Aren took the lead without hesitation, stepping into the ruined structure. "Let's go," he said casually.
Eva followed him immediately, her curiosity outweighing any fear.
Kael lingered for a brief moment at the entrance, glancing behind him at the forest before sighing and stepping inside.
The interior was pitch dark—no torches, no natural light. It felt like stepping into the belly of a sleeping beast.
But Aren was prepared. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small stone that glowed softly with a blue hue, illuminating their surroundings.
Kael raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You came prepared."
Aren gave a proud chuckle. "Yes sir. Can't bring you guys out without a plan."
Eva, meanwhile, had wandered a bit ahead, her eyes glued to the paintings that was now revealed by the stone's glow.
Kael and Aren quickly caught up, curiosity pulling at them as well.
"Figures," Kael muttered, staring at a humanoid shape etched into the stone. Next to it stood a beast—its features unclear. Below the figures was an inscription, but the writing was in an ancient language Kael couldn't decipher.
"Interesting…"
"Kael, Eva, come here!" Aren called out with a laugh.
Kael turned and saw him pointing at something on the wall.
Eva rushed over, "What did you find?"
Kael came up beside them—and blinked in surprise.
Etched into the stone was a image of two figures locked in a passionate sex—completely nude. The scene was bold, and shockingly detailed for a ruin that looked centuries old.
"Well," Kael whispered, taken aback, "I didn't expect that on the walls of some ancient ruin."
Eva's face flushed as she quickly turned away. "Shut up, and find something actually interesting," she snapped, clearly embarrassed.
Aren, of course, only laughed harder.
Just as they were about to step deeper into the ruins, a loud, sharp scream tore through the silence.
All three of them froze.
Kael's heart slammed against his ribs, the sound sending shivers up his spine. The air felt heavier now, thick with something unseen.
Beside him, Aren had gone pale, his hands slightly trembling, and even Eva, clutched her arm tightly, her eyes wide.
"What was that?" Aren whispered, his voice barely audible.
Kael shook his head slowly. "I don't know… but I don't think it's safe. We should go back."
Before the idea could settle, Eva stepped forward, eyes still locked ahead.
"Wait… I think there's something there. Something important."
Kael glanced at her, unsettled by the gleam in her eyes.
"This isn't just an old ruin," Kael said, his voice low. "There could be spirits here. Curses. Traps. We don't know what we're dealing with."
But Aren nodded toward Eva, trying to mask his fear. "She's right, Kael. We might find something—something incredible."
Kael wanted to say no. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back. But as he looked at them—two people who had stood by him since childhood—he knew they wouldn't leave without seeing what lay ahead.
He swallowed the fear rising in his throat and stepped forward. "Fine. But stay close. And if anything feels wrong… we leave. Immediately."
The three of them moved forward with cautious steps, each movement echoing in the suffocating emptiness. Minutes passed like hours, the silence so dense it felt alive, like it was about to consume them.
Nothing.
No signs.
Just endless stone, shadow, and the sense of something watching.
"This… doesn't make sense," Kael whispered, stopping to scan the empty path. "Didn't the scream come from this direction?"
He instinctively reached out and grabbed Eva's arm.
Eva looked around, frowning in confusion. "Yeah. I swear it did."
Aren lifted the glowing stone higher. "Maybe it was—"
His words remained unfinished, his eyes widening in horror.
And then—
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
His scream broke the silence, raw and terrified.
He stumbled back, crashing to the floor, the glowing stone rolling away from his hand.
Kael and Eva spun toward him, their blood turning to ice.
"What is it?!" Kael shouted.
Aren just pointed above, unable to mutter even a single word.
Kael's eyes followed his gaze—
And froze.
A corpse—Not just any corpse, but a woman's—twisted, crushed, and hung upside down from the ceiling by something that seemed like a web.
Her face was half-eaten, jaw dislocated, the eye sockets hollow and dripping. The body swayed slightly, as though it was recently placed there.