The fog began to descend over Hased Dungeon. But it was no ordinary fog. It wasn't just condensed water vapor it was thick and heavy, carrying whispers, as if sharing secrets long buried in the depths of the world.
Rain walked slowly, her body weary from the soul rescue mission she had just completed. Before she could sit down, another sound reached her ears footsteps.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Steady. Approaching.
Rain kept walking. Through the haze, a man emerged someone she didn't recognize, dressed entirely in black. His slightly disheveled mullet fluttered gently in the wind, and his face caught the light of Hased Dungeon's blood-red moon. For a moment, Rain stood frozen, captivated by the haunting beauty and mysterious aura of the stranger until he spoke, snapping her out of her trance.
"You're not from this place," the stranger said.
Rain: "You… Who are you? Are you also a lost soul trapped here?" she asked nervously.
"I'm Bentley… And what are you doing here, miss?" he replied.
Rain: "I… You can call me a savior," she blurted out, nervous and unsure of her own words. Embarrassed, she felt foolish.
Bentley chuckled softly at her answer.
Bentley : "That's quite an unexpected reply, miss, but I believe you're someone kind."
His words made Rain freeze again.
Bentley : "But… you're not a soul like the rest of us, are you?"
Rain: "No, I'm not one of the souls trapped in Hased Dungeon… I'm still alive. But…"
Bentley : "You were sent here to help free the souls, weren't you?"
Rain: "Yes. You're right."
Bentley: "At last, you've come. I've been waiting for you."
Rain: "You… were waiting for me? Do you know me? Have we met before?"
Bentley: "No, we've never met… But I knew someone would come one day. Someone destined to free the poor souls in this dungeon. And I've been searching, waiting for that person."
Rain: "How long have you been here… waiting?"
Bentley: "A thousand years."
Rain's breath caught in her throat.
Rain: "A thousand years…" she whispered. The words were heavy, weighing down her chest.
Rain: "How… how have you survived all this time?"
Bentley looked up toward the blood-red moon, his expression distant.
Bentley : "Time flows differently here. It slows, twists, lingers. Some souls forget who they once were. Others… become something else."
Rain felt a chill creep up her spine.
Rain: "And you? Have you forgotten?"
Bentley turned to her, his eyes sharp yet soft.
Bentley: "No. I remember everything. Because I have a purpose. To wait. To find you."
Rain: "What can I do for you, Bentley?" she asked softly.
Bentley stepped closer, yet something about him still felt distant, untouchable.
Bentley: "Not for me. For them," he said, pointing to the thick fog behind him.
Bentley: "There are souls trapped deeper within this dungeon. Souls who can't reach the surface. Bound by sorrow, lost in memories. Only you can break their chains."
Rain clenched her fists.
Rain: "Then take me to them. But what about you, Ben?"
Bentley gave a faint smile somewhere between relief and sadness.
Bentley: "You're brave, miss. But remember Hased Dungeon isn't just filled with the dead. There are things… that even death has forgotten. Shadows that remember life too well. And me… You can help me later."
Rain met his gaze with quiet determination.
Rain: "I've come this far. I won't turn back."
Then she added: "And you… Are you sure you don't want me to help you first? You've been here for a thousand years."
Bentley: "Yes. Help me after them," he said with a gentle smile.
Though Bentley's answer left Rain with a sense of unease, she chose not to press. Time would reveal what needed to be known.
Rain: "Alright then… Before we go, do you know the paths through Hased Dungeon?"
Bentley: "Of course. I've roamed every inch of this place over the centuries."
Rain: "Good. You'll be useful. Let's find the souls who need my help. Where do we start?"
Bentley: "North," he pointed. "Many spirits there are succumbing to the darkness."
Rain: "Let's go!" she said with resolve.
Bentley: "By the way, you haven't answered my question, miss."
Rain: "What question?"
Bentley: "Your name."
Rain: "Oh… I'm Rain."
Bentley: "A beautiful name," he murmured.
**********
Their footsteps echoed through the thickening silence.
Bentley walked ahead, his eyes sharp, piercing the gloom. Rain followed, sensing the air grow heavier with every step, as if they were descending deeper into a forgotten world.
Rain: "Bentley… What happens to the souls consumed by darkness?"
Bentley didn't answer immediately. He glanced at her, then forward again.
Bentley: "They're no longer what they once were. Their souls slowly shatter, twisted by pain, regret, and anger. Some… become creatures. They forget they were ever human. The longer their forms stay distorted, the harder it becomes to save them. In the end, they fall into a hell of ice when their time comes."
Rain held her breath. Mr. Andrew had mentioned the "distorted ones" before but she had never encountered one.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept the fog away, revealing a crumbled building marked with faintly glowing blue runes.
Bentley: "We're close," Bentley said. "This is the Ruins of Regret where many spirits linger in their final memories before death."
Rain stepped forward and then heard it.
A cry..
A child's cry sharp and hollow, echoing like a ghost of time itself.
Rain: "Someone's crying…" she whispered.
Bentley nodded.
Bentley: "That's her. The first soul we'll save."
They followed the sound, and behind the rubble, they saw a small figure a little girl with long tangled hair, wearing a tattered white dress. She sat curled up, hugging her knees, trembling.
Rain approached slowly and... (for more https://www.patreon.com/posts/128231606?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share )