The Crimson Prophecy: Legend Of The Half-Blood

The dungeon was a void of despair, a place where even light feared to linger. Its walls, slick with moisture, exuded a faint, metallic scent of decay. The air was thick and heavy, suffused with the faint hum of something unseen, something alive. Chains clinked faintly as if whispering secrets of long-forgotten prisoners, and the only illumination came from the faint, eerie glow of moss that clung stubbornly to the stone.

This was no ordinary prison; it was a place meant to break spirits.

Anne sat huddled against the wall, her knees drawn to her chest. Around her, the others lay crumpled in uneasy sleep, their faces pale and drawn from exhaustion. The journey here had been nothing short of a waking nightmare—from the terrifying plunge into the demon world to the claws of monstrous captors dragging them through endless tunnels. Every step had been a descent into something darker, more oppressive than the last.

The girls had succumbed to their fatigue, their breathing uneven and shallow. But Anne couldn't close her eyes, not even for a moment. The demon queen's chilling words echoed endlessly in her mind, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.

A sacrifice. A baby. One she and Asher would have to create.

The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine. She wrapped her arms tighter around herself, staring into the oppressive darkness. What would Asher think of such a demand? Would he even consider it?

Her heart twisted painfully. The Asher she had once known would never agree to something so monstrous. But then, the Asher she had once known was a memory, distant and fragile.

Anne's mind drifted to the past, to the days when she and Asher had been inseparable. She thought of his laugh, the way it had always managed to break through her darkest moments. The way he used to look at her—like she was the only person in the world.

They'd been so happy once, so… perfect together.

A single tear escaped, sliding down her cheek as she clutched the memory like a lifeline. Somewhere along the way, life had taken that happiness and torn it apart. But even now, she knew—deep down—she would sacrifice anything for him. Even herself, if it meant he could smile again.

She wiped the tear away hastily and stood, the cold floor biting into her bare feet. The dungeon stretched endlessly, its shadows deep and suffocating. Anne approached the iron bars that enclosed their cell, her fingers curling around the cold, rusted metal.

The air felt different here, heavier, as though it carried a thousand unseen eyes. She peered out into the darkness beyond, straining her eyes to see past the faint glow of the moss. And then she saw it—a shadow that moved where no shadow should.

Her breath caught in her throat as she leaned closer, the bars pressing into her skin. She squinted, trying to make out its shape. It wasn't human, but it wasn't quite demon either. It slithered, fluid and silent, just beyond the range of her vision.

She pressed her face closer to the bars, her pulse quickening. The shadow seemed familiar—like the one she had glimpsed before the demons had stormed in and dragged them away.

Anne's focus sharpened, her heart pounding. The shadow stilled, as if sensing her attention. She extended her neck slightly, her head nearly brushing the bars as she tried to get a clearer view.

Then suddenly a hand fell on her shoulder.

She spun around with a sharp gasp, her heart leaping into her throat.

It was Lilly, her expression groggy but laced with concern. "Anne," she whispered, her voice soft but firm. "What are you doing?"

Anne froze for a moment as she didn't expect Lilly to suddenly show up behind her, but she didn't say anything ; her mind was still preoccupied with the fleeting shadow. It had been there, she was certain of it. And now it was gone, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions and the faint, gnawing sense of unease. She sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her disappointment.

"It's nothing," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She hesitated before stepping back from the bars, her fingers trailing over the cold, rusted metal. The chill of the dungeon clung to her skin, seeping into her bones. She rubbed her arms, as if trying to shake off the lingering sensation, but her thoughts remained locked on the shadow.

What had it been? Was it watching them? Protecting them? Waiting?

Lilly watched her closely, her concern evident even in the dim light. "Anne," she asked again, softer this time. "Are you okay?"

Anne turned to her, nodding slowly. "I'm fine," she murmured, though her voice carried no conviction. Her eyes flickered back to the bars, a trace of longing in her gaze. She wondered if the shadow had been a warning or perhaps a promise of something more sinister.

