THE LAST BELL

The Fallen Chamber

“Chloe!” Axel shouted as the ground shook beneath him.

Rocks fell from the ceiling, crashing between him and Chloe. Dust rose in thick clouds, burning his eyes and throat. He stretched out his hand, but the wall of rubble grew taller, separating them.

“Axel!” Chloe screamed back, her voice fading under the weight of the falling stones.

The air filled with the sound of people screaming, stone breaking, and the low growls of the infected.

Sophia pulled her creatures back into the shadows, her glowing eyes watching with hunger. Mason slipped into the smoke, his figure fading like a ghost.

Evelyn lay still under broken stones. Her hand was outstretched, a half-drawn symbol glowing faintly before dying away. Her last spell had failed.

Rowan crawled through the dirt, blood dripping from his head. His voice shook as he whispered again and again, “The prophecy is broken… the prophecy is broken…”

Axel’s eyes burned as shadows swirled angrily around his body. His strength shook the ground as he slammed his fists against the rubble.

“Move! Move!” he roared, pulling at the stones with bloody hands. “Chloe! Answer me!”

The Keeper’s calm but stern voice echoed in his head. “Do not waste your power, Axel. The wall is sealed. You will kill yourself before you reach her.”

“Shut up!” Axel yelled. “She needs me! I will not leave her!”

On the other side, Chloe slowly opened her eyes. Her body ached, and her breath came in shallow gasps. She pushed herself up, looking around.

Darkness surrounded her. The only light came from the weak flicker of her black fire in her hand. But it was unstable, barely holding shape.

“Axel…” she whispered, coughing. Her voice sounded small.

The tunnel felt alive. Strange whispers moved through the air, curling around her ears. They called her name, soft and tempting.

“Chloe… come deeper… come to us…”

Her head spun as she stumbled forward. Every step pulled her farther from Axel. The whispers grew louder, warmer, almost sweet.

Then she saw him.

Mason stood ahead, half-hidden in shadow. His eyes glowed faintly, and his hand was stretched out toward her.

“Chloe,” Mason said, his voice smooth and deep. “Come with me. Axel will only chain you. I can free you. I can help you control your curse. I can make you stronger.”

Chloe’s fire flared in her hand. It burned against her palm as if reacting to Mason. She clenched her fist.

“You’re lying,” she said weakly.

Mason stepped closer. “Do I lie, or does Axel keep secrets from you? Think of it. He fears your power. I do not. I can teach you what he never will.”

Chloe’s heart raced. For a moment, she wanted to turn and run back to Axel. But Axel was gone, sealed behind stone. Here, in the dark, only Mason remained.

Aboveground, the sword in Lena’s hand trembled violently. Its dark steel pulsed with light.

“It’s pulling,” Lena said. “It wants me to go. It wants me to find Chloe.”

Ethan grabbed her arm. “Wait. This is too dangerous. The sword could be leading you into a trap. Mason knows how to twist fate. You can’t trust this.”

Lena shook her head, her eyes hard. “I don’t care if it’s a trap. Chloe is down there, and she’s alone. She needs me. I won’t stand here and do nothing.”

“Lena!” Ethan called, but she was already moving, following the pull of the sword toward the underground ruins.

Underground, Axel pressed his face against the cracks between the stones. His hands bled, but he didn’t stop.

“Chloe!” he shouted, his voice breaking. “Please answer me!”

A faint voice came back, muffled through the rock.

“…Axel…”

His heart leapt. “Chloe! I hear you! I’m coming!”

But something felt wrong. Her voice was soft, almost cold.

“…Axel…” she whispered again.

It didn’t sound like the Chloe he knew. It carried a dark echo, something sharp and unfamiliar.

Axel froze. His chest tightened.

“Chloe… what’s happening to you?” he whispered.

On the other side, Chloe stood frozen between two choices. Mason’s hand stretched out, his smile calm, his voice filled with promise.

“Take my hand, Chloe,” Mason whispered. “With me, you will never fear your power again. You will not be weak. You will not need Axel.”

Chloe’s fire flickered again. Her body trembled as the whispers around her grew louder. She looked down at her hand, shaking, torn between Axel’s voice and Mason’s promise.

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Axel pressed harder against the wall, shadows breaking from his body in violent waves. His heart thundered in his chest as her cold voice echoed again through the cracks.

“…Axel…”

The Keeper’s voice rose again in his mind. “Do you not hear it? She is changing. She may not be yours anymore.”

Axel’s body shook. He slammed his fists against the stone until blood ran freely.

“No! She is mine! I will not lose her!”

But deep inside, he feared the Keeper was right.

Was Chloe already choosing Mason over him?

“Axel…” Chloe’s voice came again, softer this time, almost like a song.

Axel pressed his ear to the stone. His heart pounded so hard it hurt.

“Chloe, it’s me! Don’t listen to him! Please, wait for me!”

Mason’s hand stayed stretched out toward her. His smile was calm, but his eyes burned with hunger.

“Do you hear him? He begs you because he fears me. He fears what you could become with me. Why stay weak when you can be powerful?”

Chloe’s hand trembled. The black fire flickered brighter, licking at her fingers. She whispered, “Axel… why do I feel so cold?”

“Because you are breaking free,” Mason said. “Take my hand, and the cold will turn into strength.”

Aboveground, Lena rushed toward the ruins, the sword glowing stronger in her grip. Ethan followed close behind, his voice sharp with worry.

“Lena, stop! If Chloe turns to Mason, it won’t just be her life at risk—it could be all of ours.”

Underground, Axel roared as shadows burst from him, shaking the stones. “Chloe! Don’t leave me!”

Chloe’s eyes filled with tears as Mason’s hand came closer.

Would she choose Axel’s love—or Mason’s power?