Apocalypse Baby

Elsewhere...

Frey's body froze.

Her breath hitched as her wide eyes locked onto the shrouded figures before her.

They stood unnaturally tall, their limbs long and spindly, stretching out like shadows.

They had no faces.

Then notification flickered before her eyes glowing eerie red.

[Veilborne]

Freya's breathing quickened.

"What...what the hell are those?" she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

The rogue beside her had snapped out of his own fearful daze.

Without hesitation, he struck.

He stepped forward, his hands moving in a blur, launching a flurry of daggers at the creatures.

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

The blades sliced through the air and passed right through them.

CLANG!

The daggers clattered uselessly against the maze walls, echoing in the dead silence.

Freya's heart pounded.

They didn't have physical bodies.

Yet, they just stood there.

Their grotesque limbs hanging limply at their sides.

Watching.

Waiting.

Staring.

Their faces nonexistent faces.

The eerie red glow where their eyes should have been pulsated, but the Veilborne remained motionless.

The rogue gritted his teeth.

"What are you two doing? Attack!" he snapped, gripping another dagger.

"Wait..." Freya's voice was sharp. Her gaze narrowed.

Something was off.

They weren't moving.

She doubted it was because they weren't hostile—after all, this was a Nightmare. Everything here was meant to kill them.

Then why?

Her mind raced. Maybe they had a restriction. A condition that needed to be met before they attacked.

She spoke quickly.

"What if we back away slowly? Maybe they don't attack unless they're provoked."

The rogue hesitated. "We don't know that for sure."

"It's the best plan we've got."

A shaky voice cut in.

Ella.

She was struggling to get to her feet, using her staff for support.

She looked pale.

Freya could hear the tremble in her breath.

The three exchanged glances.

Then, as one they started moving.

Slow, careful steps backward.

The Veilborne did not move.

Their eyes stayed locked on the creatures.

Not blinking. Not breathing too loud.

Then...they turned a corner.

And in that instant...

They just knew.

Like an unseen signal had been given, their instincts screamed one thing.

RUN.

Freya and the rogue launched forward, their bodies reacting before their minds could process it.

Their footsteps pounded against the maze floor as they moved in sync, both fast and agile—built for close combat.

But Ella wasn't as she was a druid.

She lagged behind.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she saw Freya and the rogue pulling ahead.

Panic clawed at her chest.

She risked a glance over her shoulder, and froze.

The Veilborne were following.

But there was no sound.

No footsteps. No rustling.

Just the silent, unnatural movement of their lanky, faceless forms.

Ella's breathing hitched.

Her legs trembled.

She tried to move faster, but panic made her clumsy.

Her foot caught on the uneven ground.

She tripped.

THUD!

Pain shot through her hands and knees as she hit the cold floor.

Up ahead, Freya heard it.

The sharp groan of pain.

She turned and her stomach dropped.

Ella was down, and the Veilborns were right behind her.

How were the Veilborne moving without a sound?

Not a single footstep.

Not even the faintest whisper of motion.

It was like they were gliding through the air—

Like ghosts.

Maybe they were ghosts.

They had no faces. No weight.

And worse—they couldn't be touched.

Freya's chest tightened.

Her instincts screamed at her to keep running, but another voice in her head stopped her.

Something felt off.

She spun around and yelled, "Wait!"

Her boots screeched against the stone as she came to a sudden stop.

Jeremy, ahead of her, skidded to a halt as well.

Both of them turned and saw it.

Ella was still on her knees, frozen in place.

And right behind her were the Veilborns.

Ella's breath came out in ragged gasps.

She barely managed to push herself up, legs trembling.

Then, as if something compelled her.

She turned her head.

And locked eyes with the faceless creature.

Her body locked up.

Her hands started to shake.

Her chest rose and fell in rapid, uneven breaths.

Like she couldn't get enough air.

Freya's stomach sank.

Ella was panicking.

Jeremy's eyes widened in panic.

"Ella! What are you doing?! Get up and move!"

His voice cut through the air like a whip, but Ella didn't respond.

She just knelt there, trembling.

Frozen.

Freya clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her sharp gaze locked onto the Veilborns.

Something was off.

Why weren't they attacking?

They had been fast enough to catch up, moving like silent wraiths through the maze.

So why were they just…standing there now?

It didn't make sense.

A dozen thoughts rushed through Freya's mind.

Was this an illusion? Were these creatures even real?

She didn't know.

And she didn't want to find out the hard way.

Then it hit her.

They weren't moving…because they were being watched.

Her breath hitched.

It made sense.

As long as someone had their eyes on them…they wouldn't move.

Freya took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking.

"I've figured it out."

Jeremy, still shouting at Ella, snapped his head toward her, his brow furrowing.

"Figured what out?"

Freya's eyes stayed locked on the Veilborne as she answered.

"If we keep our gazes on them… they won't move."

Jeremy's confusion deepened.

"What do you mean by that?"

Freya didn't look away from the creatures as she clarified, her voice firm.

"Exactly what I said. As long as we keep watching them, they can't move. That's why they were able to follow us before—no one was looking at them."

Jeremy's mind raced, quickly piecing it together.

"So one person has to watch them while the others move…"

Freya gave a slight nod, tension coiling in her chest.

This situation—this eerie, silent game—felt too familiar.

It was almost exactly like Baranga in the first trial.

Too similar.

A sacrificial pawn was needed—someone had to keep watching the monsters so the others could escape.

But unlike the first trial, fleeing wouldn't guarantee safety. More monsters lurked ahead, traps waited to be triggered, and the maze itself could easily lead them astray.

