Rosie's Games

Chapter 391: Are You?

Rosalind found herself once again ensnared in the clutches of a dream, yet this particular vision possessed an unsettling realism that enveloped her senses.

The dream world seemed to blur with actuality, compelling Rosalind to experience the temperature of her surroundings as if they were tangible.

Her gaze fixated upon the woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to herself. This mysterious doppelgnger traversed the underground expanse, meandering through a forsaken labyrinth of convoluted tunnels and caverns that seemed to stretch on indefinitely.

A chilling silence hung heavily in the air, broken only by the faint scurrying of rats and the distant, eerie echoes of unearthly whispers.

The flickering glow of dim, sulfurous torches barely illuminated the scene, casting long, distorted shadows that danced upon the damp walls. The air was thick with a damp chill, carrying the foul stench of decay and malevolence.

Amidst the oppressive darkness, the woman's eyes beheld a haunting sight. Scattered across the cavernous chamber were humans, their bodies now transformed into wretched beings, enslaved by the curse of the demons.

With hollow eyes and twisted features, they prowled the depths, their actions driven by an insatiable hunger. Raw and mangled animal carcasses lay strewn about, serving as their grim sustenance.

Rosalind wondered how he knew that these humans were enslaved by demons. She has not heard of that before.

Still, she looked around and continued observing.

Rosalind's mind buzzed with questions as she observed the mysterious woman's purpose in this peculiar underground realm. Before long, an answer began to unfold before her very eyes, revealing the imminent arrival of another presencean approaching demon.

"She's waiting for you..." The stench of decaying animals permeated the air, wafting from the demon's breath. Rosalind frowned but the woman that resembled her did not seem to care as she walked inside another cave.

"You are here..." a throaty voice reverberated through the space.

The woman who awaited them in the depths of the cave appeared weathered and aged, bearing the weight of time upon her hunched frame.

Her frail posture spoke of the toll that old age had taken, leaving her stooped and weary. With only one eye remaining, the other socket remained a haunting void, as if it had been forcefully taken out of its sockets.

Long strands of tangled white hair cascaded down her gnarled form, interwoven with hints of gray.

Her visage was marred by the presence of blackened teeth, a stark contrast against the pale backdrop of her aged complexion.

The combination of her disheveled appearance, the vacant eye socket, and the remnants of her deteriorated dental state lent an air of macabre to her overall visage.

"I came to this place seeking answers to the questions that plague my mind," the woman began, her voice steady and resolute.

The elderly woman, with her one remaining eye fixated on the visitor, interrupted before the question could even be posed. "The answer is yes," she stated.

A flicker of defiance flashed in the eyes of the woman. She refused to be deterred or silenced. "You have yet to hear my question."

"I can hear the thoughts that dance within your mind, little one," the woman chuckled, her voice tinged with a hint of eerie amusement. "I am aware of the purpose that brought you here."

The woman who resembled Rosalind leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on the enigmatic figure before her. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, she voiced her burning question, her voice laced with a hint of longing. "Tell me... is it within the realm of possibility for me to acquire the knowledge of... black magic? Is it possible for me to learn sorcery?"

Rather than providing a direct response, the older woman stepped closer, closing the distance between them. Her aged face drew nearer, scrutinizing the features of the woman who sought forbidden knowledge. The air grew still as the weight of anticipation hung in the space between them, waiting for the woman's next move.

"Heh... are you prepared to relinquish everything in your pursuit of the dark arts that are the domain of demons?" she asked, her voice low and filled with an unsettling intensity. "Are you willing to forsake your humanity, endure unimaginable suffering, and bear the weight of untold consequences to obtain what you desire?"

Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of a cautionary warning. The older woman's gaze bore into the eyes of the woman resembling Rosalind, searching for the flicker of resolve or doubt that would reveal the depths of her commitment.

Suddenly, the woman's gaze shifted, as if she could perceive Rosalind's presence, even in the realm of dreams. A chilling smile crept across her aged face, sending a shiver down Rosalind's spine.

"Are you?" she whispered, her voice carrying a subtle note of anticipation as if daring Rosalind to reveal her own desires and willingness to embrace the darkness.

Then Rosalind was pulled out of the dream.

Rosalind's eyes shot open, her heart pounding in her chest as she gasped for breath. The vividness of the dream still clung to her senses, leaving her disoriented and shaken. Her body was drenched in perspiration, her back sticking uncomfortably to the damp sheets.

Taking a moment to steady herself, Rosalind realized that she had been pulled abruptly out of the dream, and back into the waking world. She scanned her surroundings, the familiar sight of the cave provided a stark contrast to the things that saw in that dream.

Gradually, her breathing slowed. She patted her chest and wiped her sweat before she looked around. As the remnants of the dream faded, Rosalind's attention shifted to the absence of Lucas.

The man was nowhere to be seen.

"Lucas?" Rosalind's voice echoed through the small clearing, but there was no response. A frown creased her brow as she glanced around the area. They had chosen this secluded spot deep within the cave for their training sessions, believing it to be safe from prying eyes and potential dangers.

Her eyes traced the passages that branched out from the clearing, leading to unknown parts of the cave.

"Lucas?" she called out for the second time.

'Run...' Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed inside her head. 'Run!'