Evrin's stomach tightened as the dark, undulating tendrils of the veil stretched toward the group. It moved deliberately, unnaturally, like smoke with a mind of its own.

"Move," he snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through the group's confusion.

The command landed unevenly. Nadia was the first to catch on, her gaze following his. She froze as the Veil expanded, a gasp tearing from her lips.

"What is that thing doing? And why is it moving?" Her voice trembled as she instinctively backed away from the group and into Evrin. He grabbed her arm, shifting her behind him without taking his eyes off the threat.

"Stay behind me," Kane barked, stepping forward. His posture was stiff, defensive. The Veil was spreading, creeping along the walls and stretching to fill the archway, blocking their only visible escape route. His hand slid into his jacket, retrieving a blade.

"Yeah, let's stab the magical fog. That'll end well." Evrin muttered under his breath, his sarcasm failing to mask his growing impatience with the compliance of the group. He watched as Kane gripped the weapon, ready to lunge.

"Who let Wrathzilla have a knife, anyway?" Adonis quipped, his tone light but edged with unease.

"Would you all stop?" Nadia snapped, her voice cracking but firm. "We need to find a way out of here. Fast."

Their gaze was fixed on the Veil as it pulsed and twisted, almost as if it were breathing.

Evrin's hands flexed instinctively over the hilts of his daggers. He scanned the room, his mind racing. There had to be an exit, a way through or around, but nothing offered itself. There was a single thought nagging at him, loud and cruel.

He could escape. Alone.

He knew it. He'd done it before. He was fast enough, smart enough, selfish enough. The cracks in the stone walls, the sheer size of the room—he could scale it, slip through, leave them behind.

"You don't need them. You've always been better on your own."

The whisper slid through his ears, sharp and venomous. His jaw tightened as he pushed it aside, his focus darting between the group and the Veil. Do something.

"Give me your bag," Evrin said suddenly, turning to Cassian.

Cassian hesitated, his blue eyes narrowing. For a moment, Evrin thought he'd argue, but something unspoken passed between them, and Cassian slipped the bag into his hand. "What are you—"

Evrin didn't wait to answer. He sprinted toward the far corner of the room, ignoring the protests behind him. The stone was slick, cold, and uneven under his boots, but his hands moved with precision, pulling his blades free and wedging them into the cracks like climbing picks.

"Evrin!" someone called, but he didn't stop.

He moved fast, each pull of his muscles drawing him closer to the arched window of the spire high above. Rain seeped through the cracks, slickening the stone, but he pressed on, blocking out the voices below and the ones inside his head.

"Leave them behind. Take what's yours and be free."

His breath hitched as the whisper returned, louder this time, threading through his thoughts like a knife. He clenched his jaw, driving one of his daggers harder into the wall. Don't stop.

"You've made it this far on your own. Why risk it now?"

The words stabbed at his ribs, and for a moment, his grip faltered. The blade slipped slightly, and his heart lurched as his feet scrambled for purchase. He heard a yelp from below as he steadied himself, forcing a sharp exhale. Just a few more pulls. The window was close, feet away, but his mind was spinning, and the Veil was climbing.

The icy mist snaked up his legs, cold enough to bite into his skin. He looked up and froze. His breath left him in a sharp gasp. His brother, Kael, stood in the window, a mocking smirk on his face, bags slung over his shoulders. It was a memory, twisted and wrong, but painfully real. His older brother's voice echoed in his head, cruel and cutting.

"You'll fail them, just like you failed before. Let go."

Evrin squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. It wasn't real. He knew it wasn't. But the whispers twisted into a deafening roar, screaming over one another, drowning out his thoughts.

"Evrin!"

The shout jolted him back. His gaze snapped down to the group below. Nadia was gripping Kane's arm, her face pale as the Veil inched toward them. Adonis was shouting something, his voice edged with panic. Evrin couldn't make out the words. His chest tightened as the mist crawled higher, icy tendrils snaking over his waist and chest. It was suffocating, dragging him down, and for a moment, he thought he might slip—might let go.

But his hand finally found the edge of the window, the cold stone biting into his palm. With a final, desperate pull, he hoisted himself up, collapsing onto the ledge as the whispers faded to a low murmur. His chest heaved, his fingers trembling as he gripped the frame.

He'd made it.

But when he looked back down, at the Veil crawling toward the group, guilt clawed at his ribs.

Medora had separated herself, clawing at a pile of rubble that blocked what was once another exit. Her voice cut sharply through the room. "Just let me figure this out! I can get us out of here—just give me a minute!"

