Lahat ng Kabanata ng Fearless: Kabanata 151 - Kabanata 160

THE CROWNThe crown was already touching Hazel's hair when she realized it wasn't trying to enter her mind.It was waiting for her to choose.The black metal hovered inches above her head, trembling faintly in the air. Thin cracks ran across its surface, glowing with a dim silver light that pulsed like a heartbeat.The underground chamber had gone completely silent.No alarms.No gunfire.No machinery.Even the water dripping somewhere in the darkness seemed to have stopped.Hazel could hear only her own breathing.And Jae's.He stood several feet away, staring at the crown as though he had seen it in a nightmare he had spent his entire life trying to forget."Hazel," he said quietly.She didn't look at him."What?""Don't touch it."Hazel almost laughed."That's your advice?""I'm serious.""So am I."She slowly raised her hand.Jae stepped forward."Hazel."She looked at him.His face had lost its usual calm.There was fear in his eyes.Real fear.That frightened her more than the c

INSIDEThe first door opened completely.Hazel expected a person.Instead, she saw a forest.A real forest.Trees.Mist.Moonlight.Wind moving through leaves.It shouldn't have existed underground.Miyan stared."What the hell?"Elias shook his head."Don't enter."Hazel looked at him."Why?""Because the Lock doesn't create places."He looked at the forest."It creates memories."The trees moved.Hazel heard birds.Then footsteps.Someone was running.A girl appeared between the trees.Young.Terrified.Hazel recognized her.Her mother.Hazel stepped forward.Jae grabbed her arm."Don't.""It's her.""I know.""Then let me go.""It isn't really her."Hazel stared at the girl.Her mother stopped.Looked directly at Hazel.And smiled."Come home."Hazel froze.Jae tightened his grip."Don't listen."The forest changed.The trees became walls.The moon became a fluorescent light.The ground became a laboratory floor.Hazel stumbled.The second door opened.Then the third.Each containe

KING FALLSThe dark door opened without a sound.Beyond it was a throne room.Not ancient.Not futuristic.Both.Black stone pillars rose from the floor.Cables hung between them.A massive throne stood at the center.And sitting upon it—was the King.Hazel stopped.Jae stopped beside her.Miyan raised her weapon.Claire whispered:"That's impossible."Elias didn't answer.The King slowly lifted its head.Its face was hidden beneath a black crown.Hazel felt Recognition immediately.But this time it wasn't pulling her forward.It was warning her.The King stood.The crown cracked.A voice came from beneath it."You finally came."Hazel stared."Who are you?"The King laughed.The sound echoed through the chamber."You already know."Hazel shook her head."No.""You have spent your entire life recognizing me."Jae stepped forward."Don't listen."The King turned toward him."Still protecting her."Jae raised his weapon."Always."The King smiled.Then the seven chains appeared behind

THE COSTThe countdown reached fifty minutes.Hazel had already decided.They were going back down.Jae disagreed."No."Hazel stared at him."You heard it.""I did.""Then you know we can't wait.""We don't know what it wants.""We know it wants me.""Exactly."Jae stepped between Hazel and the entrance."That's why you're staying here."Hazel's eyes narrowed."Move.""No."Miyan looked between them."Oh, this is going to go well."Hazel ignored her."Jae.""No.""You don't get to make that decision.""I'm trying to keep you alive.""You've been doing that since I met you.""And you're still alive.""Because I stopped listening to you."Jae's jaw tightened.The silence between them became heavier than the countdown.47:13.Elias suddenly collapsed.Miyan caught him."Elias!"His body shook.Veins stood out along his neck.Hazel immediately moved toward him."What happened?"Elias gasped."The chains.""What about them?""They're gone."Hazel frowned."Yes.""They weren't supposed to

THE VESSEL SPEAKSThe Vessel wearing Jae's face took one step forward.Hazel raised her weapon.The thing smiled."You know you don't want to shoot me."Hazel's finger rested against the trigger."You're not him.""I know.""Then stop wearing his face."The Vessel tilted its head."Why?""Because you're trying to manipulate me.""Of course."The honesty caught Hazel off guard.The Vessel continued:"Manipulation is inefficient when truth works better."Jae stood beside Hazel."Don't listen."The Vessel looked at him."You should be grateful."Jae frowned."For what?""I am showing her what you refuse to show her."Jae's expression hardened."You don't know anything about us."The Vessel smiled."I know everything."It raised one hand.The chamber changed.Hazel saw thousands of memories.Not only hers.Jae's.Miyan's.Claire's.Elias's.The Vessel showed them all at once.Jae as a child.His mother screaming.Miyan standing alone in a burning building.Claire holding a dead body.Elia