen were locked in a desperate battle, their backs pressed together as they fought off an encroaching horde of shadowy figures. The creatures moved with unnatural fluidity, their limbs stretching and contorting grotesquely as they clawed and snapped at the duo. Each creature was a nightmare given form: black, featureless bodies with glowing red eyes that burned with unholy hunger.

"Tessa! Callen!" Changra shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the sound of the shadows' shrieks.

"We can't just stand here!" Jane said, her voice cracking with urgency as she tried to push past Merrick's restraining arm.

"Stay back," Merrick commanded firmly. "Berethia, can you—"

"I know!" Berethia snapped, cutting him off. Her usual calm was gone, replaced by something sharper, more agitated. Her green eyes flickered dangerously as she raised her hands, summoning a glowing emerald barrier to shield Liora from further harm. But there was a tremble in her fingers, and her lips were pressed into a tight line.

Changra noticed it. She wasn't just angry—she was shaken. Shaken and… jealous? He couldn't place it, but there was something deeply unsettling about the way her gaze darted briefly toward Jane and then back to the fight.

The shadows hissed in response to the barrier, their clawed hands swiping at it but failing to break through. Tessa and Callen, though still standing, were visibly worn down. Tessa's sword swings were slower, less precise, and Callen's shield arm shook with the effort of fending off the relentless attacks.

"We need to help them now!" Changra said, stepping forward and drawing the Crimson Dagger. Its hum grew louder, almost eager.

Merrick nodded grimly. "Jane, tend to Liora. Berethia, you're with me. Changra, stay sharp and follow my lead."

"Got it," Changra replied, his grip tightening on the dagger. But as he took another step forward, Berethia shot him a glare.

"Don't do anything reckless," she hissed. "We can't afford another mistake."

Another mistake? Changra thought, baffled. What's her problem? He didn't have time to dwell on it, though, as Merrick charged forward, his greatsword gleaming in the dim light.

The fight was chaos.

Merrick was a whirlwind of strength, his sword carving through the shadows with practiced precision. Berethia's magic was a spectacle, emerald fireballs erupting from her hands and incinerating several creatures at once. Yet despite their efforts, the shadows seemed endless, their numbers barely thinning.

Changra focused on Tessa and Callen. He darted past Merrick and Berethia, dodging a clawed swipe from one of the shadows, and reached the pair just in time to block another attack with the Crimson Dagger. The blade vibrated in his hand, and for a brief moment, it felt like an extension of his own anger.

"You two okay?" Changra asked, panting as he deflected another blow.

Tessa, blood streaking her face, managed a weak grin. "Been better."

Callen grunted, his shield slamming into a shadow and sending it sprawling. "Just get us out of this!"

"Working on it!" Changra replied, slashing at a shadow and feeling the blade hum with satisfaction as it connected.

Behind him, he could hear Berethia muttering incantations, her voice laced with tension. She wasn't just casting spells—she was fighting something within herself, too. And Changra couldn't shake the feeling that her hostility earlier wasn't just about the shadows.

"Berethia, cover us!" Merrick shouted, his greatsword slicing through three shadows in one swing.

"I'm trying!" she snapped back, her voice breaking slightly. A flash of green light illuminated her face, and for just a moment, Changra saw the anguish in her eyes. It wasn't just the fight getting to her—it was something deeper. Something older.

"Focus!" Merrick bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos like a whip.

Changra clenched his teeth and pushed forward, determined to get Tessa and Callen out of the fray. But the shadows were relentless, their claws scraping against his dagger and his arms burning from the effort of keeping them at bay. He glanced over his shoulder to see Jane cradling Liora, her healing magic glowing softly but doing little to stop the blood loss.

"Hang in there, Liora," Jane whispered, tears streaming down her face. "We'll get you out of here."

Berethia's magic flared brighter, the emerald flames consuming several shadows at once, but there was a desperation in her attacks now. Her movements were less calculated, more frantic, and her breaths came in quick, uneven gasps.

Finally, with one last coordinated effort from Merrick, Berethia, and Changra, the shadows began to retreat. Their screeches echoed through the corridor as they melted back into the darkness, leaving the group battered but alive.

Changra collapsed to his knees, the Crimson Dagger falling from his hand. He stared at it as its hum faded, his mind racing. Why does this keep happening? Why am I always surrounded by death and danger?

Berethia lowered her hands, her shoulders heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her gaze lingered on Changra for a moment, then shifted to Jane and Liora. Her jaw tightened, and she turned away without a word.