"Anne," Lilly said gently, stepping closer and placing a warm, steady hand on her shoulder. "Don't lie to me. I know everything you're dealing with. You don't have to carry it alone." 

Anne looked stopped her thoughts of the shadow for a second, she knew exactly what Lilly was implying. Anne looked at Lilly and tried to speak but before she could say anything Lilly hugged her. Anne stiffened for a second, she didn't expect that. Lilly pulled back and held Annes palms; Lilly's hand was firm yet comforting, her tone unwavering. Anne felt the weight of her own emotions pressing down on her at this moment. She let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes for a moment. 

"You know," Anne began softly, her voice distant, "I never thought anything like this would ever happen, to be honest, I'm not upset about the demons words about the baby and stuff...its Asher." Her gaze dropped, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "It feels like my heart's been split open, and all the good things are spilling out. Every memory, every smile, every moment of peace—it's all bleeding out, and I can't stop it."

Lilly sat beside her, wrapping an arm around Anne's shoulders in a protective embrace. "You're stronger than you think," she said firmly. "We'll find a way out of this mess, Anne. I promise."

Anne gave a faint, humorless laugh. "It's not the demons words that scare me," she admitted, her voice trembling. "It does worry me for sure. The way they echo in the corners of my mind. But even that… even that isn't as sharp as the ache I feel when I think of him."

Lilly stayed silent, sensing the depth of Anne's pain.

"I can still see him," Anne whispered, her voice growing soft and wistful. "Asher, standing there in the sunlight, smiling like the world could never touch him. He was the brightest thing in my life. His smile—it wasn't just a curve of his lips; it was hope wrapped in warmth. If I saw him happy, my day couldn't be bad. It was impossible."

She paused, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Once, he ran all the way to the bus stop where I waited, just to give me chocolate. No reason, no special day. Just… because. And it wasn't even the chocolate that mattered. It was the way he looked at me, like I was the only person in his universe."

Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard. "We weren't perfect, but we were good. We loved each other in that raw, unfiltered way only kids can. And even when we were stupid, even when we messed up—he never hurt me. Never crossed the line."

Anne's lips quirked into a small, bittersweet smile. "He was so shy. He'd ask permission just to hold my hand, and it wasn't because he was afraid. It was because he respected me. The first time we kissed, I had to take the lead because he was too scared to. It wasn't much—just a quick, nervous kiss—but it felt like the world had stopped spinning."

Lilly's grip on her shoulder tightened, offering silent comfort.

Anne's smile faded, replaced by a look of deep sorrow. "But then life happened. And now it's like we're strangers. I don't know when or how we fell apart, but every day since then has felt… colder." She looked down, her tears finally falling. "I wish I could go back. Back to before things broke. Before I broke them."

Lilly pulled her closer, her voice steady. "Anne, you haven't broken anything beyond repair. Love doesn't shatter that easily. It bends, it bruises, but it's still there. And whatever happens—whether it's Asher or this nightmare we're in—you're not alone."

Anne leaned into Lilly's embrace, her breathing uneven but beginning to steady.

Lilly, sensing the heaviness still clinging to Anne like the damp dungeon air, gave her shoulder a light squeeze and leaned back against the wall with a sly grin. "Alright, enough of this doom and gloom. Let's talk about something important—like your terrible taste in men."

Anne blinked, startled, before letting out a soft laugh. "What?"

"Asher," Lilly said dramatically, rolling her eyes. "I mean, come on, Anne. What on earth did you find attractive about him? The boy's basically an overgrown toddler with an egg-shaped head."

Anne's jaw dropped in mock outrage. "Take that back! His head is not egg-shaped!"

"Oh, please," Lilly snorted. "It's perfectly oval. I could sketch it in geometry class." She gestured wildly with her hands, pretending to trace a giant egg in the air.

Anne laughed despite herself, the corners of her mouth curling up. "It's not egg-shaped! It's—it's symmetrical."

