the warped: Fragments of eternity

The corridor seemed endless, stretching out like a vein running through the Core itself. Kieran adjusted his grip on Amara, her body limp and heavy in his arms. The crimson stains on her bandages seemed darker under the flickering light. Every breath she took was shallow, each one a desperate grasp for life.

"Can't be much further," Kieran muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His voice was tight, exhaustion pulling at every syllable.

Behind him, Al Capone strolled casually, his hands in his pockets, the ember of his cigar glowing faintly. His two enforcers followed closely, their weapons idle but their eyes sharp, scanning the shadows that seemed to writhe and twist at the edges of the hallway.

"I'd bet Sylva's already guiding your crew straight to the Core," Capone drawled, his voice breaking the oppressive silence. He exhaled a puff of smoke, letting it curl lazily around him. "Sharp one, that girl. Always one step ahead."

Kieran shot him a glare, his shield shifting slightly to better protect Amara. "Good for them," he said curtly, his voice hard. "But we're not leaving her behind."

Capone chuckled, the sound low and unbothered. "Admirable. Stupid, but admirable."

Kieran ignored him, his focus shifting as Amara stirred weakly in his arms. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, glassy and unfocused.

"Kieran…" Her voice was barely a whisper, each word a labor. "It's okay… Leave me. Finish the mission."

He stopped in his tracks, his jaw tightening. "Don't say that. We're almost there. You're not giving up now."

Her hand weakly gripped his arm, her lips twitching into a faint, ghostly smile. "Stubborn… as always."

"And you're stuck with me," he replied firmly. "So hang on."

Her head lolled back against his chest, her faint smile fading as unconsciousness took her again. Kieran's grip on her tightened, his resolve hardening. "I don't care what it takes," he muttered. "I'm not leaving you behind."

Capone raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Touching. Almost brings a tear to my eye."

"Shut up," Kieran snapped, his shield glowing faintly as he pressed forward.

The hallway came to an abrupt fork, the left path disappearing into an oppressive darkness, the right flickering faintly with crimson veins running along the walls.

Kieran hesitated, his eyes scanning both paths. He started toward the left, but Capone's voice stopped him.

"Not that way, kid," Capone said, his tone almost amused. "That path leads outside—straight into a labyrinth of roots. And trust me, you don't want to meet the welcoming committee out there."

Kieran frowned, shifting Amara slightly. "What's out there?"

Capone took a slow drag from his cigar, exhaling smoke in a thin stream. "Oh, just your usual nightmare fuel. Endless maze, a giant shadow beast that'll try to swallow you whole… you know, classic horror movie stuff. Let's stick to the plan and follow me, yeah?"

Kieran gritted his teeth but nodded, following Capone down the right path. The corridor grew narrower, the walls pulsing faintly with the rhythm of the Core. The oppressive energy pressed down on them, making it hard to breathe.

The hallway ended abruptly, opening into a massive cavern. Crimson light seeped through jagged cracks in the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced and twisted unnaturally. Thick roots coiled around the edges of the space, pulsating like veins feeding some unseen heart.

"End of the line," Capone muttered, his smirk returning.

At the far end of the cavern, a figure emerged from the shadows. His presence was suffocating, the air growing colder with every step he took. The Sentinel. His towering form was shrouded in darkness, the faint glow of his crimson eyes burning with barely restrained fury. On his finger, the Ring of Vows pulsed with dark energy, shadows coiling around his hands, forming jagged constructs—a spear in one hand, a shield in the other.

"Well, well," the Sentinel rumbled, his voice a low growl that reverberated through the cavern. "If it isn't the snake himself."

Capone's grin widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Sentinel. Been a while."

The Sentinel's gaze shifted to Kieran, then to Amara. His lips curled into a sneer. "You brought them here? What are you playing at, Capone?"

"Relax, big guy," Capone said smoothly, holding up his hands. "Just doing a little business. Speaking of which—what'cha doin back at home base here."

The Sentinel's eyes narrowed, the spear in his hand solidifying into a sleek, menacing shape. "Where. Is. Lila?"

Capone exhaled a long puff of smoke, his grin widening. "Relax, big guy. She's safe at the hotel, just like I promised."

The Sentinel's expression darkened, his grip tightening on his shadow-formed spear. "Don't lie to me."

Capone raised an eyebrow, the smirk never leaving his face. "Who's lying?"

The Sentinel's gaze shifted to Capone, his expression unreadable beneath the shadows swirling around him. "Liar," he said, his voice a low growl that reverberated through the cavern. "You failed me."

Capone shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. "Failed's a strong word. Miscalculated, maybe. But hey, we're here now. Let's call it water under the bridge."

The air grew colder, the shadows pressing closer as his words echoed through the cavern. Kieran tensed, his shield raising instinctively.

The Sentinel's aura flared, the darkness around him writhing violently. "The core has her now," he snarled, his voice a roar of pure fury. "And you will pay for your treachery."

He lunged, the spear in his hand elongating as it shot toward Capone. The mobster dodged with surprising agility, the tip of the spear slicing through the air where he'd stood a moment before.

"Easy there, big fella," Capone said, reaching into his coat. He pulled out a glowing Molotov cocktail, the flames licking the edges of the glass. "No need to get testy."

Stay down!" Kieran barked, his voice barely audible over the roar of the fight.

The cavern erupted into chaos as the Sentinel charged, his shadow constructs morphing into jagged tendrils that lashed out at the group. Capone smirked, casually dropping his cigar and tossing a Molotov cocktail in one fluid motion. The glass shattered against the Sentinel's tendrils, flames roaring to life as the shadows recoiled.

Kieran ducked, shielding Amara with his body as the flames and shadows clashed.

Capone turned to his enforcers, his smirk replaced with a look of cold determination. "Keep them alive. I've got this."

The enforcers nodded, their weapons glowing brighter as they stepped forward to face the onslaught.

The Sentinel's rage filled the cavern, his voice echoing like thunder. "You cant keep this up forever, Capone!"

And as the shadows closed in, Kieran tightened his grip on Amara, his jaw set. "I'm not losing anyone else," he muttered, bracing himself for what was to come.