The ground beneath Evelyn shook violently as the Heart's pulse exploded in speed—erratic, furious, terrified. Light from the fissures flickered wildly, painting the twisted walls in flashes of red and white.
Then the flood came.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of shapes began sliding out of the cracks. Some were the human wraiths she had fought before, all teeth and hollow eyes. Others were her own reflections, twisted copies of her face and movements. Some limped, others crawled, and some sprinted on hands and feet like feral creatures.
But most horrifying of all…They began merging.
Wraiths and reflections collided, melting into each other, bones stretching, limbs twisting, faces blending into one nightmare mass. A single creature might have Evelyn's eyes, Leo's jawline, Sophie's posture, and Alex's voice—all stitched together by the Heart's hatred.
The merged horrors surged toward her like a tidal wave.
Evelyn stumbled back, but she did not fall. She lifted her lantern high, its flame trembling but still white-hot. The creatures' shadowy hands reached for her throat, her arms, even the lantern itself—desperate to crush the last spark of defiance she held.
She swung.A roar of flame ripped forward, carving through the first wave. The horrid mass shrieked, limbs melting and reforming instantly.
Another wave hit—harder. Evelyn cried out as she was shoved to her knees. Claws scraped her skin, shadows wrapped around her ribs, squeezing tight. She almost dropped the lantern—almost.
"No—NO!" she screamed, forcing herself upright. "I won't let you take me!"
Her voice ignited something.The lantern exploded in brightness, light blasting out like a shockwave. Shadows evaporated. Wraiths screamed in agony. Reflections shattered like glass. The merged creatures convulsed before bursting into clouds of ash.
For a moment, Evelyn could breathe.But the Heart pulsed again—slower, trembling. Hurt… scared.
The entire carriage shuddered.Cracks spidered along the floor.Something deep inside the Heart groaned, a sound like bones breaking.
Evelyn tightened her grip on the lantern.The Heart was weakening.But it was about to unleash something worse than anything she had faced yet.
She braced herself for what came next.