"Symmetrically eggy," Lilly quipped with a smirk. "And don't even get me started on his height. The man's a giraffe. Do you have to carry a ladder just to talk to him?"

Anne shook her head, laughing harder now. "He's not that tall!"

"Anne." Lilly raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "The guy's six-foot-two. Six-foot-two! You might as well start carrying binoculars to see his face."

Anne couldn't help but giggle as she said, "Well, I like tall guys! And for your information, he's not a giraffe."

"Oh, so now we're defending him?" Lilly teased, leaning closer. "Let's talk about those eyes of his. You're always going on about how beautiful they are, but honestly, I've never even seen them. They disappear when he smiles!"

Anne's face turned mock-serious as she pouted like a child. "Don't be mean! He has the most handsome smile in the world."

Lilly burst into laughter. "Sure, if you like the whole 'eyes-vanishing-into-slits' look. I swear, when he grins, it's like a magic trick. His eyes just poof—gone!"

Anne laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach. "Stop it! He's adorable, and you're just jealous!"

"Oh, absolutely," Lilly deadpanned, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I'm so jealous of your egg-headed giraffe boyfriend with disappearing eyes."

They both dissolved into laughter, the sound bouncing faintly off the dungeon walls. For a moment, the darkness didn't feel so oppressive.

When their giggles finally subsided, Lilly leaned in conspiratorially. "Okay, but seriously, Anne. What's with Lucia always acting like she's part of your group when she's clearly just orbiting around Asher, Jack, and Ibrahim?"

Anne rolled her eyes. "Don't even get me started. She's always trying to sit next to them, like it's some life-or-death situation."

"And the way she laughs at Jack's jokes," Lilly added, shaking her head. "Even when they're not funny! It's like, calm down, girl. He's not handing out Oscars."

Anne snorted. "I know, right? And then there's Asher, who just sits there encouraging it. Like, bro, read the room!"

Lilly nodded sagely. "Honestly, though, I think Ibrahim is the only one who notices. Did you see his face last time she tried to 'accidentally' trip into Jack's lap?"

Anne burst out laughing again. "Ibrahim was like, 'Not this again.' I swear, he has a sixth sense for Lucia drama."

"And speaking of drama," Lilly continued, leaning back with a curious look. "What's up with Asher and Mateo? They used to be like peanut butter and jelly, but now it's like… peanut butter and pickles."

Anne frowned slightly, her laughter subsiding. "I've noticed that too. They don't really spend time together anymore. Not like they used to."

"Right?" Lilly agreed. "It's so weird. Like, they used to have all these inside jokes and stupid pranks. Now, it's like they're just… distant."

Anne sighed, her smile fading. "Everything feels distant now. Especially Asher." Her voice softened, the weight of her words sinking in.

Lilly looked at her carefully. "I know you miss him, Anne."

Anne nodded, her fingers fiddling with a loose thread on her sleeve. "I do. Even though we broke up, it's like… I don't know. I still care. I just wish things could go back to the way they were. Before everything got so complicated."

Lilly reached over and took Anne's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I get it. But maybe… maybe this is just part of the story. Things change, but that doesn't mean they're over. You never know what could happen."

Anne managed a faint smile, her heart feeling a little lighter. "You think so?"

Lilly grinned. "Of course. And in the meantime, we're going to survive this dungeon, kick some demon butt, and maybe—just maybe—teach Lucia that tripping into people isn't a personality trait."

Anne laughed again, the sound brighter this time. "You're impossible."

"And you love me for it," Lilly said with a wink, pulling Anne into another side hug.

For a moment, the dungeon didn't feel quite so cold. It was still dark, still oppressive, but with Lilly by her side, Anne felt like she could handle it.

As Anne and Lilly continued their playful banter, the dungeon seemed to lighten, if only in spirit. Anne's laughter echoed faintly in the oppressive stillness, her cheeks flushed with genuine mirth for the first time in what felt like forever. Lilly had a way of making her forget, even if just for a moment, the weight that pressed so heavily on her chest.

