Held by the Past

The Collect

in her chest as she tried to make sense of the scene before her. The shard she had worked so tirelessly to obtain was now in the hand

pped with disdain as he examined the shard with a gloved hand. "You'v

t. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes never leaving the Collector. "Gi

d into a faint, mocking sm

come a lifeline to her, a tether to the world she knew. But now, with the shard in the hands

sked, her voice barely above a wh

," he responded with calm certainty. "These shards... they are the key to restoring balance to a w

nt echoes through her mind, reverberating like the distant

ixing with her growing unease. "You're talk

s will be the foundation for a new world. One where true power can be harnessed." His e

ng was alive. The pedestal where the shard had rested cracked and crumbled, sending dust and stone flying through the air. The Co

drian muttered, grabbing Elena

ned to flee, she felt the oppressive weight of the Collector's gaze on them. The darkness grew thicke

only to see the Collector standing unmoving amidst the dark

ur fate. You are mer

ked up, but the shadows seemed to follow them, lingering just outside their reach. Elena's mind raced, trying to make sense of everything that had just hap

stop now," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We

g back to the Collector's words, to the way the shadows had come alive around them. She could feel the pul

rip on the shard she still held tightened. She couldn't afford

-

the Collector's presence hung over them like a dark cloud. Elena couldn't shake the feeling that they were being wa

ld itself seemed to respond to their search, shifting and changing in ways that unsettled Elena. She could feel the thre

ughts consumed by the task ahead. The shard in her hand was cool to the touch, its faint glow the only source of li

rian said, his voice quiet but determined. "I know

the midst of all the chaos, Adrian had become her anchor. His strength, his unwavering dedication to their cause-it gave her the courage to

s there?" Elena asked, he

g more in him than just a partner in this war. She saw a m

ice barely audible. "

-

a shadow creeping ever closer. Elena knew it was only a matter of time before he caught up with them. They h

constant threat of betrayal-it weighed on her. And as much as Adrian's resolve comf

na knew one thing for certain. She would fight. For the shards

one part of the battle. There were darker forces at work, and Elena knew s

between Elena and Adrian grew heavier with every passing moment, neither of them willing to acknowledge the feelings that simm

ly, its energy felt more like a warning than a beacon of hope. How long could they keep running? How long could they con

gh sensing her inner turmoil. His gaze met hers, an unspoken understanding passing between them. He was

d in her words. "But how much longer can we keep f

ring. "As many times as it ta

intended. There was something in his gaze-something raw and vulnerable-that drew her in. For a fleeting second, she saw the man beh

he noise, her senses immediately alert. Adrian was already on his feet, hand on the hilt of his sword, eyes scanni

drian whispered, his

hem, the air thick with the sensation that they were being watched. Every rustle of the

ated. Elena followed him, staying close, her heart hammering in her chest. They couldn

loor, the unmistakable sound of someone-or something-approaching. She glanced at Adrian, who was already poi

d, his voice steady despi

itself had grown darker, suffocating their every move. She could feel the pulse of the shard in her hand grow

ees, a figure emerge

The stranger's cloak was tattered, as if it had been through countless battles, and their face was hidden beneath the dee

s voice sharp as he stepped forwar

. Instead, they spoke in a low, calm vo

gure said cryptically. "But I

ickening. "A warning?" she repeate

eir skin shimmered with an eerie light. "From the Collec

l again-his reach was far more extensive than they had realized. She could feel her

u?" Adrian asked, his v

on't move quickly, he will catch you. He's already sent his scouts,

flict in his eyes, the hesitation as he weighed their opti

her voice firm. "We can't r

ssion grim as he sheathe

t raced as they hurried through the forest, the weight of the warning settling heavi

g like dark fingers above them. Every sound seemed amplified, every movement felt like an omen. The forest i

, dilapidated structure nestled between the rocks. It was barely standing, its stone walls

a murmured, her vo

hidden," the figure said, their voice a w

ding with anticipation, a sharp cry split the air

or's scouts

a's arm and pulling her toward the

the same unsettling robes as the Collector's followers, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Elena's heart rac

y rushed inside. The room beyond was dim, filled with the scent of dust and de

the door slammed shut behind th

we f

as she turned toward the darkness that seemed to stretch endlessly before them. She could feel the pulse of the shard

faintly in the gloom, offering little comfort in the face of what was to come. He was poised and alert,

her voice trembling. The sense of doom pressi

but his eyes met hers, filled with

moving through the dark. Elena's pulse quickened, and she instinctively stepped closer to Adrian. The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, th

lena urged, her voice urgent

vered in moss and age, looked like they had been untouched for years. But there was an ancient, unseen power e

on Elena's arms standing on end. The sound of a low, unnatural laugh filled the sp

om me, Elena?" The voice came from the

Coll

her, suffocating her every breath. The shadows around them seemed to move in respons

ing around his sword, ready to face whatever came next.

tor's voice echoed, rich with ma

ed, eyes blazing with defiance

ent. Taller, more imposing. A cold wind followed in his wake, and the temperature in the room dropped dramati

dark and calculating, fixed on Elena. His gaze was full of venom, but it was more than just an

Collector said, his voice cold and slow. "You c

ector's magic swirling around them, pushing at her very being. He was a force of

him to take it-she couldn't let him win. But the darkness surrounding them was thick, heavy,

ng they had fought for. He wasn't giving up, not now. Not ever. He st

ena said, her voice

l and mocking. "You think you can stop me? You are not

leaped into action, swinging his sword in a wide arc, his movements fluid and deadly. But the

ed through her, the raw, untamed force nearly overwhelming her senses. She could feel the presence of the Collector, pushing

gy that slammed into the shadows. The air around them exploded with light, and th

rage. "You think you've won?" he spat. "This is far f

sps. The surge of magic had drained her, but she ref

dissolve, his form shifting and twisting like smoke. The energ

e chaos, his hand gripping her arm as he

one groaning under the pressure of some unseen force. A deafening roar echoed through the structure, and Elena re

iling began to collapse. Stones and debris rained down, and Adrian

e it," Elena gasped, pa

t, his voice fierce with determin

them, but they didn't have a choice. T

o her feet, and together, they ran for the exit, the r

ruins, but there was no time to rest. The Collec

e urgent, as he pulled Elena away

e, knowing that every step they took brou

oice that would