Chapter 23

twenty-three

I gripped Grayson's hand tightly as we entered the abandoned industrial site. The air grew thick with the stench of rust and decay, mingling with an unmistakable coppery smell that made my stomach churn. Blood. Fresh blood.

"She's here," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the creaking of metal and distant drips of water. Grayson's masked face turned slowly as he scanned our surroundings.

We crept forward, our footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision, playing tricks on my mind. Every corner, every rusted machine, could be hiding Cain – or worse.

The waitress's muffled cries reached my ears, sending a chill down my spine. We were getting closer, but so was the danger. I knew this was a trap. The elders had made that abundantly clear. But I couldn't leave another innocent person to die because of me, and Grayson... well, he wouldn't let me face this alone.

As we ventured deeper into the maze of metal and darkness, something caught my eye. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. There, etched into the grimy wall, was a symbol – jagged and cruel. It was the same symbol I'd seen in the shack in the woods.

"Grayson," I hissed, pointing at the mark. His grip on my hand tightened. This place was connected to the dark legacy that created both him and Cain. The elders' warnings echoed in my mind, filling me with dread.

We pressed on, the air growing heavier with each step. The symbols appeared more frequently now, their presence a constant reminder of the evil that permeated this place. My heart raced, pounding so loudly I was sure Cain could hear it.

A scream pierced the air, closer than before. We broke into a run, caution forgotten in our desperation to reach the waitress. As we rounded a corner, I skidded to a halt, horror gripping me.

The waitress was there, bound to a chair in the center of a large room. But it was the walls that made my blood run cold. They were covered in hundreds of the symbols, forming intricate patterns that seemed to writhe and shift in the dim light.

Cain stepped into view, his mask a twisted mirror of Grayson's. In his hand, he held a blade that glinted wickedly in the low light. My body tensed, ready for a fight, but my mind raced with fear.

"Let her go," I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. "This is between us."

Cain laughed, a sound that sent shivers down my spine as he mocked me.

He took a step closer, and I could feel Grayson tensing beside me, ready to pounce. The air crackled with tension, the promise of violence hanging heavy between us.

My eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, a weapon, anything. But there was nothing but rust and shadows – and the growing certainty that we were trapped in a nightmare of our own making.

As Cain raised his blade, I knew that whatever happened next would change everything. The darkness inside me surged, begging to be released. I glanced at Grayson, saw the same wild energy in his stance, and made my choice.

We lunged forward together, towards Cain and the bound waitress, into the heart of the trap that had been set for us. The true horror of Red Hallow was about to be unleashed, and I wasn't sure any of us would survive it.

I stumbled as the floor beneath us shifted, my heart leaping into my throat. My hand reached out, desperately seeking Grayson's, but a harsh metallic clang filled the air. A metal grate slammed down between us, cutting me off from him.

"No!" I screamed, my fists pounding against the unyielding barrier. On the other side, Grayson's roar of fury echoed through the room as he slammed his body against the grate. Our eyes locked through the metal bars, his wild with rage and mine wide with terror.

Cain stood motionless, watching me with a predator's gaze. His mask, so similar to Grayson's yet infinitely more terrifying, tilted as he regarded me.

Without warning, he flicked a switch beside him. The walls around me groaned and shuddered. I whirled around, panic rising as I realized the corridors were shifting, closing in. The room was transforming into a labyrinth, and I was trapped inside.

"Run," Cain whispered.

I hesitated for a split second, torn between my fear of Cain and my desperate need to stay close to Grayson. But as the walls continued to move, cutting off escape routes, I knew I had no choice.

I bolted down the nearest corridor, my feet pounding against the metal floor. Behind me, I heard Grayson's muffled shouts and the sound of Cain's steady footsteps. He was in no hurry. He knew he had me cornered.

The passageways twisted and turned, a dizzying maze that seemed to change with every step. I ran blindly, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The stench of rust and blood filled my nostrils, making me gag.

I skidded around a corner, only to find myself face-to-face with a dead end. Panic clawed at my throat as I spun around, searching for another way out. The walls were still moving, grinding and groaning as they shifted position.

A shadow fell across the entrance to the corridor. Cain stood there, his mask gleaming in the dim light. I pressed myself against the wall, my heart thundering in my chest.

I had nowhere else to run to, and he knew that.

I glanced frantically around, looking for anything I could use as a weapon. My eyes landed on a piece of broken pipe lying on the ground. I snatched it up, holding it in front of me like a shield.

He took a step forward, and I swung the pipe wildly. It connected with his arm, but he barely flinched. Instead, he grabbed the pipe, wrenching it from my grasp with inhuman strength.

