"Run."
The queen's voice was the last thing I expected to hear.
For the first time, there was no anger in her voice.
No arrogance.
No threat.
Only fear.
I looked behind Malachai.
Something was moving in the darkness.
Something far larger than him.
The water around the ancient gate began turning black.
"Bjei," Shawshank whispered.
I couldn't move.
Malachai slowly turned his head.
"What have you done?"
The queen answered.
"I didn't do anything."
A deep growl came from behind the gate.
The sound travelled through my bones.
Malachai pulled his hand back.
Azrael stared at him.
"Father?"
Malachai didn't answer.
He was looking into the darkness.
Then another pair of eyes opened.
I stepped backward.
There were two creatures behind the gate.
One was Malachai.
The other was something else.
Something older.
Something that made even Malachai look small.
Grandmother grabbed my arm.
"Bjei, we have to leave."
"Who is that?"
She shook her head.
"Don't ask."
"I need to know!"
"No!"
Her voice cracked.
"That thing has no name."
The creature moved forward.
The gate trembled.
Malachai suddenly turned toward me.
"Open the gate."
I stared at him.
"You just told me to stay away."
"That was before I understood what was behind me."
The queen laughed bitterly.
"You still don't understand, Malachai."
He looked at her.
"What did you do?"
"I imprisoned it."
"For how long?"
"Long enough to forget what it was."
Another roar shook the kingdom.
The queen looked at me.
"And now your daughter has awakened it."
I felt my heart sink.
"I didn't do anything."
"You opened the gate."
"I didn't open it completely."
"But you opened it enough."
The creature slammed against the gate.
BOOM!
Cracks spread across the ancient walls.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"Bjei, we need to go."
"But my mother—"
Marina stepped toward me.
"Go."
"What?"
"I'll stay."
"No!"
She smiled through her tears.
"I've spent eighteen years trying to protect you."
She touched my face.
"Now let me do it one more time."
I shook my head.
"I'm not leaving you."
"You have to."
The creature slammed the gate again.
BOOM!
Marina pushed me away.
"Go!"
A wave separated us.
"Mom!"
I reached for her.
Shawshank pulled me back.
"Bjei!"
"No!"
I tried to swim toward Marina, but the current became too strong.
Azrael grabbed Marina's arm.
"Come with us."
She shook her head.
"If I leave, the gate will break."
Azrael looked at the creature.
Then at Marina.
"You'll die."
She smiled sadly.
"Maybe."
He stared at her.
"I can't lose you again."
Marina looked surprised.
Then she whispered,
"You already lost me eighteen years ago."
The words silenced him.
I looked at them.
There was history between them.
A painful one.
But there was no time to ask.
Grandmother pulled me away.
"We have to go!"
We swam through the ruins.
Shawshank stayed beside me.
Behind us, the gate cracked again.
Then—
CRACK!
A huge piece broke away.
I turned.
"Mom!"
Marina was still standing there.
The queen stood opposite her.
Azrael was between them.
Malachai was facing the darkness.
Then the creature spoke.
Not loudly.
But somehow, everyone heard it.
"Bjei."
I stopped.
Shawshank grabbed my hand.
"Don't listen."
The creature continued.
"You are the door."
The golden crown on my wrist burned.
"And I am what waits beyond it."
I gasped.
Suddenly, I understood.
It wasn't trying to enter the world.
It was trying to make me open the way.
I looked at my wrist.
The golden crown was glowing brighter than ever.
Then the black mark beneath it began spreading.
"Shawshank…"
He looked at my arm.
His face changed.
"No."
"What?"
"The mark."
I looked down.
The black circle had reached the crown.
The queen's voice echoed from far behind us.
"Bjei, don't let it reach the crown."
I turned.
"Why?"
She shouted,
"Because if the darkness touches the crown, you won't be the keeper anymore."
My heart raced.
"What will I become?"
The queen stared directly at me.
Her answer chilled me.
"The gate."
The darkness on my wrist moved faster.
I grabbed my arm.
"No!"
Shawshank held my shoulders.
"Look at me."
I looked at him.
"Don't listen to them."
"But what if she's right?"
"Then we'll find another way."
"What if there isn't one?"
He smiled sadly.
"Then I'll make one."
I almost cried.
"You can't keep saving me."
"I don't want to save you."
He touched my forehead.
"I want to stand beside you."
The golden light around us grew stronger.
For a moment, the darkness stopped.
Then I heard Marina scream.
We turned.
The ancient gate had completely shattered.
The queen was gone.
Malachai was on his knees.
Azrael was nowhere to be seen.
And Marina—
She was standing alone before the darkness.
She looked at me.
"Bjei!"
"Mom!"
She raised her hand.
"Whatever happens next…"
Her voice trembled.
"Remember that I loved you."
The creature emerged.
I couldn't see its entire body.
Only darkness.
Only those enormous eyes.
And then it reached toward Marina.
"No!"
I broke free from Shawshank and rushed forward.
My golden crown exploded with light.
The entire sea went silent.
The creature stopped.
Marina looked at me.
And suddenly, a voice came from the creature.
A voice that sounded exactly like mine.
"Come home, daughter."
I froze.
Because I realized something terrifying.
The creature wasn't calling Marina.
It was calling me.