The ground beneath them cracked apart, the very foundation of the Abyss splitting as the darkness collapsed in on itself. Lucian's grip on Selene's hand tightened as they ran, their feet pounding against the trembling stone.
Behind them, the void howled—an unnatural, otherworldly sound that sent chills through their bones. The Abyss was devouring itself, its own power spiraling out of control now that Alistair had been severed from it.
Lucian glanced back and saw Alistair struggling to his feet, his body trembling, his face a mask of disbelief. The dark energy that had once pulsed through him was flickering, unstable. He was mortal again. Vulnerable.
But there was no time for hesitation.
"Alistair, move!" Lucian shouted.
For a moment, the fallen warrior didn't react. Then, as the darkness surged toward him, his survival instincts finally kicked in. He staggered forward, breaking into a desperate sprint.
Selene raised her free hand, her magic flaring as she hurled a blast of ice behind them. The frost spread across the crumbling path, slowing the advancing shadows for a few precious seconds. But it wouldn't hold for long.
The exit was just ahead—a jagged archway that led to the world beyond. If they could reach it before the Abyss fully collapsed, they had a chance.
But then the entire cavern lurched, as if the Abyss itself was trying to drag them back.
The path split apart beneath Alistair. He let out a sharp cry as he stumbled, barely managing to catch himself on the ledge. His fingers dug into the crumbling stone, his breath ragged.
Lucian skidded to a stop. He knew what had to be done.
Without thinking, he lunged back, reaching down and grabbing Alistair's wrist. Their eyes met—Alistair's filled with exhaustion, disbelief.
"Why?" he rasped.
Lucian gritted his teeth as he pulled. "Because I'm not like you."
With a final surge of strength, he yanked Alistair up and onto solid ground.
No sooner had he done so than the shadows exploded behind them.
Selene turned, eyes wide. "Run!"
They didn't need to be told twice.
Together, the three of them sprinted toward the exit. The ground behind them collapsed entirely, swallowed by the Abyss's final death throes. The archway loomed ahead—just a few more feet—
Then the Abyss roared one last time.
A final tendril of darkness lashed forward, aiming for Selene.
Lucian's heart nearly stopped. He didn't think. He reacted.
Throwing himself between her and the attack, he swung his sword. Fire erupted from the blade, colliding with the shadow in a brilliant explosion. The force sent both him and Selene flying forward, tumbling through the archway—
And then the Abyss was gone.
A deafening silence followed.
Lucian opened his eyes, his body aching from the impact. He lay on his back, staring up at the sky—an actual sky. A vast, starry expanse stretched above him, unfamiliar yet breathtaking. The air smelled fresh, crisp. They were free.
He turned his head. Selene was beside him, breathing hard, but otherwise unharmed. A deep relief washed over him.
Then his gaze shifted.
Alistair knelt a few feet away, staring at his own hands as if they belonged to someone else. His skin, once tainted with shadow, was now pale. The Abyss had left him, but it had taken something with it. He looked… empty.
Selene sat up, watching him warily. "Alistair?"
He didn't answer at first. When he finally looked at them, his expression was unreadable. "You saved me," he said quietly. "After everything I did… you still pulled me out."
Lucian exhaled, pushing himself to his feet. "The Abyss took enough. It wasn't going to take you too."
Alistair laughed—soft, bitter. He shook his head. "I don't deserve this."
"Maybe not," Selene said, standing beside Lucian. "But you have a choice now. You can decide what you do with the life you have left."
For the first time, something flickered in Alistair's gaze. A hint of something human.
He looked away, staring at the distant horizon. "I need time."
Lucian nodded. "Then take it."
Without another word, Alistair turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.
Selene let out a slow breath. "Do you think he'll come back?"
Lucian glanced in the direction Alistair had gone. "I don't know."
She took his hand, squeezing it gently. "But we're free."
Lucian looked at her—really looked at her. The woman he had fought for, bled for. The woman who had fought just as fiercely for him.
He squeezed her hand in return. "Yeah. We are."
And as they stood there beneath the unfamiliar stars, for the first time in a long time, hope didn't seem so far away.
End of Chapter Eighty-One