I ducked under his arm, desperation lending me speed. I sprinted back the way I'd come, praying I could find my way back to Grayson.

The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, each turn leading me deeper into the maze. I could hear Cain behind me, his footsteps steady and relentless. He wasn't running. He didn't need to.

My lungs burned as I pushed myself harder, faster. Sweat dripped into my eyes, blurring my vision. I blinked furiously, trying to clear my sight.

Suddenly, I heard Grayson's voice, distant but unmistakable. Hope surged through me, giving me a second wind. I changed direction, following the sound of his shouts.

But as I rounded another corner, I realized my mistake. Grayson's voice was coming from everywhere and nowhere, echoing off the metal walls. I'd fallen for Cain's trick.

I skidded to a halt, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The corridors around me were silent now, save for the grinding of moving walls. I strained my ears, trying to pinpoint Cain's location.

A whisper of movement behind me made me whirl around. Cain stood there, so close I could see the stitching on his mask. I stumbled backward, a scream rising in my throat.

"Run," he whispered again, his voice filled with dark glee.

I bolted down the corridor, my heart thundering in my chest as Cain's laughter echoed off the metal walls. The industrial site became a nightmarish labyrinth, its twisting passages seemingly shifting and changing with each step I took. Flickering lights cast eerie shadows, playing tricks on my eyes as I desperately sought an escape.

My lungs burned as I ran, the taste of fear bitter on my tongue. Every few seconds, I caught glimpses of Cain's shadow in my peripheral vision, always just out of reach but never far behind. The knowledge that he was toying with me, prolonging the hunt for his own twisted pleasure, sent chills down my spine.

As I rounded another corner, my blood ran cold. Smeared across the grimy wall in what looked horrifyingly like fresh blood were the words "Too slow." I choked back a sob and pushed myself harder, my legs screaming in protest.

The corridors seemed endless, each turn leading to another dead end or locked door. The maze was alive, shifting and changing to keep me trapped. I could feel the panic rising in my throat, threatening to overwhelm me.

Another message appeared: "Weak." The crimson letters dripped down the wall, a cruel taunt that made my stomach churn. I shook my head, trying to clear the doubts that crept into my mind. I couldn't let Cain's mind games break me.

The lights flickered more violently now, plunging me into darkness for heart-stopping seconds before illuminating my path once more. In those brief moments of blackness, I swore I could feel Cain's breath on the back of my neck, his presence an oppressive weight bearing down on me.

I stumbled around another corner, hope flaring in my chest as I saw a doorway ahead. Freedom, at last! But just as I reached out, a metal panel slammed down with a deafening clang, blocking my escape. The sound reverberated through my bones, leaving me trembling and disoriented.

Slowly, I turned around, dreading what I might see. There, at the far end of the corridor, stood Cain. His silhouette was unmistakable, the dim light glinting off the blade in his hand. My breath caught in my throat as panic clawed at my insides.

"No, no, no," I whispered, pressing my back against the cold metal panel. There was nowhere left to run, nowhere to hide. Cain took a step forward, his mask hiding any trace of emotion. Was he savoring this moment, drinking in my fear?

My eyes darted around frantically, searching for anything I could use as a weapon. The corridor was bare, offering no salvation. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. If this was how it ended, I wouldn't go down without a fight.

Cain took another step, then another. Each footfall echoed in the confined space, a countdown to my impending doom. I could feel my heart trying to burst from my chest, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

"Stay back!" I shouted, my voice cracking with fear. Cain paused, tilting his head as if considering my words. But I knew better. Then, without warning, he lunged forward.

I ducked instinctively, feeling the rush of air as his blade sliced through the space where my head had been. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another swipe of his knife.

The corridor suddenly felt impossibly small, leaving me no room to maneuver. I scrambled to my feet, my back pressed against the wall as Cain advanced. His mask, so similar to Grayson's yet infinitely more terrifying, seemed to leer at me in the flickering light.

"Why are you doing this?" I screamed, desperate for any distraction that might buy me time. Cain didn't respond, his silence more chilling than any words could have been.

As he closed in, I noticed a loose pipe hanging from the ceiling. In a burst of desperate strength, I leaped up and grabbed it, wrenching it free. The metal was cold and heavy in my hands, but it was better than nothing.

Cain paused, seemingly surprised by my sudden show of defiance. I took advantage of his hesitation, swinging the pipe with all my might. It connected with his shoulder, this time the impact sending shockwaves up my arms.

He staggered back a step, and for a brief moment, I dared to hope. But then he straightened, rolling his shoulder as if my attack had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. My heart sank as I realized just how outmatched I truly was.