The world seemed to stand still in the aftermath of Annie’s latest confrontation with the shadows. The air, thick with residual tension, held a quiet unease. Annie sat on a rock overlooking the valley, her fingers nervously tracing the smooth surface of the shard. It was dim now, its once-radiant glow reduced to a faint pulse that echoed her own heartbeat.
Ethan joined her, his presence solid and reassuring. His dagger, slick with remnants of the dark energy they had battled, gleamed in the fading sunlight. He wiped it clean, his movements slow and methodical, though Annie could tell his mind was elsewhere.
“They’re coming faster,” Ethan said, breaking the silence. His voice was low, his words weighed with concern.
Annie nodded. “And stronger. Every time we stop them, they send somethin
