Quick Note: I totally botched Finn's name and called him Flynn throughout the last chapter xD My bad, friends. I'm sorry for the confusion! I did go back through and it should be fixed it now!! 

FINN RUSHED SOPHIE deeper into the cave.

The alarms going off in the depths of her mind amplified. She glanced around the interior of the cave warily, attempting to remain calm and collected. It wouldn't do her any good to panic just yet.

It was hard to see anything within the darkness. Her eyes adjusted slowly, and she could make out the rough edges of the rock walls that surrounded her. Finn walked in front of her — an even darker shadow that moved with a precise sense of confidence that sent those little alarms within her mind into overdrive.

His dark hand lifted. She heard a snapping sound, like someone had snapped two fingers together. A bright light switched on overhead and she grimaced at the sudden onslaught of bright light. Her gaze lifted to light's source — an old, dingy lamp that hung limply from one of the rotten wooden rafters that arced above their heads. Intricate woodwork extended upward for what appeared to be miles, connecting the walls of the cave and creating slender beam-like pathways. In between each level of woodwork, was a single wooden ladder and a darkened opening into the wall of the cave. Wooden crates lined the walls around them.

Her eyes widened and she surveyed the newfound space. It looked like the interior of an old mine — something straight out of a historical documentary or a western-themed cartoon.

"Ah," Sophie said. The sound was off-handed and more nonchalant sounding than she intended. Her gaze quickly flicked around. "This is an interesting turn of events."

Finn turned around to face her. His expression was marred with confusion, his head tilting slightly to the side. "What do you mean?"

She lifted one shoulder in a nonchalant half-shrug. "I just never expected to be standing inside an old mine shaft," she answered. It took all of her strength not to allow the blooming sense of fear that she felt to enter her tone.

His gaze shifted to the wooden crates — and seemed to specifically lock on the dull, aged iron of an abandoned pickaxe. "Yes," he remarked. "I'm sure that you didn't."

The distance stretched out between them. His warm, charming smile had vanished, replaced with a more severe expression. Sophie's jaw clenched. She kept her hands shoved within her pockets, fingers tightly curled around her cellphone. As large as the device was, it remained slightly visible against the material of her pocket.

Finn started a slow walk around the room. She moved with him, twisting her body so that her cellphone remained out of his sight. Her finger simultaneously tapped the base of the screen. The button read her fingerprint and unlocked the phone.

"To be honest, I'm not sure that I understand," she said. She did understand. She just needed to keep him busy — he seemed like a monologue-loving type of guy. "What are we doing here, in this creepy old mineshaft?"

Finn chuckled lowly, like a villain straight from a Disney film. "It's a simple concept really, though I understand why you might feel confused," he remarked.

With a lazy wave of his hand, he gestured toward the woodwork. She looked upward.

Hundreds of Revenants had gathered above them, perched atop the wooden beams like a flock of birds balanced atop a telephone cable. Her gaze shifted back down. The moment that she realized his eyes were still focused on the ceiling, her index finger pressed against the part of her screen that she knew would open the call log. She redialed Aubrey and instantly turned down the volume.

"This is a pretty crappy mineshaft," she said. "I thought that we were trying to escape the Revenants. Not find their secret hideout."

She just prayed that Aubrey had answered the phone and could hear.

Finn heaved an exasperated sigh. "Really?" he snapped at her. "Have you genuinely not figured it out yet? Do I need to spell it out for you?"

Sophie played dumb. "Figure what out?"

She slipped both of her hands out of her pockets, careful to leave her phone turned outward toward Finn. She could only hope that the screen's light wasn't visible through the fabric. Copying his motion, she made a sweeping gesture toward the rafters. "All I know is that you dragged me out here to fix my throat. And then suddenly, wound up in a mineshaft filled with Revenants. Did you know that this area is infested?"

Her arms crossed over her chest and she fashioned a suspicious look at Finn. "Also, why haven't they attacked us yet?"

He rolled his eyes. "Wow," he remarked. "You are unbelievably stupid."

She flattened a hand against her chest. "Well, now. I am offended!"

Her response came across a bit more sarcastic than she'd intended. His expression darkened. Her hand dropped back to her side and she frowned at him. "What's going on, Finn? I don't understand."