Merrick wiped the blood from his sword and looked around. "Everyone still breathing?"

"Barely," Callen muttered, helping Tessa to her feet.

Liora groaned softly, her head lolling against Jane's shoulder. "We need to get her out of here," Jane said, her voice trembling. "She's lost too much blood."

Merrick nodded grimly. "We'll find a way. But first, we need to figure out what the hell that was."

Berethia said nothing, her eyes fixed on the ground. Changra watched her, unease coiling in his gut. Something about her felt… off. And he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was eating away at her was far more dangerous than the shadows they had just faced.

The group froze for a moment, the weight of the scene before them sinking in. Liora was slumped against the wall, her breathing shallow and labored. Blood poured from the jagged stump where her arm had been, pooling around her as Tessa and Callen knelt at her side, frantic and terrified.

Jane rushed forward, dropping to her knees. "Liora, stay with us!" she cried, fumbling through her pack for anything that might help.

Changra stood paralyzed, his breath caught in his throat. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to help. His heart raced as he stared at the scene. This is real. Too real.

"Move!" Merrick's commanding voice cut through the chaos as he shoved past Changra, kneeling beside Liora. He tore a piece of cloth from his sleeve, pressing it against the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. "Tessa, hold this down! Hard!" he barked.

Tessa, her hands trembling, obeyed immediately, placing her hands over Merrick's and applying pressure. Callen, pale and shaking, stood frozen in place, unable to tear his eyes away from Liora's face.

Berethia stood a few paces back, her usual calm façade slipping as her face twisted in a mixture of unease and something deeper. Her gaze flicked between Changra and the scene before her, her hands curling into fists at her sides.

"Changra…" Liora's weak voice snapped him out of his daze. Her eyes fluttered open, barely focused. "Come here…"

Changra hesitated before kneeling next to her, his movements awkward and unsure. He looked down at her pale, sweat-soaked face. "Liora… I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking.

Liora's lips twitched into a faint smile, despite the agony written all over her face. "Don't… don't be. This was… bound to happen. I just… didn't think it'd be this soon."

Jane sniffled, her tears falling freely as she tried to keep pressure on the wound. "You're going to be fine, Liora. We'll get you back to the guild, and they'll heal you. You'll see."

Liora's gaze shifted to Jane, her smile fading slightly. "Jane… you always were… the optimist." She coughed, her body convulsing slightly before she turned back to Changra. "Listen… to me."

Changra leaned closer, his stomach knotting as he struggled to hold back tears. "I'm listening," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You… you're stronger… than you think," Liora said, her words slow and labored. "You just… don't see it yet. But you will. You have to…"

"I'm not strong," Changra said, shaking his head. "I couldn't do anything. I couldn't save you—"

"Stop," Liora interrupted, her voice firmer than before. "You… you can't think like that. This… this isn't your fault." Her eyes searched his, as if willing him to understand. "Promise me… you'll keep going. No matter what."

Changra swallowed hard, his vision blurring with tears. "I promise."

Liora's hand reached up weakly, brushing against his cheek. "Good…" Her hand fell back to her side, and her eyes began to close. "Tell… the others… I'm sorry."

"No, no, no!" Jane cried, shaking her head. "Stay awake, Liora! Please!"

Merrick's jaw tightened as he felt for a pulse, his shoulders sagging when he found none. He pulled back, his face grim as he closed his eyes. "She's gone."

Jane collapsed into Changra's side, sobbing uncontrollably. Tessa let out a strangled cry, burying her face in Callen's chest as he held her tightly, his own tears streaming down his face.

Changra sat frozen, staring at Liora's lifeless body. Her words echoed in his mind, over and over. You're stronger than you think. You have to keep going.

Berethia finally stepped forward, her expression unreadable. She looked down at Liora, her jaw clenched tightly. "We… we need to move," she said quietly, her voice wavering slightly. "This isn't over."

Merrick stood, his movements slow and deliberate. "She's right. Those things are still out there, and they'll be back. We can't stay here."

Changra clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His chest burned with anger and grief, but he forced himself to nod. "Let's go," he said, his voice hollow.

As they began to gather their things, Berethia's gaze lingered on Changra for a moment. There was something in her eyes—something almost envious—as she watched him pull himself together. But she quickly turned away, her expression hardening.

Liora's body was left behind, her final words a haunting reminder of the fragile line between life and death in their unforgiving world.