Asher stood at a distance, frozen in place, his heart sinking at the sight before him. His sister… she might not make it out alive. The thought sent a sharp pain through his chest. What would become of his family if she was lost too? The fear clawed at his insides, twisting into an unbearable ache.
Beside him, Jeremy tightened his grip on Asher's arm, a silent gesture of comfort, though the weight of the moment made it nearly impossible to feel any relief.
Then, from the distance, two figures emerged—Lamia and Rose. As soon as Rose saw Asher, her face lit up with joy, an expression so pure and unguarded that it felt almost out of place in such a wretched world.
"Asher! Little brother, you're alive!" Rose's voice cracked with emotion as she disregarded her weakened legs, forcing herself forward. With sheer determination, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his tense body.
Lamia stood beside them, watching with an amused yet knowing smile. This was the happiest he had ever seen Rose. It was surprising how much she adored her brother, a stark contrast to his own distant relationship with Lucinda, his deceased sister.
Lucinda…
Lamia's smile faltered for a brief second as disturbing memories flooded his mind. He had been having dreams—visions of her, restless and angry, her spirit haunting his sleep. Seeing Rose, a sister who openly loved and embraced her sibling, made the ache of Lucinda's absence even stronger, the void within him deepening.
Asher pulled away slightly, his mind racing. "Rose, what happened? How did you end up here?" His curiosity was barely contained.
Rose stiffened at the question, her joy fading into a troubled frown. Her hands clenched at her sides as she tried to remember. But nothing came.
"I… I don't understand," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. "My head… it's spinning. I can't recollect anything!"
Asher's eyes widened. The oak tree's words flashed in his mind. What if whatever was happening to him and Jeremy was happening to Rose and Lamia as well? But then again, Lamia seemed perfectly fine. Something wasn't adding up.
Before Asher could ask more, Jeremy spoke up.
"Lamia… that's your name, right?" Jeremy asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.
Lamia nodded, his bright midnight blue eyes gleaming unnaturally, refusing to be dimmed by the eternal darkness surrounding the Dark Trench. His silk-like red hair was longer now, more vibrant than when Jeremy had last seen him in the mortal world.
Gods… why was this guy so hot and gorgeous?
Jeremy quickly shook off the thought and focused on the real issue at hand.
"Alright, Lamia," Jeremy continued. "How the hell did you two survive here? Me and Asher… we barely made it. We had help, but they—" his voice wavered "—they didn't make it. So, tell me, how did you both survive until now?"
Rose blinked in surprise at the unexpected question, but then she remembered the horrors they had faced together. She turned toward Lamia, her eyes reflecting awe and gratitude.
Asher was also watching closely. He hadn't expected Lamia to be anything special, but if he had survived this long in the Dark Trench, then maybe—just maybe—he was the key to escaping before they encountered the abominable dead witches.
Lamia finally stepped forward. He wore a simple linen shirt and shorts so thin that it seemed the slightest breeze might tear them away. Standing tall and composed, he met their expectant gazes.
"When I arrived in the Dark Trench, I was lucky to be placed near Rose," he began, his voice calm yet commanding. "It was during that time that the blood-sucking bees, the size of humans, attacked her. Their steel-like armor and bite force were strong enough to impale a man like a nail through wood. I came to her rescue. Since then, we've been working together, helping each other survive until we found you both."
He finished there.
Asher blinked. That's it?
Lamia had just summarized their survival story in a few sentences, skipping all the details. Asher narrowed his eyes. Something was off. And then, from the corner of his eye, he caught something else—Jeremy's expression as he gazed at Rose. His eyes were filled with something… something unreadable.
What's going on? Asher thought. Didn't Jeremy like me? Then why the hell is he looking at Rose like that?
Rose, however, noticed their curiosity and decided that if Lamia wasn't going to tell the full story, she would.
"Actually, guys, it's more than that," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "Lamia is… something I have never seen in my life. He told me he was a demi-god. But when he entered the Dark Trench, he lost his god-like powers. However, something still remained inside him. And here's the terrifying part—he also draws power as a dead witch. Thanks to his ex, he gained full witch powers, and… it was terrifying. The way he tore through those creatures—it was like they were nothing. He shattered them into a million pieces with a single stroke. That's how I was saved… multiple times."
Silence.
Asher's eyes immediately snapped toward Lamia, suspicion growing. How is that possible? It was said that the powers of trapped souls didn't work in the Dark Trench.
And then—
A gigantic, abominable monster appeared, shaking the barren land so violently that the ground beneath them cracked.
The creature was monstrous—its grotesque form twisted with layers of hardened flesh, its arms extending like blackened tree branches, its mouth gaping wide with rows of jagged, dripping teeth.
Asher's body tensed. His newfound divine powers—they weren't working. It was as if the Dark Trench had sealed them away, keeping them dormant until he returned to the real world.
Jeremy cursed under his breath, gripping his weapon. "What the hell is this thing again can't we breathe?!"
Lamia stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Stand back, you all" he said, his voice lower than usual.
Without hesitation, he began chanting, his fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. Energy crackled around him, deep and ancient, something far beyond human comprehension.
This was a spell Hadrain had taught him. A deadly spell.
The abomination lunged.
Lamia raised his hand, and the earth trembled. Shadows slithered like serpents, wrapping around the creature's limbs, dragging it down. Lamia's midnight blue eyes darkened as he whispered the final incantation—
A deafening boom echoed across the trench.
The monster let out a hideous scream before its body erupted into shreds of flesh and bone.
Asher, Rose, and Jeremy watched in horror and awe. Rose, now unable to walk, clutched her chest, breathless. Asher's arms bled from deep cuts, and Jeremy was limping.
They had won.
Or so they thought.
Before Asher could celebrate, a violent whirlwind suddenly roared to life, sending them flying in different directions.
As they crashed against the ground, the earth beneath them split open—
And they came.
A horde of corpse-like creatures emerged, their decayed bodies twitching and shifting. Their faces were grotesque, human yet hideous.
Asher and Jeremy's screams rang out at the same time.
"The dead witches are here!"
Lamia's eyes darkened even more. The true enemy had arrived. And this time, he wasn't sure if even his power would be enough.