"Okay, okay," Anne giggled, holding her sides. "I'll admit, Asher's jokes aren't always funny. But they're... charmingly bad."

Lilly snorted. "Charmingly bad? Girl, that's just bad. But sure, we'll call it 'charming.'" She paused and raised a finger, her voice lowering dramatically. "You know what's not charming? That haircut he had in seventh grade. What was that? A bowl or a helmet?"

Anne burst out laughing, leaning her head back against the cold wall. "Stop, you're killing me!"

But even as they laughed, a quiet thought crept into Anne's mind. Her laughter slowed, and the smile on her lips faltered. What would Asher be doing right now? Was he safe? Was he scared?

Her mind began to drift, the sound of Lilly's teasing fading into the background.

In another part of the demon world, far from the damp dungeon walls, Asher sat with his back against a jagged stone, his elbows on his knees. The cavern they were in was eerily silent, save for the occasional drip of water echoing in the distance. Jack and Ibrahim were sitting a few feet away, quietly strategizing, their voices low and tense. Mateo was farther off, fiddling with a small, glowing stone he'd found earlier, his expression unreadable.

But Asher wasn't paying attention to any of them. His mind was elsewhere, spiraling with thoughts he couldn't escape.

The demon queen's words had replayed in his mind so many times that they had started to blur together. A sacrifice. One of them.

His hands clenched into fists at the thought. Was that why she had let them go, even briefly? To let them stew in the horror of what was coming?

He closed his eyes tightly, as if to block out the image of his friends' faces. Would it be Anne? Lilly? Jack? The idea made him feel physically ill.

"You're brooding again," Jack's voice interrupted, pulling Asher back to the present.

Asher looked up sharply, his brows furrowed. Jack's grin was faint but teasing as he tossed a pebble in Asher's direction.

"Come on, man," Jack said, leaning back. "What's with that face? You look like you've just seen the demon queen herself again."

Ibrahim sighed and nudged Jack. "Maybe don't joke about that right now, yeah?"

Asher gave a weak chuckle, rubbing his temple. "I'm fine."

Jack scoffed. "Yeah, right. 'Fine' doesn't sit in a corner looking like it's plotting a Shakespearean tragedy."

Mateo, who had been quiet, finally spoke up, his tone dry. "Let him think, Jack. Not all of us deal with stress by cracking terrible jokes."

Jack raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, I get it. Sheesh."

Asher appreciated their attempt to lighten the mood, but it did little to soothe the storm inside him. His eyes wandered to the faintly glowing stone Mateo was fiddling with.

"We need to figure out what she meant," Asher said abruptly, his voice low but firm.

"What who meant?" Jack asked, sitting up straighter.

"The demon queen." Asher's eyes flicked to each of them in turn. "The sacrifice. She said… she said one of us." His throat tightened at the words, but he forced them out. "If it's true, we can't let her pick. We have to figure out a way to stop it."

The room fell silent. Even Jack's usually lighthearted expression darkened.

Ibrahim leaned forward, his voice steady. "Asher, are you sure that's what she said? Did she actually say it would be one of us?"

Asher blinked, his mind racing. He replayed the encounter in his head, but it felt hazy now, clouded by his panic and fear. "I... I think so. What else could she mean?"

Mateo sighed, setting the stone down. "We don't know for sure, and jumping to conclusions isn't going to help anyone."

"But what if it's true?" Asher shot back, his voice rising slightly. "What if—"

"What if it's not?" Mateo cut him off, his tone sharp but not unkind. "We need to keep our heads clear. Panicking is exactly what she wants."

Asher fell silent, his jaw tightening. He hated to admit it, but Mateo was right. The demon queen thrived on fear, and he'd been letting it consume him.

Jack, ever the peacekeeper, clapped Asher on the shoulder. "Hey, we'll figure it out, okay? We've got this."

