“Olivia!” Roman’s voice broke through the haze, sharp and frantic. He was at my side instantly, his strong arms lifting me effortlessly. The warmth of his body enveloped me, a stark contrast to the cool cavern air and the chill of their disbelief. “Alina! Grab the torch Olivia dropped. We need light!”
His pace quickened, each step carrying us further from the cave and deeper into the safety of the sunlit expanse beyond, yet, as we crossed the threshold between shadow and light, an ethereal and intimate voice brushed against my ears, soft as a whisper and heavy with purpose.
“You need to return to the cave. You must return. I will be waiting for you.” The chamber’s familiarity tugged at the fringes of my memory, a haunting melody I couldn’t quite place.
“Who are you?” I murmured, my voice barely audible, more to myself than anyone else. My eyes remained shut as if shielding me from the confusion and pain swirling within. The question hung unanswered, lost in the stillness, as Roman pressed forward, his grip steady and unyielding, carrying me farther from the enigmatic depths.
“Roman!” I clutched at his sleeve, desperation sharpening my tone.
“The man! We must go back! He wants us to go back. I don’t know who he is, but he wants us to return.”
My heart thundered in my chest, each beat amplifying the urgency of the phantom’s plea.
Roman paused, the crease between his brows deepening. Concern flickered in his eyes. “Olivia, love, there was no one there.”
His words were gentle, yet they stung, laced with the undertone of disbelief.
My mother’s voice cut through from the periphery, sharp and clear. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
She eyed me with worry and skepticism, wringing the fabric of her skirt.
“Delirium,” Roman muttered.
“Stay with me, my love,” he said, tightening his hold on me. His embrace was warm and grounding, yet it couldn’t tether the certainty that swirled within me, a tide that refused to recede. “I will get you safely home.”
Home. The word lingered in the air like an unwelcome guest. It should have brought relief, a sanctuary from the chaos. But instead, it felt like a shroud, smothering the undeniable truth clawing at the edges of my consciousness. The man’s plea echoed in my mind, relentless and haunting, “You need to return to the cave. You must return. I will be waiting for you.”
The overwhelming weight of responsibility consumed my entire being as I desperately searched my mind for the cave’s location. The fate of humanity hung in the balance, and our survival depended on finding it. But what if my memory failed me? What if we were doomed to face extinction because of my shortcomings? Panic clawed at my insides, threatening to consume me whole. Failure was not an option, yet it loomed over us like a dark cloud waiting to unleash its fury. The pressure was suffocating, crushing my spirit with each passing moment. We had to find that cave, or all would be lost.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ROMAN
Cradling Olivia in my arms, I turned on Alina, fury burning in my eyes, the weight of my frustration as heavy as the limp body I carried.
“You should never have brought her here,” I growled, my voice a low, dangerous rumble that reverberated against the cold stone walls of the cave’s mouth. “What kind of mother endangers her child like this?”
Alina squared her shoulders. “Olivia insisted on going to the caves. You know she wouldn’t have stayed behind.”
“Damn it, Alina! This isn’t some game where?—”
“Enough, Roman!” she snapped, her voice slicing through my anger like a whip. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, trembling with restrained emotion. “Arguing now won’t change what’s happened.”
I knew she was right, but admitting it would have been like swallowing broken glass. Instead, I shifted Olivia in my arms, feeling her labored breaths against my chest, and sprinted toward the waiting carriage. She felt fragile in my arms, her body limp and unresponsive, as if the life had been drained from her. Every step I took was measured, driven by sheer willpower to keep her safe.
“Malik! Osman!” I bellowed, my voice carrying over clattering tools and murmured conversations among our hired hands. “Work’s done. We’re leaving now! Pack up immediately! Now is not the time for questions. Move!”
Their eyes darted back and forth; their hands shook as they fumbled to comply with my command. The air was thick with tension, and I could sense their fear mixing with mine. But there was no space for it, not when Olivia’s well-being hung precariously in the balance.
I didn’t wait for their responses or see if they followed. All that mattered was getting Olivia to safety. My boots pounded against the ground, kicking up dust clouds as I closed the distance to the carriage, each stride was steady, my grip unyielding despite the strain in my arms.
“Osman, help me with her,” I pleaded as I neared the carriage, my voice tight with urgency. Nothing could happen to her. I wouldn’t let it.
He rushed forward, his usually placid face creased with concern as he opened the carriage door and assisted me in laying Olivia down onto the cushioned bench inside.
“We’ll have you home soon,” I murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from Olivia’s fevered brow.
Osman’s gaze was fixed on the sky, his eyes narrowed in a mix of fascination and dread. I followed his line of sight, squinting against the sun’s glare, my mind still reeling from the urgency of Olivia’s condition.
