The Lost Crown: A Fate Unwritten - Part 4 – Whispers in the Dark

The abandoned building is eerily silent, dust swirling in the dim moonlight filtering through broken windows. Elara and Kieran press themselves against the cold stone walls, listening intently to the fading sound of footsteps outside

Elara

“How long do you think we have before they realize we’re gone?

Kieran

Not long. They’re hunters, not amateurs.

Elara clenches her fists, frustration bubbling beneath her skin. She’s still gripping the torn parchment, its strange symbol burned into her mind.

Elara

This can’t be a coincidence. They knew my name, they knew about the artifact... and now this

Kieran

Which means someone’s been watching you for longer than you think.

A heavy silence settles between them. Elara swallows hard, trying to piece together the puzzle unraveling before h

Elara

And you? How do you know them?

Kieran hesitates, his expression guarded. For the first time since she met him, there’s something almost vulnerable in his eyes

Kieran

Let’s just say our pasts have crossed before. And it never ends well.

Before she can press further, a faint noise echoes through the building a whisper, barely audible. Elara stiffens, her heart pounding

Elara

Did you hear that?

Kieran

“Yeah. And we’re not alone.”

[They move cautiously, Kieran leading the way. The air grows colder, the shadows seeming to stretch unnaturally around them. At the end of the hall, a flickering candle casts long, wavering shapes against the walls.

Then, a voice low and ragged cuts through the darkness

Mysterious Voice

You should not have come.

Elara and Kieran spin toward the sound. A hooded figure stands just beyond the candlelight, their face obscured.

Elara

Who are you?

The figure doesn’t move, their presence almost spectral. When they finally speak again, their voice carries an unsettling certainty.

Mysterious Voice

You carry the mark of the lost crown. The past calls to you, but the future is yet to be written. Turn back now, before it’s too late.

Kieran steps forward, his expression darkening

Kieran

That’s not an option

The figure exhales slowly, as if expecting his answer. They raise a gloved hand, revealing an identical symbol to the one on the parchment, etched into a worn metal plate

Mysterious Voice

Then prepare yourself. The ones who seek the crown will stop at nothing to claim it.

The candlelight flares suddenly, and in that instant, the figure vanishes—leaving only the metal plate clattering to the ground

Elara

What the hell was that?

[Kieran picks up the plate, his jaw tightening

Kieran

A warning. And a challenge.

Elara exhales sharply, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. Whatever path she’s on, there’s no turning back now

Elara

Then let’s find out exactly who’s hunting us.

Kieran meets her gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Then, he nods

Kieran

Agreed. But we have to move fast. Because if they’re watching… that means time is running out

As they step into the night once more, the city around them seems darker, the dangers lurking closer than ever. The game has truly begun