29

"Who are you?" Veronica whimpered, cowering behind me as a towering, ominous figure emerged from the shadows. The man's cruel laughter cut through the tense silence like a knife.

"You don't remember me, little one?" he mocked his voice a sinister rasp that sent chills down my spine.

The imposing silhouette stepped into the soft fairy light, revealing a gaunt, twisted face I had hoped never to see again. A sense of dread washed over me like icy tendrils - this was no mere foe but the same evil force that had held Veronica captive, the monster we had fought so desperately to defeat. He was trying to trick us into thinking it was two different people.

"Don't tell me your pitiful little mind has already forgotten our time together," he sneered, fixing Veronica with a predatory stare that made her tremble violently. "After all the delightful torture I put you through to break your will."

White-hot rage surged through my veins. How dare this vile creature show his face here, in our sanctua