BACK TO THE DARK TRENCH
The air was thick with the scent of death and decay, yet the garden itself was breathtaking. Vibrant, exotic flowers bloomed in colors never before seen, their petals shimmering under the eerie glow of the blood-red sky. Ancient trees with twisted branches stood tall, their leaves whispering secrets in the dead wind. In the center of it all, where there should have been a grand fountain, a vast pool of blood was gushing from the roots of the oldest tree. It bubbled and churned like a living entity, its crimson waves licking the ground hungrily.
Asher stood at the edge, his emerald eyes wide with dismay. The blood swirled violently, and then—something began to rise from within. A figure, bathed in the thick, red liquid, slowly emerged, stepping onto the dark soil as if it had been reborn. Its beauty was both mesmerizing and unsettling, an ethereal presence neither male nor female.
Jeremy shuddered beside him, his heart pounding. "What… what is that?" he whispered.
The figure smiled, an expression both warm and chilling. Then, its face darkened.
"You two are never leaving the Dark Trench," it said in a voice that echoed through the air like a thousand voices speaking at once. "You are meant to stay here forever."
A sudden gust of wind sent the garden into chaos—flowers withered, trees groaned, and the once-beautiful landscape faded instantly into darkness. An enormous, ancient structure rose from the ground, a grotesque vessel with roots like chains snaking around it. Before either of them could react, Asher felt something cold wrap around his ankle. A thick root shot up from the ground, dragging him toward the gaping mouth of the vessel.
Jeremy panicked. "Asher!"
Asher screamed as the roots coiled around him, pulling him deeper into the darkness. His limbs stiffened, his legs twisting unnaturally as though his very bones were reshaping. His body burned with an unfamiliar energy.
The figure stepped forward, unfazed by his terror. "You both are dead. This means you are now awakened guardians," it said with finality. "By returning to the real world, your powers will activate. But you, Asher Anderson… you will not return. You will spend eternity here, for your protection. The Tribid is hunting you. If it takes your blood, it will gain eternal power and become unstoppable."
Jeremy's breath caught in his throat. "The what?"
"The Tribid," the figure repeated, its glowing eyes narrowing. "A creature that is part witch, part lycan, and part vampire—the most deadly species in existence. If it takes you, Asher, it will become an undefeatable god."
Asher trembled against the roots binding him. "But I am nothing!" he protested. "I don't even know what you're talking about! I'm not special! Let me go back to the human world—I don't even know this Tribid!"
Jeremy refused to let go of Asher, his hands gripping his friend's wrist tightly. The vessel's massive doors creaked open, a void of nothingness waiting to consume Asher.
The figure tilted its head. "No, Asher. You are everything. You are the divine being—the ruler of the supernatural worlds. The defender of the Oak Tree. The controller of the balance of nature. Without you, evil will spread across all realms and wipe everything from existence."
Jeremy's body tensed. "What…?"
Asher's chest tightened. He struggled harder, but the roots only pulled him further in.
"A trap is being laid for you," the figure continued. "Every supernatural being is searching for you. If they take you, the Oak Tree will fall. And when that happens, the supernatural realms will be unbound. They will destroy the balance that protects humanity. The treaty placed by the last Child of Light will be broken. And you, Asher—you are that child. You are the last of them."
Asher's vision blurred. This had to be a mistake. He wasn't some divine ruler. He was just Asher Anderson. Nothing more.
Jeremy's grip on his wrist tightened. His voice was thick with emotion. "Asher, please. Don't let go. I lost Luna, my best companion—I can't lose you too. Let's go back and watch the stars like i always do."
Asher turned his head sharply. "Can anything be done?!" he demanded.
The figure sighed. "I am afraid not. This is your fate, your place. You must remain with the Oak Tree." Then its gaze shifted to Jeremy. "And you… will be nothing but a nuisance."
Jeremy's face darkened with fury. "Enough! You're not taking Asher from me!" He clenched his fists. "No tree, no prophecy, nothing is stopping me from saving him."
A deep, guttural growl rumbled from beneath the earth. The roots constricting Asher suddenly loosened, and an explosion of light erupted from his body. The creature howled as it was thrown into oblivion, its form disintegrating into black mist.
Asher's emerald eyes flared, shifting into a pure, molten gold. Power radiated from his skin. He looked down at Jeremy and smiled.
"We're leaving together," Asher said firmly. "Both of us."
The ground trembled, and a voice—old, ancient, filled with sorrow—whispered through the air.
"Asher… whatever you do… do not tell Jeremy your weakness. He will be your downfall. And your bane. One day, he will betray you… and kill you."
Asher's breath caught in his throat. His head snapped around, but only he could hear the voice. The Oak Tree was speaking to him.
Jeremy's voice pulled him back. "Asher, please. Let's go back."
The red Oak Tree whispered once more.
"Be wary of him."
Asher hesitated. He shouldn't doubt Jeremy. Not after everything we've been through together.
His voice was quiet. "Jeremy…"
Jeremy looked at him, his grip unwavering.
"Promise me. No matter what happens… you won't betray me."
Jeremy's face softened. He reached up, cupping Asher's face gently, his thumb brushing against his cheek. His eyes were full of emotion.
"I am at your service, Asher," he said. "We're best friends. Of course, I won't betray you."
For a moment, Asher believed him.
And then—Jeremy leaned in and kissed him.
Asher froze. His golden eyes flickered back to emerald, his newfound power wavering. He took a step back, stunned.
Before he could process it, the world shifted again.
The garden was gone.
They were standing on barren land, the air dry and heavy with dust. In the distance, two figures were limping toward them.
Jeremy's body tensed. "This is bad."
Asher's heart pounded.
The closer the figures came, the clearer they became.
One had long, flowing red hair—his beauty almost unearthly. Beside him, a girl limped, her body weak, supported by his arm.
Asher's blood ran cold. "Lamia," he whispered.
His gaze darted to the girl. His heart clenched.
"Rose…?"
His sister.
His sister was here.
Anger burned in his chest. He clenched his fists. How could this be happening?
Jeremy's face was grim. "It looks like we have company ones that might help us leave this cursed land."