Ella's POV
The hollow king.
Cloaked in shadows, crowned in bone. His presence wrapped the space around him like poison through water.
"I offered you eternity," He said, voice silk and rot. "You chose death."
"I chose light." The woman said raising her chin.
"You will regret it."
"I already do," she whispered, voice breaking. "Not for what I chose, but for who I trusted."
The hollow king smiled.
I watched, frozen, as dark roots erupted from the ground, clawing at the woman's feet. She fought back, her body blazing with silver fire, a power that made the entire forest tremble.
But it wasn't enough.
The roots pierced her skin, dragged her down, until only her eyes were left above the earth. Still burning, still defiant.
And then, blackness.
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I
