The moment Ava heard the voice calling her name, everything else faded away. The world around her, the dark forest, the looming shadow of Mordana—all of it disappeared into the background, swallowed by the deep, urgent call of her twin sister, Aurora.
"Ava…"
Her feet moved before her mind could even catch up, stepping over roots, through thick foliage, the forest almost whispering with her every movement. Each step felt like it was drawing her closer to something vital, something she couldn't explain but knew she had to reach. The trees seemed to lean toward her, as though the forest itself was guiding her, coaxing her further into its depths.
"Ava, please... Help me."
Her pulse quickened. It was Aurora's voice. She knew it in her bones. But there was something... off. The voice echoed strangely, as though it were coming from everywhere at once, yet nowhere at all. Ava's heart raced with a mix of fear and hope—her sister was out there, but the path was dark, and she wasn't sure if she could trust the way ahead.
"Don't listen to it, Ava!" Alexander shouted behind her, his voice tight with panic. He had followed her without hesitation, but his voice held a warning now. "It's a trap. You don't know what that is! It's a trick from the forest spirits—Mordana's doing."
Ava paused, but her feet didn't stop. She had to move forward. "But it's Aurora. I can feel her."
"Listen to me!" Alexander's voice was sharp, cutting through the pull of her instincts. "That voice—whatever it is—it's not your sister! It's an illusion, part of the dark magic that runs through these woods. You can't trust it!"
But Ava didn't stop. She couldn't. The connection she felt to Aurora was too strong. She had to keep going. She had to find her.
"Come on, Ava!" Alexander called, his footsteps growing louder as he caught up with her. "This path leads nowhere but danger. We need to get back to the temple. Now!"
Ava spun around, her eyes blazing with frustration and fear. "You don't understand! Aurora is calling to me. She needs me."
"I understand more than you think," Alexander said, his face dark with worry. "That's exactly what Mordana wants you to think. She's using the magic of the Forest of Echoes to manipulate you. If you fall for it, we'll lose our only chance to stop her."
For a long moment, Ava stared at him, the conflict tearing at her heart. She wanted to trust him—she had to trust him. But the pull of her sister's voice was unbearable, like a magnet dragging her forward.
In the distance, the voice grew louder again. "Ava… Come… Please…"
Ava's mind was spinning. Was Alexander right? Was she being led into a trap? Or was the forest itself trying to keep her from reaching Aurora?
The sound of the voice shifted. The way it resonated now felt... wrong. It wasn't just pleading anymore—it was almost mocking, like a twisted version of her sister, trying to lure her in with false promises. Ava's heart skipped a beat as a chill of realization swept through her. This wasn't Aurora at all. It was a trick.
"Ava!" Alexander's voice broke through her thoughts. "We have to go! Now!"
Ava's breath caught as she turned back to face him. Her chest tightened with frustration, her hands clenched at her sides. Her twin was still out there. Somewhere. But she couldn't follow that voice—it wasn't real. The forest was playing with her mind.
With a shaky breath, Ava nodded. "You're right." She turned toward the path they had been traveling. "We have to get to the temple. We'll find her there. We'll stop Mordana."
Alexander gave her a long, searching look, as if weighing her decision. His eyes softened slightly, but the tension was still thick between them. He had been right. She had to focus. Aurora was waiting, but she needed to be strong enough to reach her.
The forest around them seemed to breathe, the air growing heavier with every step they took. Ava's instincts screamed at her to turn back, to continue down the path that had beckoned her so strongly just moments ago, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet.
They moved in silence for a while, the atmosphere thick with the knowledge of the danger ahead. They had to reach the Heartstone before Mordana, before the darkness consumed everything they had worked for.
Hours passed as they walked deeper into the forest, the trees growing more twisted, the shadows more oppressive. Ava could feel the magic in the air, thick and palpable, pressing against her skin. The forest was old, older than any place she had ever known, and its power was undeniable.
Then, as if the forest itself had decided to reveal its secrets, they reached a clearing. The trees parted to reveal an ancient structure, half-hidden by vines and moss—an ancient temple, its stone walls weathered by time. The air around it hummed with magic, the kind of power Ava had only felt in her dreams.
"This is it," Alexander said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "The Old Temple. The Heartstone is inside."
Ava took a tentative step forward, her pulse racing. The temple loomed before them, ancient and mysterious. The stones were inscribed with symbols she couldn't understand, and the door was sealed with an intricate lock that glowed faintly in the dim light.
But before they could approach the entrance, a sudden rustle in the underbrush caught their attention. A shadow shifted in the distance, and Ava froze, her heart racing.
From the darkness emerged a figure—tall, cloaked in shadows, with eyes that gleamed like embers in the night.
Ava's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the figure.
"Mordana," she whispered.
The dark sorceress stepped forward, her smile twisted with amusement. "Ah, I see you've found your way to the temple. But you're too late."
Ava's heart sank. The sorceress was already here. She had been waiting for them.
"You think you can stop me?" Mordana purred, her voice dripping with malice. "You're nothing but pawns in a game you don't understand. The Heartstone will never be yours, Ava. Not while I'm here."
Ava's hands trembled at her sides, but she didn't back down. The power inside her was awakening, sparking to life like an inferno. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for. There was no turning back now.
"I'm not afraid of you, Mordana," Ava said, her voice steady. "And I won't let you win."
Mordana's smile widened. "We'll see about that."