THE LAST BELL

The Crimson Queen.

“I told you this day would come,” Sophia said, her voice echoing through the dark tunnels.

She stood tall, her crown made of broken bones resting on her head. Around her, hundreds of infected soldiers shuffled, growling and snarling, their dead eyes fixed on her like she was their goddess.

Axel stood frozen, staring at her. His hands trembled, his heart racing. He could not believe what he was seeing.

“You,” Axel whispered. “You were cruel in school. You laughed at me when I had nothing. And now… now you call yourself queen?”

Sophia smirked. “Not just queen. The Crimson Queen of Ravenswood. And look at me, Axel. Look at them.” She spread her arms wide, and the infected roared louder. “They kneel to me.”

Mason, once Axel’s closest friend, fell to one knee in front of her. His voice was firm, his head bowed. “My queen. My loyalty is yours.”

“Mason?” Axel’s voice cracked. “You too?”

Mason did not raise his eyes. He stayed kneeling, his hands pressed to the dirty ground.

Chloe stepped forward slowly. Her eyes darted between Axel and Sophia. Her lips trembled.

“Chloe,” Axel whispered, his chest aching. “Don’t do this. Please.”

But Chloe hesitated. Her body leaned slightly toward Sophia, like the queen’s power was pulling her in.

“Come to me, Chloe,” Sophia said softly, her tone sweet like poison. “You belong with me now.”

Evelyn, standing behind Axel, lifted her hands. She spoke words of old magic, her voice sharp, her tone strong. A glowing circle formed around Sophia, ancient wards trying to seal her.

But the infected shrieked and charged. They ripped through Evelyn’s wards like they were paper, their claws tearing the glowing lines apart. Evelyn gasped and stumbled back.

“No…” she whispered. “It shouldn’t break so easily.”

Sophia laughed. “Your magic is old, Evelyn. My power is new. And nothing can stop it.”

Rowan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward. She bowed deeply before Sophia. “All my life I wanted a queen, not a king. Now I have one.”

Axel’s jaw tightened. His fists clenched. “Rowan… even you?”

Rowan did not look at him. She kept her eyes on Sophia, admiration glowing in them.

Everyone. Everyone was turning their back on him. Betrayal burned in Axel’s chest like fire.

And then the mark on his chest began to glow. It burned so hot he almost screamed. Shadows rose around him, swirling like black smoke.

For the first time, the shadows obeyed him without question. They wrapped around his arms, his legs, his chest, whispering like they were alive.

Axel raised his hand, and the shadows shot forward, slamming into the infected army.

The tunnels are filled with screams. The infected shrieked as the shadows tore into them, crushing bones, snapping jaws, and dragging bodies into darkness.

Sophia’s eyes widened, but only for a second. Then she smiled. “So, you finally found your power.”

“You think this is power?” Axel shouted, his voice shaking the walls. “This is fury. And it’s for you.”

The shadows surged again, meeting Sophia’s army head-on. The tunnels became a battlefield of screams, growls, and tearing flesh.

Evelyn fought beside Axel, her hands glowing with spells, blasting away groups of infected. Rowan and Mason fought against him now, their blades cutting through shadows, their eyes full of loyalty for their queen.

Axel’s heart broke as he fought them, but his rage pushed him forward.

Then Chloe stepped forward.

Her arm glowed. Strange curse marks spread across her skin, crawling up from her wrist to her shoulder. They burned bright, pulsing like fire.

“Chloe?” Axel shouted. “What’s happening to you?”

Chloe’s face was pale, her eyes full of pain. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she kept walking toward Sophia.

Sophia reached out her hand. “Yes, Chloe. Come to me. Show him where your loyalty lies.”

Chloe trembled. She looked at Axel. Their eyes locked. For a second, Axel saw the girl who once admired him, who once believed in him.

“Chloe, don’t,” Axel pleaded. His voice cracked. “Remember us. Remember the nights we sat under the stars. Remember when you told me you believed in me. Please… don’t leave me now.”

Chloe stopped. Her glowing arm shook. Her lips parted. “Axel… I—”

Sophia’s voice cut in like a knife. “Kneel, Chloe.”

And Chloe dropped to her knees in front of Sophia. She lowered her head, her glowing arm resting against the ground.

Axel’s heart shattered. He fell to his knees, his shadows flickering around him.

“No…” he whispered. “Not you. Not Chloe.”

Sophia laughed, her voice echoing like thunder. “Even she chooses me, Axel. You are alone.”

Axel felt the shadows scream around him, feeding on his heartbreak, his fury, his pain.

He wanted to run to Chloe, to pull her away, to beg her again. But her head stayed low before Sophia, her silence louder than any words.

Evelyn touched Axel’s arm. “We can still fight. Don’t give up now.”

But Axel’s eyes stayed on Chloe. His chest ached like it was being torn apart.

“Chloe…” Axel whispered.

She didn’t move. She didn’t look at him.

Sophia raised her arms. Her infected army cheered, their voices filling the tunnels. “The Crimson Queen has won,” she declared. “Ravenswood is mine!”

Axel’s shadows surged wildly, crashing against walls, crushing infected, but his eyes never left Chloe.

The girl who once stood beside him. The girl who believed in him. The girl he thought might love him.

Now she knelt to his enemy.

Axel’s hands shook. His heart burned. His shadows screamed.

And in that moment, he asked himself—

Had Chloe chosen Sophia over him forever?

Axel’s chest rose and fell with rage. The shadows around him hissed louder, feeding on his broken heart. Sophia smirked, her crown of bones gleaming in the dim light.

“You see, Axel,” she taunted, “love is weak. Power is eternal.”

Chloe trembled, her glowing arm pressed to the ground. For a moment, her fingers twitched as if she wanted to reach for him.

“Chloe!” Axel shouted, his voice raw. “Look at me! Tell me this isn’t forever!”

Her head lifted slightly, her eyes shining with tears.

“Axel… I…” she whispered, but her words died.

Was she still his?