"I thought you would have figured it out by now," Finn said. He snapped his fingers again. Two Revenants jumped down from the rafters, landing on the earth beside him. Their long limbs bent awkwardly as they crouched, waiting to spring into action and rip Sophie's face off.

"These creatures are of my own creation," he explained. He looked down at one of them, almost lovingly. His hand moved, gently petting the creature's bald head. "All I needed were a few humans and some students from Redstone. It's quite a simple formula, really. And I've had centuries of practice to perfect it."

A gentle laugh escaped him. "These beautiful creatures follow the commands of the strongest predator — similar to your little werewolf friends. Just consider me their alpha."

Sophie hummed. "Well, okay then. That still doesn't explain why you made them."

Finn's jaw clenched. "I made them to ensure that when I faced you, I would win."

Her brows furrowed. "Huh?"

"I'd heard that you were a formidable opponent against my dear friend Caius. I didn't want to take any chances," he stated. His eyes pierced through her. "When you last faced my dear friend, he left you with a precious gift."

Sophie's fingers absently touched the base of her throat.

His eyes glinted maliciously. "That's right. Your mark."

"So, are you still going to help me remove it?" Sophie questioned. She arched an eyebrow at him expectantly.

Annoyance contorted his expression. She found a sliver of joy at the notion. It brought her so much satisfaction to know that she had the power to annoy him. It was the least that she could do — a semblance of mental torment that served to not only prolong her death, but act as a means of her own petty revenge. If Finn seriously planned to kill her, then she planned to royally piss him off first.

Another long sigh escaped him. "In a way, I am," he answered as calmly as he could. His gaze focused on her face for a moment and then travelled down the length of her body. "I am removing something at least. You won't have to deal with the mark any longer, considering you won't have a body any more."

A deranged laugh bubbled past his lips. "So theoretically, I am still keeping my word."

"I'm not really sure that I'd call that keeping your word," she muttered loud enough for him to hear. She crossed her arms again, skewering him with a confused expression. "So, you're going to try to turn me into a Revenant? Is that what's happening here?"

His eyes flashed with anger. The hand that petted one of the Revenants froze for a moment, hovering above the unsuspecting creature's head. In one swift movement, the hand clawed at the Revenant's head, gasping so tight that Finn's nails pierced it's thin layer of skin. A horrified shriek echoed through the mineshaft.

Sophie flinched as the Revenant's skull caved inward and the creature hit the ground with a hearty thump.

"O-Oh," she whispered.

Finn flashed her a brilliant smile. "Now, you seem to be understanding the gravity of your current situation."

She started to take a small step backward. Behind her, a piercing sound sliced through, coupled with a throaty snarl. She glanced back over her shoulders. Several Revenants guarded the area behind her.

"Do you know what causes the discoloration of your curse mark?" he asked suddenly, tearing her attention back to him. "Your uncle's blood. When you killed him, he inserted his own blood inside of you. It creates the curse mark that incircles your throat."

"Gross," Sophie said.

Finn sucked in a steadying breath. "With his blood still alive inside of you, I will be able to resurrect him from the dead. I'm sure that you've already experienced some of his attempts to return and take control over your body."

Her eyes widened. Memories flooded through the forefront of her mind — the nights when she awoke to find herself soaked in someone else's blood. Part of her was still uncertain. She didn't know whose blood had coated her skin and clothes. But if Finn was correct and her crazy old uncle was trying to take over her body...

It made sense that he had been involved with whatever carnage took place those nights.

"This is like some weird horror film," Sophie remarked off-handedly. "So you're going to try to use my body to resurrect my insane uncle? That's just so much work and effort. Why bother?"

He narrowed his eyes. "You're attempting to stall me," he snapped.

He was spot on — but she wasn't about to give up.

"No," she answered. She did her best to look as utterly confused as possible. "I just don't understand what's going on. Like why would you want to bring my crazy old uncle back from the dead? Are you like a villain or something?"

"Something like that." His expression was hard.

"Oh, well I just didn't expect that," she told him simply. "You really had me fooled. Does my mom know?"

Finn snorted humorously. "Your mother is as blind as a bat," he answered. "I've committed countless murders, right beneath her nose. She could never believe that her dearest and oldest friend is capable of something so dark."

Sophie opened her mouth to speak again, but Finn silenced her with a sharp look and another snap of his fingers.

"Now," he said. "Enough chit-chat. It's time to begin."