On the other side of the room, Nadia froze, her eyes darting toward the bag she'd left on a ruined column. Without a word, she slipped away, and a new tendril of the Veil followed.

Meanwhile, Kane and Adonis were locked in a heated argument, each gesturing wildly at the fallen beam they both seemed determined to move.

Saija and Cassian huddled near the center, whispering frantically. They were the only ones standing still.

Evrin's eyes narrowed. The Veil drifted past Saija and Cassian without hesitation, its movements deliberate as it pursued Medora and Nadia. Just as it had brushed past the group to get to him.

His breath hitched. It wasn't random.

It was a test.

"Stay and work together!" Evrin shouted, his voice cracking with urgency.

Kane's head whipped up, a glare cutting through the distance. "Oh, you're one to talk! Leaving us down here to fend for ourselves!"

Evrin cursed under his breath, rummaging through Cassian's bag. "It's picking you off one by one," he shouted back, yanking out the rope. "Stay together, or it'll take you all!"

Ignoring Kane's retort, he braced against the ledge, tying the rope in quick, tight knots. He tossed it down, the end swaying just above the group.

"Here!"

Cassian and Saija spotted it first, their gazes darting between the rope and Evrin with suspicion. Before either could act, a scream pierced the room.

Nadia was crouched in the corner, clutching her bag to her chest. The Veil twisted around her, tendrils creeping higher as she pressed her hands over her ears.

"Get her!" Saija yelled, but it was Adonis who moved first, shoving Kane aside and sprinting into the mist. His steps faltered as the Veil's effects closed in, but he grit his teeth and grabbed Nadia's arm, yanking her through.

Together, they stumbled toward the rope. Adonis tugged on it, testing Evrin's hold. His brown eyes shot upward. "You better be right about this!"

With Evrin's nod, Adonis hoisted Nadia onto the rope. Her movements were clumsy, trembling with each pull, but she climbed. The moment she reached the ledge, Evrin grabbed her arms and hauled her over. She collapsed in the corner, clutching her bag like it was her lifeline.

Adonis was next, scaling the rope faster despite the slickness of the knots. He clambered over the ledge, patting Evrin on the back before crouching beside Nadia to check on her.

A sudden crash pulled Evrin's attention back to the floor. His breath hitched as he saw Medora pinned under a fresh pile of debris. Her yelp was sharp, quickly stifled by her gritted teeth as she struggled to push herself free. The Veil closed in, licking at the edges of the rubble.

Kane and Saija darted toward her, Kane grabbing at the heavier pieces while Saija hesitated, her wide eyes darting between the Veil and Medora. Her hands trembled as she reached forward.

Together, they freed Medora, and Kane steadied her as she staggered to her feet. She shrugged him off, limping toward the rope on her own. "I've got it," she hissed through clenched teeth, swatting Cassian's offered hand away as she pulled herself up.

Saija followed closely, her hands quick and sure despite the glare she shot up at Evrin. When she reached the ledge, she climbed over without waiting for his help.

Cassian scaled the rope next, his voice steady as he thanked Evrin before collapsing beside the others. Kane was last, his movements rough but purposeful. His glare burned into Evrin as he reached the top.

Evrin exhaled sharply, falling back against the wall as the rope slackened. His chest heaved, every muscle in his body screaming for relief. But the burn in his chest was sharper, hotter. He flinched, his hand twitching toward his pocket where the coin seared through the fabric. The pain was unbearable, but he couldn't let them see.

He bit back a groan, his fists clenching against his knees as he forced himself to breathe.

Just one more secret to keep.

For a moment, the group sat in silence, the only sounds their labored breathing and the rhythmic clatter of rain against stone. The weight of the escape hung heavy in the air.

"What you did worked, but next time..." Cassian's voice broke the stillness, low and steady as he slid his bag closer to himself. "...don't leave us in the dark."

"You're welcome," Evrin shot back, his signature grin firmly in place, even though his chest still burned. "Didn't exactly have time to give a full briefing. It was that or get swallowed up into a pit of nothing."

"Don't get cocky yet." Adonis cut in, his voice laced with a forced lightness. "We still need to find a way out of here. Unless your brilliant plan included that?"

Evrin sighed, leaning his head back against the cold stone wall. "Trap door. Right under Medora." He gestured lazily toward her without looking. "Must I do everything?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances before the shuffle of boots and the creak of a latch confirmed Evrin's hunch. They all turned to him, their gazes unreadable, but no one said a word as Medora was the first to step down onto the hidden staircase.