Asher nodded slowly, though the weight in his chest remained. His thoughts drifted back to Anne. He couldn't forget the part when the demon queen grabbed her neck, seeing her struggle to breathe was the worst. The feeling that she would die....it was impossible to imagine, and he'd be damned if he let that happen.

As the group sat in tense silence, mulling over the possibilities of the demon queen's ominous words, a piercing cry shattered the air.

Everyone froze, their heads snapping in the direction of the sound.

"What the hell was that?" Jack whispered, his voice low and wary.

"Sounds like someone's having a meltdown," Mateo said, already on his feet. "Let me guess—one of the demons tripped over their own tail?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances before hurrying toward the source of the commotion.

The scene they stumbled upon was pure chaos.

Omar, Ravi, and Ethan were in the middle of a full-blown brawl with Noah, James, and Liam. The three boys were holding their ground, but they were outnumbered. Liam's lip was split, James had blood streaking down his temple, and Noah's face was red with exertion as he blocked another swing from Ravi.

"You idiots don't deserve to be here!" Ethan bellowed, swinging wildly.

"They ruined everything!" Ravi yelled, landing a punch on Liam's shoulder.

"Stop it!" Daniel was shouting, his voice hoarse as he tried to pull Ravi away. "This isn't helping!"

Ravi shoved Daniel to the ground. "They deserve this!" he spat, pointing at the three boys. "If they hadn't opened that portal, none of this would've happened!"

"It was an accident!" Noah roared, shoving Ethan back. "You think we wanted this?"

"Accident or not, you destroyed our lives!" Ethan lunged again, his fist aimed for Noah's jaw.

Before the punch could land, Asher stormed forward, his face a mask of cold fury. Without a word, he slapped Ethan hard enough to send him sprawling onto the ground.

The cavern went deathly silent.

Ethan lay stunned, his hand on his cheek, staring up at Asher in disbelief. The others froze, fists mid-air, the fight draining out of them in an instant.

Mateo, as usual, broke the silence. He folded his arms and surveyed the scene with a smirk. "Oh, bravo, guys. Really. A-plus teamwork. I'm sure the demon queen's just thrilled to see us beating each other to death instead of, you know, focusing on the actual problem."

Jack snorted despite himself, and Ibrahim shook his head, muttering under his breath.

"What the hell is wrong with you all?" Asher's voice was sharp, his anger crackling like static. His gaze swept over Omar, Ravi, and Ethan, all of whom now looked distinctly less confident. "Do you really think fighting each other is going to fix anything?"

"Maybe we should hear their plan," Mateo cut in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He pointed at Ravi. "Go on, genius. Is this where you punch a portal back to Earth? Or do we just fight until the demon queen gets bored and lets us go?"

Ravi scowled but stayed silent.

"Or maybe," Mateo continued, tapping his chin theatrically, "this is all part of some elaborate group therapy session. You know, 'Punch out your problems, find inner peace.'" He snapped his fingers. "Makes perfect sense now."

"You're not helping, Mateo," Daniel snapped, stepping forward to stand beside Asher. His expression was firm, his voice steady. "This isn't a joke."

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "Oh, it's definitely not a joke. It's a full-blown circus. And guess what, Daniel? You're the only one still trying to wrangle the clowns."

"Enough!" Asher barked, silencing the brewing argument. He turned to Ravi, Omar, and Ethan, his eyes blazing. "If you're mad, fine. Be mad. But taking it out on them?" He pointed at Noah, James, and Liam. "That's not going to solve anything. It's just going to make things worse."

Daniel stepped in, brushing dirt off his shirt from where Ravi had pushed him earlier. "He's right. We're all stuck here. Beating each other up isn't going to change the fact that we're in this mess together. We need to focus on finding a way out."

Shaan, who had been holding Daniel upright earlier, added, "This is exactly what the demons want—to divide us, to make us weaker. Don't let them win."