Freya's forehead dripped with sweat. She wiped it away instinctively—just for a second.

And in that split moment, she swore the Veilborne moved. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

An inch or two.

Her stomach twisted.

No way.

She muttered under her breath, heart pounding.

Did they have to keep their eyes on them without blinking?

If that was the case… then there was no way to do this for long.

Jeremy clicked his teeth in frustration. His fists clenched.

This was Ella's fault.

He regretted stopping for her.

The druid was too cowardly to even help herself. She was a burden.

And burdens needed to be discarded.

As long as they could get Ella to look at the Veilborne, they would stay frozen.

Jeremy exhaled sharply before speaking, his voice firm.

"No matter how I look at this… it won't work. Our best option is to outrun them."

Freya remained silent, her gaze fixed on the creatures.

Jeremy continued, his tone more insistent.

"If we can convince Ella to keep her eyes on them, our problem is solved."

Freya's frown deepened.

He was basically saying they should sacrifice Ella.

Leave her behind.

Let her stall the monsters while they ran.

Freya clenched her fists. Was that really the only choice?

She turned to Jeremy, her voice laced with disbelief.

"And if we reach a dead end?"

Jeremy's expression didn't waver.

"Then we fight."

Freya narrowed her eyes.

"Why not fight now? They aren't attacking at the moment."

Jeremy scowled, frustration clear on his face.

"You saw what happened earlier. My blade went straight through them."

His jaw tightened.

"We don't stand a chance."

Freya's voice was firm.

"I doubt we'd be able to outrun them. And if we do, we'll still have to fight them later. So why not deal with them now?"

Jeremy clenched his teeth, frustration boiling over.

"Don't ask dumb questions, Freya. I know you're not naive enough to misunderstand what I'm saying."

Freya's expression darkened.

"Oh, I understand just fine. And to be honest? I'm disgusted."

Jeremy blinked.

"What…?"

Her eyes burned with disappointment.

"If you want to leave, then go. But let's not run into each other again."

Jeremy frowned, hesitating for just a second.

His grip on his weapon tightened.

Then he scoffed, shaking his head.

"Fine. If you want to risk your life for that coward, be my guest. I'm leaving. Not that it matters but I doubt we'll ever meet again. You'll be dead before that happens."

Without another word, he spun on his heels and bolted into the darkness.

Freya exhaled heavily, her shoulders tense.

What did she expect?

Freya couldn't exactly blame him for his decision.

There was seemingly no way out.

This place was merciless and only the strong or the ruthless would make it out alive.

Up ahead, Ella slowly lifted her head. Her breathing had steadied, the trembling in her hands now gone. Her wide, terrified eyes locked onto the Veilborne, refusing to look away.

Then, in a shaky voice, she spoke.

"Is… is anyone there?"

She had heard the sound of footsteps fading, someone leaving.

She knew what that meant.

Freya had explained it, if no one kept their eyes on the Veilborne, they would move. They would get closer. They would attack.

But Ella couldn't bring herself to look back to see who had stayed.

If she was alone… if no one had remained… then she was already dead.

Freya stood frozen, watching Ella's small, trembling figure as she held her ground.

She was staring down death itself.

Freya clenched her fists.

Leaving her behind was the logical choice. The smart choice. The kind of decision that would keep her alive.

But she couldn't do it.

She just… couldn't.

Why?

Hadn't she already proven she could be ruthless?

Hadn't she killed Xeno for Nightmare Points without hesitation?

Wasn't she supposed to be a monster?

She could easily justify it—tell herself that she only killed because she had been attacked first.

But that didn't change the fact that she had taken a life.

A killer doesn't get to play the hero.

So why was she hesitating now?

Why should a monster like her act like some selfless fool just to save someone else?

Freya's gaze flicked to Ella.

She was small, fragile...helpless.

She sat on the cold ground, staring up at the towering Veilborne, her body trembling but her eyes locked onto them, frozen in fear.

Freya clenched her jaw.

She looked just like her.

Like Freya when she had been left alone with Baranga.

Maybe… that was the reason.

Maybe it was because she knew exactly how it felt.

To be abandoned.

To feel that soul-crushing despair as hope slipped away.

That pain had burned itself into her.

And now, she was watching someone else suffer the same thing.

Her fists tightened.

Then, without a word, she moved.

She stepped forward.

One step at a time.

Toward Ella.

Freya's breathing remained steady and controlled.

She didn't waver. Didn't flinch.

The towering Veilborne loomed over them, their featureless faces locked in an eerie stillness. But she refused to let fear take hold.

They won't move as long as we're watching.

Slowly, she lowered herself onto one knee in front of Ella, never breaking eye contact with the creatures.@@novelbin@@

Then, gently, she placed her hands on Ella's trembling shoulders.

Ella flinched at the touch.

Her body tensed as if expecting to be abandoned all over again.

But then, cautiously, she turned her head—just enough to see who it was.

Her wide, fearful eyes met Freya's calm ones.

"You… stayed."

Ella's voice was barely more than a whisper, filled with disbelief.

Freya didn't answer right away. Her focus stayed locked on the Veilborne.

Then, she finally spoke, her voice even and measured.

"One question, Ella."

Ella swallowed, still shaken.

"W-What?"

"Do you have any spell that can make light?"

Ella blinked in confusion, her mind sluggish from fear.

But after a moment, she stammered out a response.

"Y-Yeah… I do."

Freya's lips curled into a confident grin.

"Then… we'll be fine."