One by one, they descended, the quiet only broken by the occasional scrape of boots against stone. Adonis reached out to help Nadia, but she waved him off. "I'm fine," she murmured softly, her voice still trembling. "Just... give me a second."

She hesitated at the edge of the trap door, then placed a hand on Evrin's shoulder. "Thanks... for pulling me up."

Evrin gave her a small, fleeting smile, the kind that barely reached his eyes, before hauling himself up from the floor and following her down.

The air grew colder as they walked through the damp tunnels, their silence now weighted with exhaustion. The faint drizzle that seeped through the cracks in the stone chilled them further, their boots squelching against the slick ground. Shock hung over the group like a shroud.

Evrin hung back, his hands stuffed deep into his jacket pockets as he let his gaze roam over the others. Medora limped ahead of the group, her chin high despite her unsteady steps. Saija stayed close beside her, her eyes darting nervously between Medora and the path ahead.

"I'm fine, alright?" Medora snapped, brushing Saija off when she tried to steady her. She adjusted her jacket, dusting dirt from her sleeves in a sharp, almost mechanical motion. "I didn't need anyone to save me. I had it handled—if I'd had more time, I would've figured it out."

Saija flinched at the harshness in her voice, her arms wrapping protectively around her waist. "You could've gotten yourself killed," she said quietly, her gaze fixed on the ground. "You don't have to do everything alone."

Medora's glare silenced her, and Saija fell back slightly, retreating into herself.

Cassian followed close behind them, his posture calm but watchful, his eyes flicking to Medora's faltering steps. His hands hovered at his sides, ready to steady her the moment she stumbled.

Beside him, Adonis walked with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His darting gaze betrayed his usual composure, and his shoulders were stiff with tension. "If we're grading teamwork," he muttered, attempting a dry smile, "I give us a solid D-minus."

No one responded except Kane, who shot him a sharp look. Adonis choked back the rest of his laugh, his gaze dropping to the ground.

Kane's fists clenched and unclenched rhythmically at his sides, his jaw set tightly. He walked slightly to the side of the others, his slender frame positioned as if to shield them from any lingering threat.

Evrin lagged further behind, his movements slower than usual as the group trudged forward. The ache throughout his body had finally subsided. Silence hung over them, broken only by the occasional shuffle or cough.

It was Saija who finally spoke, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves. "That thing... the Veil. It didn't just... attack us. It—it was testing us, wasn't it?" She faltered, glancing toward Cassian for support.

Cassian frowned, his brows knitting together. "It definitely targeted the ones who split off. But that doesn't make sense. Why would it care about that?"

Adonis let out a strained laugh, his hands stuffed into his damp coat. "Maybe it's just a freaky fog that feeds on fear. I'd say it got what it wanted."

Saija shook her head, her arms tightening around herself. "No, it was more than that. It felt... deliberate. Like it knew us."

"Stop," Medora snapped, her voice sharp. She didn't look back, but her shoulders were rigid, her limp more pronounced. "We're out now. Whatever that thing was, it doesn't matter anymore. We're not going back."

"That wasn't just some set-up trap." Kane muttered. "That had to be a part of the curse. Like it's alive somehow."

His words made the group slow slightly, glancing nervously at one another.

"Seven sins. Seven fates," Cassian murmured, almost to himself. "You think it's about us?"

Evrin let out a scoff from the back of the group, his hands buried in his jacket pockets. "It's not. It's just a stupid rhyme meant to scare kids. Prophecies are vague on purpose, so they always sound true."

Saija glanced over her shoulder at him. "But what if it is about us? What if something happens if we don't..." Her words trailed off, swallowed by the sound of rain.

"If we don't what?" Medora asked, her voice clipped. She finally turned, glaring at Saija and then at Cassian. "We don't even know what it means. For all we know, it has nothing to do with us."

"But what if it does?" Nadia whispered. Her voice was barely audible, her arms hugging her bag close to her chest.

The silence that followed was heavier than any answer they could have given.

Evrin pushed past them, the sound of the train nearing closer. "We're not going to figure it out standing here. Let's just keep moving."

His words broke the group's stillness, but the unease lingered like a weight they couldn't shake.

As the train carried them back to Icarra, none of them said what they were all thinking: If that prophecy was meant for them, what would happen if they failed to follow it?

-

Hello! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I enjoyed writing it I thought it was fun. As you can see I've been toying with new covers for this story, but I'm not sure how I feel about this one. Anyways, votes and comments are always appreciated! Thanks for reading:)