Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition

The air was thick with steam, carrying the faint scent of lavender and moss. Shadows flickered along the damp stone walls, cast by the countless candles that lined the room. Rook stepped cautiously into the ancient bathhouse, his boots echoing against the wet tiles. The tension from their narrow escape was still heavy on his shoulders, but the serene beauty of the place was disarming.

"This doesn't look like a trap," Shadow muttered, trailing behind him. She knelt to inspect the marble floor, running her fingers along the faint carvings. "But looks can be deceiving."

Ghost leaned against the arched doorway, catching his breath. "If this is a trap, it's the fanciest one I've ever seen. Who lights candles for their enemies?"

Bulwark, ever pragmatic, slung his shotgun over his back and moved toward the stone pool at the center of the room. The water shimmered unnaturally, reflecting not just the flicker of the flames but something deeper, something alive. "This place… it feels old. Sacred."

"That's because it is," a voice echoed, soft but commanding. Everyone froze, weapons instinctively drawn. From the shadows of a side alcove, a figure emerged. She was draped in flowing robes of deep green, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes, sharp and knowing, were the color of the pool's mysterious glow.

"Who are you?" Rook demanded, his rifle trained on her.

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The woman raised a hand, unarmed but steady. "I am Elysia, keeper of the Sanctuary. You have stumbled into a place of healing, not harm."

"Healing?" Shadow scoffed, keeping her pistols at her side. "Forgive us if we're not convinced."

Elysia stepped closer, her movements graceful and deliberate. "The Crimson Path is relentless, but it cannot touch this place. The Sanctuary was built long before their corruption spread. Here, you are safe—for now."

Rook lowered his weapon slightly but remained guarded. "Why would you help us?"

Elysia's gaze swept over the group, lingering on the exhaustion etched into their faces. "Because the path you walk is one of suffering and sacrifice. This place was meant for those like you—those who fight against the darkness."

As if to prove her point, she knelt by the pool and dipped her hand into the water. The glow intensified, casting her face in an ethereal light. "This water can mend what is broken—both body and spirit."

Bulwark was the first to approach, his massive hand hovering over the surface. "It's… warm," he murmured, his voice filled with rare wonder.

Ghost, ever skeptical, shook his head. "We don't have time for spa day. The Crimson Path is still out there."

"They cannot reach you here," Elysia assured him. "But if you wish to leave, I won't stop you."

Rook exchanged a glance with Shadow, then back at Elysia. The team was battered, their resources depleted. For once, the decision was clear.

"Alright," Rook said, stepping toward the pool. "But if this is a trick, you won't live to regret it."