Chapter 17: Whispers of the Beyond
The wind at the mountain summit had stilled. The cracks in reality—sealed. The Harbinger—vanquished. All was quiet as the sun set over the battered world, casting the cliffs and valleys below in warm, fading light.
John, Jake, Cherlyn, and the fading spirit of Rick stood together in the silence, hearts heavy but relieved.
"It's done," Cherlyn murmured. "For real this time."
John nodded, feeling the weight of the years lift from his shoulders. "The Hollow are gone. The Ward Stones hold. The Last Shelter is safe."
But Rick's face grew darker.
"No," the spirit whispered. "Not gone. Banished… yes. But not destroyed."
They turned to him.
"The Hollow Ones were only one shard of the Void. Beyond the cracks, something greater watches. Something older than the Tower. Older than this world itself."
John stiffened. "The Harbinger was their master."
Rick shook his transparent head. "No. A servant. The Harbinger fled its own gods—the Elders of the Depth. When the cracks closed… their eyes turned here."
Above the distant mountains, the clouds swirled unnaturally—just for a moment. As if some vast shape shifted behind the veil of reality.
"What is it, Rick?" Cherlyn asked, fear creeping back into her voice.
"The Deep Dreaming," Rick whispered. "A realm beneath existence. And its lords are stirring now, aware of this world... and of you. They will not be sealed so easily."
As his form faded, Rick gave one last warning:
"You've ended this Cycle... but you've begun something else. Something worse. They are awake now. And they are coming."
His voice vanished like dust on the wind.
Far below in the ruins of the Forgotten City, something moved—something enormous. Beneath the earth, cracks trembled—not breaking, but pulsing, as if waiting for the next breach.
In the skies above the Tower's ruins, a single star gleamed where none had before—red, pulsing, watching.
John clenched his fists.
"We'll be ready."
But deep in the darkness beyond the world, the Elders whispered:
"The Cycle begins anew."
To be continued...