Noah, still wiping blood from his nose, straightened up and met Ravi's glare head-on. "We screwed up. We know that. But we're doing everything we can to fix it. If you want to blame someone, fine. But at least blame us while we're trying to survive together."

Liam, his lip swollen but his voice steady, said, "If you've got that much energy, put it into figuring out how to fight the demons, not us."

Mateo clapped his hands loudly, drawing all eyes to him. "Okay, great pep talk, everyone. But can we also establish some ground rules? Rule one: Don't fight the people you're stuck in hell with. Rule two: Don't open more portals to hell. And rule three: For the love of everything holy, stop blaming people who can't even portal properly."

"Not helping," Daniel muttered again, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"No, no, I'm serious," Mateo said, his tone mockingly sincere. He looked at Ethan, who was still rubbing his cheek. "And Ethan? Let's add a sub-rule: Don't start fights you clearly can't finish. Asher's slap says it all."

Ethan groaned, his cheeks flushing red as he avoided everyone's gaze.

Asher sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We don't have time for this. If you've got anger to work out, do it some other way. But if I catch anyone pulling this crap again, you'll answer to me."

There was a murmur of agreement, and the tension began to dissipate.

Noah, James, and Liam exchanged weary glances but stood their ground.

"You guys okay?" Asher asked, his voice softer now.

"We're fine," James said, though his tone was clipped. "But next time, I'm bringing a shield."

Liam chuckled faintly. "Maybe a helmet too."

Mateo grinned, throwing an arm around Daniel's shoulders. "Or how about we just bubble-wrap everyone? Safety first, right?"

"Shut up, Mateo," Daniel said, but his tone was lighter now.

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep morale up," Mateo said, winking. "And by morale, I mean making sure you all remember how ridiculous this situation is. You're welcome."

Asher shook his head, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Let's just focus on getting through this. Together."

"And no more slap tournaments," Daniel added, shooting a look at Ethan.

"Agreed," Asher said firmly. "Let's go."

As the group began to disperse, Mateo lingered, nudging Ethan with his elbow. "So… do we get a rematch? Or are we just counting that slap as game over?"

Ethan groaned again. "Mateo, shut up."

Mateo grinned. "Never."

The group had settled into a tense circle, the earlier chaos giving way to a heavy silence. Asher sat at the center of it, his head bowed slightly, his hands clenched into fists on his knees.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low but carrying the weight of the moment. "About what the demon queen said."

Mateo leaned back, lazily balancing on his palms. "Oh, let me guess," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching. "She's throwing us a tea party, but we're all out of scones?"

"Mateo," Daniel said firmly, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"Sacrifice," Asher said sharply, cutting through Mateo's quip. "She said something about a sacrifice—one that involves me and Anne."

The air grew heavier as the boys exchanged uneasy glances.

"She wants to sacrifice you?" Ravi asked, his brow furrowed. "That's… direct."

"Or is it both of you?" Omar added, rubbing his chin. "Because, honestly, I'm not volunteering for that."

"Maybe it's not literal," Ibrahim suggested cautiously. "Maybe 'sacrifice' is, like, symbolic?"

Ethan scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, sure. Because demons are all about metaphors and subtlety."

James nodded grimly. "It's probably blood. Or worse."

"Can we not jump to conclusions?" Daniel interjected, his tone calm but firm. "We don't know what she meant yet. Let's focus on figuring it out instead of freaking out."

Mateo leaned forward suddenly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You know," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face, "I think I know what she meant."

Asher shot him a warning look. "Mateo—"

"She meant that when Anne was being strangled by her, you turned into a lovesick action hero," Mateo continued, ignoring Asher completely. "I mean, you sprinted toward her like she was the last slice of pizza at a party."

A ripple of snickers ran through the group, with Jack grinning and Noah covering his mouth to suppress a laugh.

"Not helping," Daniel muttered under his breath.

