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Evelyn's lantern flared bright, cutting through the writhing tunnels of flesh.The Heart pulsed violently, but she could feel it faltering slightly, responding to her will.
The shadow-Evelyn lunged from above, limbs snapping in impossible angles, jaw cracking wide.Evelyn ducked and swung the lantern forward—not to burn, but to illuminate.The creature hissed, frozen, every twitch of its limbs mirrored by a quiver in the tunnel walls.
The mirror-Evelyn floated ahead, fog swirling, eyes blazing white.But Evelyn no longer feared her. She focused her thoughts, centering herself.
If the Heart can create illusions, it can be fooled.If it can manipulate flesh, it can be bent.
She stretched out her hand toward the tunnel walls.The pulsating muscle rippled beneath her fingers.The whispers of the consumed wailed in her mind—then faltered as she willed them to stop.
The walls obeyed, shifting slightly—enough to open a path ahead.Tendrils lunged toward her, but she shifted her focus.They recoiled, quivering, as if afraid of her determination.
The Heart throbbed furiously, sending waves of pain and fear into her mind.But Evelyn forced her heartbeat steady.She projected calm into the darkness.Her pulse slowed.Her fear became control.
The mirror-Evelyn drifted closer, fog swirling, silent—but Evelyn projected a reflection of will, and the fog distorted, twisting away from her light.
The shadow-Evelyn hissed in frustration, lunging again—but Evelyn's lantern flared violently.The tunnels themselves bent beneath her will, forcing the creature back.
She realized then:The Heart, for all its power, was reactive.It could consume fear.It could devour memory.But it could not create will.
She could bend the flesh, manipulate the illusions, and carve a path through the living nightmare.
The cavern shuddered, but Evelyn pressed forward.Each step pushed back the Heart, each pulse of light carved a narrow corridor through its body, each calm breath dulled its influence.
For the first time since entering, she felt power.Not physical. Not magical.But mental.Dominance over fear.
The Heart recoiled.The mirror-Evelyn's eyes flared.The shadow-Evelyn hissed, twisting into grotesque angles.
Evelyn's lantern cut a path through the darkness.Her pulse was steady.Her will was sharp.
And the Heart… began to falter.