the warped: Fragments of eternity

Rowan's voice was a sharp whisper, strained and frantic as they plummeted through the pitch-black void. "Sylva! Do something! Use, your magic—anything!"

Sylva's teeth clenched, sweat glistening on her brow as she extended her hands. Roots erupted from her palms, twisting wildly in the air, their erratic movements reflecting her uncertainty. "I'm trying!" she hissed, the strain evident in her voice. "You're too heavy!"

Rowan flailed slightly, gripping Sylva's arm. "I swear I'll stop eating so much. Just—just get us down safely!" Her words came out in a panicked rush, but her eyes gleamed with determination, willing Sylva to succeed.

The roots surged downward, forming a sprawling bush beneath them. Sylva groaned, her arms trembling. "Almost… there!"

Their descent slowed, and the bush caught them just before impact. Sylva landed gracefully on her feet, panting, but Rowan's landing wasn't as elegant. She tumbled awkwardly, landing hard on her backside with a grunt.

"Talk about a rough landing," Rowan retorted, brushing herself off and wincing."your bush was a lifesaver, thank you."

Sylva glanced at her, her expression a mix of exhaustion and unease. "I've… never tried that before, sorry."

Rowan raised an eyebrow, letting out a low whistle. "Hey maybe we are finally rubbing off on you. But maybe make shorter branches next time would be great."

Sylva rolled her eyes, offering a hand to help Rowan up. "Next time, I'm letting you fall."

Around them, the space was suffocating. Massive, pulsing roots twisted and stretched into the endless darkness. The air felt heavy, each breath dragging like molasses through their lungs. Cracks in the void revealed distorted glimpses of the real world—streets swallowed by chaos, forests tangled in the Core's roots, and flickers of cityscapes being drained of life. The fragments bled together in twisted harmony, fueling the labyrinth.

Sylva knelt by one of the cracks, her fingertips brushing the edge of a pulsing root. "The Core is feeding here," she murmured, her voice almost reverent with dread. "Preparing to rip another fragment here to this realm."

Rowan stepped closer, her gaze hardening. "So what's that structure way back there."

Sylva's gaze lifted to the distance. A jagged building jutted out from the ceiling of the labyrinth, its sharp edges glowing faintly with an eerie, unnatural light. "That must be connected to the twin towers above. I can feel two faint lights that way."

Rowan's jaw set as she pointed toward the structure. "Then that's where we're going."

The labyrinth wasn't just alive—it was aware. Roots pulsed in time with the oppressive hum that filled the air, the Core's whispers creeping into Rowan's mind with sharp persistence. Each step grew heavier, the whispers growing louder, clawing at her thoughts.

Rowan froze, her knees buckling slightly as a sharp, invasive voice echoed through her mind.

"Ah I see, trying so hard to forget Rowan? Do you even try to remember them? Their screams? Their faces?"

Her vision blurred as the labyrinth melted away, replaced by a memory she'd buried deep.

She stood in a shattered fragment, leading her team through a burning jungle metropolis. Shadow creatures poured from every corner, their claws slicing through air and flesh alike. Her orders were clear: evacuate the civilians trapped inside.

But it had all gone wrong.

Lucas, her second-in-command, turned to her, his face pale but resolute. "Rowan! Get them out of here! Go!"

She hesitated, just for a second, but it was enough. Lucas was pulled into the darkness, his scream cutting off with a sickening gurgle.

Rowan staggered, her spear faltering. One by one, the rest of her team fell, their faces etched into her memory. The civilians screamed as Rowan was forced to retreat, her heart shattering with every step.

The memory fractured, splintering into another.

The chaos shifted, melting into a moment of warmth. Paige stood before Rowan in a golden glow, her spiked gloves catching the light. Her dark eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned against a tree. "You're always so serious, Rowan. Can't you let me have just one lazy day?"

Rowan let out a soft laugh, the sound foreign even to her. "Someone has to remind you life isnt always so carefree and wild."

Paige grinned, pushing off the tree and stepping closer. "And someone has to remind you there's more to life than rules and missions." She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Rowan's face. "You fight so hard for everyone else. Let me fight for you."

The memory twisted, darkened. Paige's gloves were now drenched in shadow, her eyes glowing crimson. She was no longer Paige; she was an enforcer. The voice that once soothed Rowan now cut like shards of glass. "You cant stop this, Rowan. You won't save anyone on that side."

Rowan relived the moment she had to kill Paige, her spear slicing through the shadow-corrupted body of the person she loved most. Paige fell, her smile fading into nothingness.

The flashbacks faded, but Paige's voice lingered, soft and insidious. "All of this… it's pointless, Rowan. You could have ended your suffering long ago. Given in, like I did. You'd be free."

Rowan staggered, gripping her head as the roots pulsed in time with the whispers. The flames on her chain dart dimmed, flickering weakly. "You're not her. You're not real."

"Real enough to remind you of what you've tried so hard to forget," Paige's voice crooned. "We could have had peace, Rowan. Together."

Rowan's breath came in sharp gasps. "Peace? You call what the Core did to you peace? You gave up!"

The flames roared back to life, brighter and hotter. "I won't become like you no matter what."

"Rowan! Look at me!" Sylva's hands gripped Rowan's shoulders, shaking her firmly. Her voice cut through the haze, sharp and grounding. "This isn't real. Phoebe is not with us anymore!"

Rowan's eyes focused on Sylva, her breathing uneven. "She was there. I saw her."

Sylva's expression softened, her voice steady and sure. "I know. The Core's voice is sharper here. But you're stronger than this. You've proven it before. Don't let it win."

Rowan exhaled shakily, the flames along her chain dart steadying. She managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Sylva. I… I'm fine now."

Sylva raised an eyebrow, her smirk faint. "Good. Because I'm not carrying you again."

A guttural roar shattered the moment, echoing through the labyrinth like a physical force. The ground shook violently, cracks forming in the roots as a massive shadow loomed above them.

The gigantic creature emerged violently from a crack in space, its grotesque form pulling itself out from the roots into the otherworld. Crimson eyes glowed menacingly as it dragged its elongated limbs, its movements twitchy and erratic.

Sylva stepped forward, her roots flaring to life like a protective shield. "Get ready."

Rowan steadied her chain dart, the weapon spinning fluidly in her hands. Her voice was steady, but her eyes burned with resolve. "I was born ready."

The creature lunged, its roar shaking the labyrinth as Rowan and Sylva braced themselves for the fight.