Romans & histoires The Tunnel: The Other Side Of Darkness

The stone didn't just slide out; it shattered under the sudden, absolute zero of his grip. "There," Vane breathed, pointing to the dark, narrow tunnel beyond. "The Old Conduit. It’s a straight shot to the Vault’s periphery. God help us." Aiden didn't wait for a prayer. He squeezed through the gap, the darkness swallowing him whole. The tunnel was cold, damp, and smelled of centuries of stagnant water and forgotten machinery. He could hear Ignis and Vane clambering in behind him, their heavy breathing amplified by the confined space.

Neal stayed close to me, his arm ready to catch me if I fell. "There," Neal said, pointing. A crack in the ice. Not a natural crack. Too straight. Too square. A doorway. We climbed down into darkness. The tunnel was narrow, the walls slick with frost. I slipped twice. Neal caught me both times. Noah lit a torch, the flame casting strange shadows on the ice. At the bottom of the tunnel, a cave opened up. And in the center of the cave, a cage. Not a cage of bars. A cage of light. Golden, shimmering, humming with power. And inside the cage, a woman.

He nodded, understanding nothing of it, but letting her guide him nevertheless. He stumbled through the tunnel blindly as he followed the woman who guided him. At first, he thought it was just because he was blind, but then the tunnel unexpectedly widened and he found himself standing in a cavernous space filled with glowing orbs. Hundreds and hundreds of them hung suspended in midair like colorful fireflies, shimmering faintly in the light. They looked ethereal and beautiful and yet terrifying. Every few feet, the walls of the cavernous space began to slope downward, forming a steep hill leading deeper into the earth.

For the 13th time, an AI-generated photo pops up on my feed, showing my best friend, Gwen Spalding, and my boyfriend, Andrew Gunnell, wrapped in each other's arms. Gwen's still a mess after getting dumped so suddenly, so I assume she's mixed Andrew up with someone else again. Then a comment stops me cold. "I was there. Joyce tried to brush it off before and claimed the picture was AI-generated, but let's see her deny this! Besides, look at them. A guy as hot as Andrew belongs with a knockout like Gwen. They look way better together." Attached to the comment is a candid photo of Gwen and Andrew wrapped in each other's arms, in the exact same pose as the picture on my feed. I screenshot t

Waiting for the burning sensation of his teeth sinking inside my flesh, I kept my eyes closed. After very long seconds which felt like hours, I opened my eyes as the pain I was preparing myself for never came. The sun was almost dipped behind the canopy of trees, which was now more clear. The faint light was coming towards my way but it was getting blocked by the masculine figure standing in front of me. I ran my eyes around the whole scene, I was near the exit but never noticed it because of my fear.

He looked down into the dark. His eyes began to glow. Not white. Not green. Blue. The same blue as the light on the door. "It's calling me," Leo whispered. He turned to look at us. His face was beatific. Ecstatic. "It says dinner is ready." He stepped into the dark. "Leo!" Damian shouted, lunging after him. "Wait," I said, grabbing his arm. "Look." As Leo walked into the tunnel, the darkness retreated. The walls began to glow with bioluminescent moss—or maybe charged particles. The path lit up for him. "He is the Key," Wulfric said. "The door opened for the plate, but the path opens for the Prime." Damian looked at the glowing tunnel, then at me. "We follow him," Damian said. "Stay close. Gu

I looked at him as he opened it. Of course, his mom would find it quite weird if she discovered that we hadn't been sharing the same bedroom. "You can start unpacking. I've got a conference call to deal with." Justin left as I stepped into the dark-themed, aesthetically designed bedroom. The walls had a stunning midnight decor and there was a luxurious tufted bed, an elegant chandelier, vintage furniture, a gallery with a TV wall panel and soft golden lighting. This was definitely Justin Martínez's sanctuary.

The huge door started to open slowly, revealing a dark tunnel ahead as it emitted a low sound. Proceed, proceed, proceed! Maya gestured, encouraging the team to proceed. They ran quickly into the tunnel, with the door shutting heavily after them. The sound of the fortress falling diminished a bit, giving way to a spooky quietness. The tunnel was tight and poorly lit, with aging pipes and wires running along the walls. Maya once again took control, her senses heightened. We must continue to stay in motion. There is no way to predict the stability of this tunnel. The team trailed behind her, their footsteps gently reverberating. The tunnel appeared endless as it wound and curved in perplexing

It was his first time doing it, and his hound didn't just drag one person to hell; he dragged over a hundred, and he did it viciously and effortlessly. Maverick closes his eyes, and when he does, it's like a curtain opening up, revealing the gate. He sees into the depths of the darkness where the red glows beneath it. It calls to him louder, and it's enticing. Smoke seeps from his body, mingling with the smoke rising from the depths of hell. His body tingles as his hellhound becomes antsy, wanting to come forward and answer the call of the gate. It calls to him again, and Shade howls in Maverick's head, trying to answer it. The call is so strong that Shade can taste its fiery essence.

But before he can fire, a low, mechanical hum fills the tunnel, the walls vibrating as a metal gate slams shut behind him, cutting off his escape. He freezes, his eyes narrowing, and I seize the moment, diving for the shadows, my body sluggish but driven by desperation. The tunnel branches, and I choose a path blindly, my breath ragged, my vision fading. The hum grows louder, and I hear voices not Daniel’s, but others, sharp and commanding, echoing from deeper in the labyrinth. Footsteps pound, multiple sets, and I realize Daniel’s not alone. He’s working with someone mercenaries, allies, a network I can’t comprehend. My heart races, my body screaming to collapse, but I push forward, the pip