Staircase That Never Ends 소설 & 이야기

“The buildings and floating mountain you just saw was the true illusion. I have been waiting here for a very long time to meet you again, seed.” ‘What?’ Alex was dumbfounded. ‘This is not an illusion? It’s all real?’ “Then what is this place?” He spoke his mind. “What is this place?” The queen giggled once more. “Take a guess, but I suppose you won’t get it right. Do you know what the Heavenly Stairs are? Do you know… what lies at the end of all nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps?” Alex was utterly appalled. ‘This Undead Queen knows about this too! That means everything she says is true. This is really not an illusion.’

With a firm grip, Noah guides me out of the dining room, akin to an experienced adult leading a child on a thrilling escapade. Anticipation fills me, tinged with a hint of apprehension. The wine I've consumed has managed to loosen my inhibitions, fueling my eagerness to discover what awaits us in the coming minutes. Ascending one of the grand, winding staircases that stretches towards the uppermost level of the house, I can't help but be taken aback by the sheer number of steps. "This staircase seems to stretch on endlessly," I comment as we continue our ascent.

Chapter 88 – The Final Choice The staircase spiraled downward into an abyss so profound it seemed to swallow the very concept of light. Each step echoed ominously, reverberating through the group as they descended deeper into uncertainty. The air grew colder with every footfall, pressing against their skin like a tangible weight. Jessica clutched her children closer, drawing strength from their steady breathing even as dread pooled in her stomach.

The rusted hinges groaned, protesting the intrusion. Nevena deadpanned at the sight of the single spiral staircase wrapped upward along the cylindrical wall. “You sure about this, Junior?" "Oh yes" Junior ran ahead with boyish excitement, his footsteps clanging on the metal steps. “We’ll see the whole city from up there!” Nevena nodded, but however remained frozen at the base. The steps are narrow, steep, and inside was lit only by thin vertical slits that posed as windows. And right above her, the staircase seemed to twist into a tight tunnel of height she’d rather not face.

She couldn't find the butterflies in her stomach anymore. Before she knew what was going on, she saw herself standing before another staircase; not the staircase inside his Mansion. She has never set her eyes on this kind of staircase. It was old and had no end as she stared upwards. “Close your eyes. You can get watery eyes if you keep your eyes open.” He mumbled and grabbed her hands, leading the way into the staircase.

Screamed our defiant Centurion as we marched through the throng of our retreating fear stricken comrades, many covered in a terrifyingly large splatters of blood. As we neared our enemy, it became clear that we were not facing one of the usual sorts as the ring of its engine and whirl of its blade confirmed it so. It stood at the height of Three Men, suspended on six large steel limbs that had blades at its feet. It had arms that wielded two terrifyingly large spinning blades all twirling so fast that it seemed to be releasing a torrent of blinding reflecting lights It was a Faith Breaker.

The screech echoes in my head, but when it’s fully open, cold air rushes out like the breath of the underworld. A stone stairway plunges down—no railing. No light. I take the first step. I can’t turn back. Seventy-two steps. I count each one, just like I did in those spiral-stair dreams of brides. But this is real. The walls are damp, and the stench of old blood clings to me. At the bottom, a triangular chamber. The stone walls covered in undecipherable symbols, except for one: “E”, carved repeatedly into the ceiling.

I am Samantha Perez. I have big dreams for my parents. I want to be rich, so I applied and started working at a casino in Makati. That’s where I met the man who would steal my heart—and eventually break it. His name is Gabriel Bustamante, son of a wealthy billionaire. Handsome, strong, and a bit of a bad boy—he loved casinos. I’ve always been picky with men and never allowed myself to be fooled… but somehow, he was the only one I ever fell for.

Layla apologised as she slumped her head, realising the mistake she’d just made. “That’s okay, don’t worry about it. Are you okay though?” worriedly said Nelle as she stroked the top of Layla’s head. “Yeah, I’m fine. Anyway, you must be busy I won’t bother you anymore.” Layla remembered what her main objective was and turned around to continue looking for a ladder to reach her book. Nelle stunned at Layla’s indifference, walked to the next aisle, where she seemed to have brought a box of returned books to restock. Layla followed her with high hopes, though there wasn’t any sign of a ladder.

“You don’t owe her anything.” “I know,” I answered, though the words tasted hollow. By noon, reports filtered in from the city. A transaction intercepted. A deal resolved with surgical efficiency. No casualties. No signatures. Just results. “Who handled it?” I asked. “No one we know,” Matteo said. “But the method’s familiar.” I looked up sharply. “Define familiar.” “Timing. Leverage. Pressure points. It’s… disciplined.” I said nothing. That evening, another property flagged red—not burned, but emptied, scrubbed down to bare walls. A place only Victoria and three others had ever known.