"No, but seriously," Mateo said, his grin widening. "It was beautiful. You were all, 'ANNE!'" He mimicked a dramatic run, clutching his chest. "I half-expected you to dive into a slow-motion montage. Very touching. Almost brought a tear to my eye."

"Cut it out," Asher snapped, his voice rising.

But Mateo wasn't done. "Oh, come on. Admit it. That was some real Romeo and Juliet-level drama right there. You didn't even hesitate. You just knew."

"Enough!" Asher's voice boomed, silencing the laughter instantly. His face was a storm of anger and frustration, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Everyone froze, tension thick in the air. For a moment, Asher stared at the ground, his shoulders heaving as he tried to compose himself. Then he looked up, his voice quieter but laden with emotion.

"I don't have feelings for Anne anymore," he said, his tone firm but trembling at the edges. "We're over. Done. That chapter of my life is closed, and there's no going back. So stop bringing her up. Stop making jokes about it. I don't care. Not anymore."

The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of Asher's words pressing down on everyone. Then, of course, Mateo spoke.

"Wow," he said, breaking the quiet with his signature drawl. "That was so convincing, I almost believed it. But tell me, is that what you'll say when she runs into your arms after we save the day? Or should I start drafting your wedding vows now?"

Daniel groaned, rubbing his temples. "Mateo, enough."

But Mateo shrugged, completely unfazed. "What? I'm just being realistic. Denial's a stage, right? I think we're at Stage Three now."

Jack tilted his head. "What's Stage Four?"

"Public confession of undying love, obviously," Mateo said, smirking.

"I swear to—" Asher began, but Daniel cut him off.

"Okay, let's all take a breath," Daniel said firmly, his voice slicing through the tension. "We've got bigger things to deal with than Mateo's commentary. Asher, we hear you. Let's focus on what we're going to do next."

"Thank you," Asher muttered, sitting back and rubbing his temples.

The group exchanged glances, the earlier tension gradually easing. Despite the gravity of their situation, Mateo's irreverence had chipped away some of the fear, leaving behind a sense of reluctant camaraderie.

"Well," Mateo said, leaning back with a dramatic sigh. "If no one's going to propose a plan, I vote we form a boy band. 'Hell Survivors.' We'd sell out arenas."

Ravi snorted. "Pretty sure Ethan would quit before we even started."

"Not before kicking Asher out first," Omar quipped.

Ethan glared at them both, but even he couldn't completely suppress the faintest twitch of a smile.

And for the first time that night, the boys managed a tentative, fleeting sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.

The air in the dungeon grew colder, heavier, as Ethan's voice cut through the uneasy silence.

"Jokes aside," he said, his tone hard and unyielding, "we might all actually die down here. And if sacrificing Anne is what the demon queen wants, then maybe we should consider it."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. The group fell silent, every pair of eyes turning to Asher. He sat motionless, staring at the ground, his expression unreadable.

Omar shifted uncomfortably but eventually nodded. "Ethan's got a point. If it's one of us or her, isn't the choice obvious?"

Ravi leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed. "We're talking survival here. One life to save all of ours. That's basic math."

Ibrahim shook his head, his voice trembling but resolute. "That's not right. We can't just… hand her over. She's one of us!"

Jack stood, his face unusually stern. "One of us? She's bad news. Always has been. Honestly, her death wouldn't make much of a difference."

"Are you serious right now?" Daniel snapped, rising to his feet with a fiery glare. "Anne's not just some pawn we can sacrifice. She's a person! She doesn't deserve this."

"She doesn't?" Jack countered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What about all the trouble she's caused? Maybe if she hadn't been so—"

"Enough!" Mateo interrupted, his usual humor gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. "You guys are disgusting. Sacrificing Anne? Really? That's your grand plan?"

Ethan's jaw tightened as he stood, stepping toward Mateo. "You've got a better idea? Or are you too busy cracking jokes to think straight?"

