Matilda's heart raced as the figure stepped closer, their presence carrying an air of foreboding that sent a chill down her spine. Every muscle in her body screamed to run, but her feet remained rooted to the spot, unwilling to let fear control her.
"You shouldn't have come here," she said, her voice strained but unwavering. She had to remain strong. There was too much at stake.
The figure tilted their head, a slow, mocking smile spreading across their face. "Oh, but you see, Matilda, I never really left. I've just been... waiting. Waiting for the right moment to reveal myself."
The cloak fell back to reveal a face she had once trusted, a face she had thought was lost forever. The shock hit her like a physical blow.
"Riven," Matilda whispered, her voice barely audible.
The man standing before her was Riven—her former ally, her once-beloved confidant, the person she had thought dead all these years. But now, as his cold eyes locked onto hers, the love that had once existed between them seemed like a distant memory, buried beneath layers of betrayal.
"You... you're alive?" she stammered, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Riven nodded slowly, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Alive, yes. And you, my dear, have been terribly misled." His voice was low, thick with venom, a far cry from the man she had once known. "You thought you were the one in control, Matilda. But it was always me. And now... now I'm here to finish what we started."
Matilda took a step back, trying to process the gravity of his words. "What are you talking about? You left me to die—"
"And you did die," Riven interrupted, his voice cutting through her words like a knife. "Not physically, no. But emotionally? Mentally? Yes. You died the moment you decided to trust Jayden over me."
The accusation stung, but Matilda held her ground. She had no choice but to stand strong. "Jayden is not the enemy here, Riven. Whatever twisted path you've taken, it's not too late to stop."
He scoffed, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "Stop? You still don't get it, do you? You've been playing checkers while I've been playing chess, Matilda. Jayden is the key to everything—he always has been. He's the last piece of the puzzle, and once I control him, everything will fall into place. Your loyalty to him... it's your greatest mistake."
Matilda's mind raced, the weight of his words sinking in. If Riven had been manipulating everything from the shadows, then every move she had made, every choice she had taken, had been part of his plan. She felt the ground beneath her tremble as if the entire world was collapsing around her.
"You've been working with Seraph," she said, the realization dawning on her. "You're part of her plan, aren't you?"
Riven's smile widened. "Oh, Matilda. You have no idea how far back this goes. Seraph is just a tool. A means to an end. I'm the one who has been pulling the strings, who has been setting everything in motion." He stepped closer still, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "And now, I need you to make a choice."
A cold shiver ran through her as he continued, his words wrapped in darkness. "Help me bring Jayden to his knees, Matilda. Or watch as everything you've fought for crumbles. I will make sure of it."
Matilda's heart pounded in her chest as the weight of his words pressed down on her. She had once loved Riven, once trusted him more than anyone else. But now... now, he was something else entirely. A puppet master, pulling her strings, forcing her to choose between loyalty and survival.
"I won't help you," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "I'll stop you, Riven. Whatever you're planning, I will stop it."
Riven's expression darkened, and he took a step back, his fingers curling into fists. "You think you can stop me? You've already lost, Matilda. It's too late. There's no turning back now."
As he spoke, the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, drawing both of their attention. Matilda turned quickly, her pulse quickening. In the distance, she saw Jayden, his figure emerging from the shadows, his eyes locked on Riven with an intensity she had never seen before.
"Jayden!" Matilda called out, relief flooding her chest at the sight of him. But the moment he stepped into the light, her heart sank. The look in his eyes was not one of strength or determination, but of coldness—an emptiness that spoke volumes of the struggle within him.
"You've come to watch your little hero fall?" Riven taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "It's too late for him, Matilda. He's already gone."
Jayden stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Riven. But his voice, when he spoke, was hollow. "No. I'm not gone. Not yet."
But the doubt in his eyes lingered, and Matilda knew that he was teetering on the edge of something dangerous. Something that could destroy them all.
"You don't have to do this, Jayden," Matilda pleaded, stepping closer to him, reaching out. "We can fight this together. We've always been stronger together."
For a brief moment, it seemed like Jayden might believe her. His eyes softened, and his hand twitched as if to reach for hers. But then, something in his gaze hardened, and the moment was gone.
"I don't know who I am anymore, Matilda," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I don't know if I can trust myself. How can I trust anyone when I've been living a lie?"
Tears welled in Matilda's eyes as she stepped closer, desperate to break through the wall he had built around himself. "You're not alone, Jayden. I'm here. We can fix this. Please, don't let him win."
But before he could respond, Riven stepped forward, his voice cutting through the fragile moment. "It's already too late, Matilda. The abyss has claimed him. And soon, it will claim you too."
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