Chapter Fifteen: The Abyss
Shadow!
It was a shadow!
Only now did Colin realize that the shadow at his feet was stretching unnaturally, extending all the way to the little girl's feet.
The servant’s shadow did the same.
At some unknown moment, the three shadows had become twisted, trampled under the little girl’s feet, forming a “path” from the edge of the light straight to each of them.
The moment their shadows were pinned beneath hers, control was established!
If Colin’s guess was right, the reason the little girl had waited until now to act was because only just then had his shadow reached beyond the light, giving her the opportunity she had been waiting for.
He had crouched to examine the basement entrance, holding the lantern in front, causing his shadow to spill into the darkness—and so he fell into her trap.
The timing was almost too perfect; Colin even suspected it might have been meticulously arranged, all to wait for the instant he checked the underground passage.
“No, that so-called ‘basement’ is probably nothing but a ruse...”
After all, any normal person, upon discovering an entrance to the underground, would naturally inspect it. If he hadn’t checked, all would have been fine—but the inspection was his undoing...
Before this, Colin’s shadow had occasionally brushed the darkness, but never for long enough, or in a large enough area, for the little girl to assert control.
This proved her control required a certain amount of time, and a sufficient portion of their true shadow.
Otherwise, she could not unleash her power!
But time was no longer on his side. Nearly three minutes had already passed since the little girl appeared. They had been tightly bound, incapable of the slightest resistance.
Had Colin, at the very start, chosen not to turn around but instead to dive forward, he might have bought himself a precious moment to breathe.
But regrettably, he lacked the necessary experience, had not even considered such a possibility.
Only now did he realize there had been room for action—but it was too late.
Since time could no longer be fought for, he had to seek a breakthrough from the other condition.
“Her control requires both time and enough shadow from our bodies—how can I reclaim my shadow from her grasp?”
Pain seared through Colin’s mind. His body convulsed in spasms, yet was forcibly fixed in place, unable to move, completely at her mercy.
He could feel it—a cold, small hand once again reached inside, caressing his flesh and blood.
“Big brother, do you want to eat with us? You taste so very nice...”
The little girl’s expression warped into a grotesque, chilling pleasure.
She seemed to be losing control.
Born from despair, this was a non-human life form, but through long years of stillness, she had gained a sliver of her original “rationality.”
This allowed her, upon first meeting Colin, to display timidity, fear, and caution, never recklessly showing herself.
It was only now, when Colin unwittingly crouched down to inspect the stone slab—exposing his shadow beyond the light—that she truly appeared.
Yet this “rationality” was far too fragile. Provoked by fresh blood, it was easily shattered, giving way to an utterly terrifying wraith.
Colin could distinctly sense that the little girl now was nothing like the one from three minutes ago—not even the same spirit!
In the next instant, Colin shuddered violently as another chunk of flesh was torn from his wound.
The third time!
But amid this fresh wave of agony, Colin knew the moment had come!
He no longer resisted the pain, but instead forced himself to relax.
It was like tensing your body to stave off the winter’s cold—Colin now let go, allowing the transmission of pain to flood instantly through every part of his body.
With a clang, the lantern dropped to the floor.
Uncontrollable muscle spasms, coupled with Colin’s deliberate intent, caused the lantern—barely hooked by his fingers—to slip away.
The now-crazed little girl seemed oblivious, careless of any slight movement Colin made.
But at that very moment, the bright red liquid inside the lantern spilled from the wick’s mouth.
Like alcohol poured and set alight, the flames suddenly spread outward, igniting a fierce blaze around Colin!
The shadows on the ground flickered wildly!
The fire, fueled by foul, dark blood, burned hotter than any ordinary flame. Even the gray mist retreated ten meters from its light—let alone the little girl.
“The time is now!”
Colin felt the grip over his body weaken!
He pushed off hard, shoving himself backward, struggling to wrench himself free from the shadow’s hold and reclaim control over his own body.
The little girl’s face twisted in disgust at the fire, but she was not afraid. Seeing Colin about to break free, she immediately reached for him!
But just then, the two servants acted as well.
One rushed from the left, swinging an iron axe at her head; the other from the right, heaved a wagon wheel at her skull.
Yet neither attack had any real effect.
The axe passed straight through her as though she were a phantom.
The wagon wheel, as it struck, whipped up a violent wind, hurling the wraith-like girl several meters away.
Though their blows did her no harm, they gave all three a chance to fully break free from her control.
Seizing the moment while the flames still raged, Colin snatched up the lantern with his right hand—the last drops of oil inside—and held it above his head, shrinking his shadow as close to his feet as possible!
Escaping control was only the first step!
At least now, hope shone brighter!
Out of the corner of his eye, Colin glanced at the bloody wound on his left shoulder, feeling a chill run deep to his bones, and cursed under his breath: Damn it, I’ve lost nearly half a pound in three minutes!
Blood poured from his left arm, leaving it limp and powerless, hanging uselessly at his side.
He didn’t even have time to bandage the wound, for the terrifying wraith stood before him!
He dared not dwell on his bleeding arm. Forcing himself to ignore the pain, he fixed his gaze on the little girl.
Meanwhile, the wraith girl, standing once more at the edge of the light, glared at them with naked bloodlust and malice.
She seemed to have lost all power of speech. Her long, white hair rose wildly on an unseen wind, her appearance utterly deranged.
Suddenly, the wraith girl threw back her head and let out a piercing, maniacal scream!
With that shriek, Colin and the others instantly felt as if a blood-red filter had been laid over the world.
From the gaps in the ceiling, walls, and floor, blood began to seep, merging with the bones scattered throughout the hall.
And in the next moment, every skeleton in the room seemed to come alive!
Click-clack, click-clack...
The sound of bones rubbing and colliding echoed like waves crashing.
Every sound came from those “aberrations” Colin had killed only moments ago!
They had returned to life!
“We’re done for!”
The pupils of the first and second servants contracted sharply.
They knew all too well what this meant: when the “Wailers” began their cries, it signaled their own deaths!
This time, there would be no lucky escape...
But just then, Colin suddenly flung a chunk of putrid flesh—reeking with decay—straight at the wraith girl.
It had come from Father Kedice.
In an instant, the church fell silent.