Mateo smirked, his sarcasm flaring to life. "Oh, I've got plenty of ideas. For starters, maybe we don't act like we're starring in some twisted reality show where throwing people under the bus wins the prize." He gestured dramatically toward Ethan. "But hey, if the demon queen needs someone to sacrifice, maybe we should offer her the guy who suggested it."

Ethan's face turned red with fury. "You want to say that again?"

"Gladly," Mateo said, leaning closer with a taunting grin. "I said—"

"Enough!" Asher's voice boomed, silencing everyone instantly. He stood abruptly, his eyes blazing with anger. "Everyone just shut up."

The group fell silent, stunned by his outburst.

"No one is being sacrificed. Not Anne, not anyone." His voice was low and sharp now, each word cutting through the tension. "We're not handing anyone over to the demon queen, and that's final."

Without another word, Asher stormed off to a shadowed corner of the dungeon, leaving the group in awkward, uneasy silence.

Mateo glanced at Daniel, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "You know," he said quietly, his tone teasing but softer than usual, "for a guy who supposedly doesn't care about Anne anymore, he sure got defensive back there."

Daniel nodded, his expression thoughtful. "He still loves her. Whether he admits it or not."

Jack scoffed, crossing his arms. "Please. He's over her. He said so himself." He turned to Ibrahim. "Right?"

Ibrahim sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know, man. It's… complicated."

Ethan glared at them all, his patience snapping. "Who cares how he feels about Anne? We have bigger problems to deal with!"

"That's rich coming from the guy who started this mess," Daniel shot back, his voice rising in frustration.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Mateo interjected, his smirk returning. "I didn't realize Ethan was the leader of the Sacrificial Solutions Committee."

"Mateo—" Ibrahim tried to interject, but Ethan stepped closer to Mateo, fists clenched.

"You've got a smart mouth for someone who hasn't contributed a single useful idea," Ethan growled.

Mateo shrugged lazily. "Well, my bad for not suggesting we throw our friends to the wolves. Clearly, that's useful thinking."

The argument spiraled, voices overlapping in a heated cacophony. Daniel and Mateo defended Anne fiercely, while Jack and Ethan argued their point with biting determination. Ibrahim shifted nervously, unsure of which side to support, while the others either watched in tense silence or muttered their opinions.

Asher sat in the dim corner of the dungeon, his head resting against the damp stone wall. The distant murmurs of the boys' argument had long since faded into a dull buzz in his ears. His mind, however, was far from quiet.

The memory played over and over—the moment Anne had been caught in the demon queen's grasp. Her face, pale and terrified, the way she struggled for air. Without thinking, he'd bolted to her like his very life depended on it, adrenaline overpowering any sense of fear.

Now, he couldn't decide if it had been a mistake.

He rubbed his temples, his fingers pressing into his skin as if trying to force the thoughts out of his head. But they came flooding back—her voice, her laughter, her smile. He could still feel the way his heart used to race whenever she so much as looked at him.

She doesn't deserve this, a voice in his head whispered.

But another voice—harsher, angrier—pushed back. Her mother was right. You're not good enough for her. You never were.

Asher's jaw tightened, his chest constricting as the memory of Anne's mother resurfaced.

"Stay away from her. You and your family are a disgrace. You'll ruin her life."

He slammed his fist against the wall, the dull ache grounding him in the present. It wasn't Anne he was angry at—not really. He knew that deep down. She hadn't chosen her family over him. She'd tried, time and time again, to stand by his side, to fight for what they had.

But her mother's words had left scars, ones that hadn't healed.

And then there was the fear. The fear that if he let himself love her again, he'd be setting them both up for more pain.

"She's better off without me," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. "I have to believe that."

But as much as he tried to convince himself, the image of Anne—strong, stubborn, and undeniably kind—refused to leave his mind.

Back in the circle, the boys' argument reached a fever pitch, their voices echoing in the cavernous space. But amidst the chaos, a single question lingered in the air, unspoken but heavy with implication:

What would they do when the time came to face the demon queen again?