Angeleva, Safari, Ian, and Olive sensed in relief, their hearts heavy but hopeful.
Tears welled in Ian's eyes as he squeezed Olive's hand. Safari exhaled, his massive shoulders lowering as he felt the weight finally lift.
Angeleva's voice, soft and serene, echoed one last time in Zack and Jen's minds.
"You are never alone. You never were."
Angeleva's wings shimmered softly as she kept her telepathic link steady. She spoke gently to Zack and Jen, her voice like a calming breeze amidst the storm.
"Stay strong, both of you. We're coming. Just hold on a little longer."
Zack and Jen, though blind to their surroundings, clung tightly to each other. The warmth of their touch brought a sense of security that no nightmare could pierce. Their trembling bodies remained locked together, unwilling to let go.
"We won't let go," Zack murmured, his voice weak but determined.
"We'll wait," Jen whispered, tears still streaking her face.
Angeleva's eyes opened, the glowing veins across her wings dimming slightly as she broke from the deep trance. She turned to the others, her expression resolute.
"They're directly beneath us, but the chambers have shifted. Their combined presence has formed a single location ahead — a sealed room. I can sense the distorted energy there."
Safari clenched his fists, his body tense with frustration. "If they're right below us, why can't we just break through? I'll smash my way down if I have to."
Angeleva shook her head. "It's not that simple. The barrier has weakened, but the remaining force has locked the chamber. That room isn't just physically sealed. It's protected by layered magic — dark, ancient magic."
Olive's eyes widened in concern. "So even if we break the walls or floors, we can't reach them that way?"
Angeleva nodded. "Exactly. The only way to free them is by reaching the origin of the lock. I can sense it. It's ahead, deep within the abyss."
Ian adjusted his camera, his face still pale from the recent horrors. "Well, great. Just what we needed — another dungeon crawl. And I'm guessing it's filled with every nightmare creature in existence."
Safari growled lowly, his resolve hardening. "Then we fight. Whatever's in our way, we tear it apart."
Angeleva smiled softly, though a hint of concern lingered in her gaze. "We must be careful. This abyss isn't just a battlefield. It's alive with darkness, feeding on fear and despair. But remember — Zack and Jen are waiting. And they're holding on because they believe in us."
Olive, still gripping Ian's arm, straightened herself. "Then we won't let them down."
Ian, despite his usual bravado, gave a firm nod. "Yeah. No more screw-ups. We're getting them back."
Safari stepped forward, his massive frame leading the way. "Stay close. Angeleva, keep tracking the room. Whatever's waiting for us, we'll face it together."
Angeleva spread her wings wide, her radiant glow illuminating the darkened abyss. With the family united, they pressed onward, the shadows twisting and writhing around them. But this time, the darkness would find no fear to feast upon.
As the family ventured forward, the air grew heavier. The darkness thickened, swirling like a living presence. Every step was met with an eerie echo, as if the abyss itself whispered in anticipation.
Angeleva led the way, her wings glowing faintly as she tracked the energy binding Zack and Jen's chambers. Safari stayed ahead, his eyes sharp, fists clenched, ready to crush any threat that dared approach. Ian and Olive remained close together, Olive still gripping Ian's arm tightly. Despite the fear, Ian tried to keep his composure, though the constant flashes of his camera to ward off lingering shadows betrayed his nerves.
"It's close," Angeleva said softly, her voice almost drowned by the distant wails echoing through the abyss. "The lock is just beyond this path."
Suddenly, they heard the faint cries of Zack and Jen once more — though distorted, like echoes from a distant realm. The voices came from below, trembling with both fear and hope.
"We're so close," Safari growled, determination burning in his gaze. "Hold on, you two. We're coming."
Meanwhile, inside the sealed chamber...
Zack and Jen were still tightly clinging to each other, their bodies trembling. Though their eyes remained shut, they could feel the blood that stained their skin — wounds inflicted by the tormenting visions. Each scratch and tear from the nightmare demons had become all too real.
Yet they held on.
The moment they had felt each other's touch, the fear had dulled — not disappeared, but weakened. Jen's slender arms wrapped protectively around Zack, and Zack clutched her with equal desperation.
"Jen," Zack whispered, his voice cracking. "You're really here."
"I am," she murmured. "And so are you. You're not alone."
The whispers of the nightmare demons grew louder, snarling in frustration. The darkness twisted and lashed around them, but the presence of one another acted like a fragile barrier, keeping the worst of it at bay.
Still, their wounds ached. The scratches burned. And the nightmares relentlessly tried to force their eyes open, to make them see the horrors once more.
"Angeleva big sis said to wait," Zack reminded himself, his hands trembling as he held onto Jen. "They're coming."
Jen nodded weakly. "They'll find us. I know it."
But in that endless dark, the whispers never ceased.
Back with the Family
Angeleva suddenly halted, her wings trembling as her eyes flashed with concern. Safari, noticing her distress, stepped closer.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice low but firm.
"Zack and Jen," Angeleva murmured. "Their wounds... The nightmares are hurting them in reality. If we don't reach them soon..."
She didn't finish. She didn't need to.
"Then we'll make it fast," Safari said, his eyes narrowing.
Ahead of them, a massive dark gate loomed. Ancient carvings and demonic symbols lined its edges. Pulsating red veins ran through the stone, glowing ominously. This was it — the lock that held Zack and Jen captive.
Ian adjusted his camera nervously. "So, uh, this thing looks like bad news. Got a plan, anyone?"
Angeleva stepped forward, her hands glowing with golden light. "This lock is empowered by their despair. It thrives on their suffering. But we've already weakened it by connecting with them."
Olive's grip on Ian's arm tightened. "Then how do we break it?"
Safari slammed his fist into his palm. "We don't let it win. Angeleva, tell us what to do."
Angeleva's gaze was fierce. "We channel our resolve. The same power that broke the psychic wall — our unity. We'll combine our strength to finish what we started."
Safari nodded. "Then let's end this."
The family gathered around the gate. Angeleva spread her wings, her glow intensifying as she placed her hands on the twisted stone. Safari placed a firm hand on her shoulder, offering his raw strength. Ian and Olive followed suit, placing their hands beside Angeleva's, their hearts pounding but unwavering.
Together, they focused.
Angeleva's voice rang out in the stillness. "Zack, Jen... We're here. Feel us. Our strength is your strength. You're not alone."
Safari's voice joined hers. "Stay strong. The family's never leaving you behind."
Ian gritted his teeth. "No more nightmares. No more fear. You're coming home."
Olive whispered softly. "We believe in you."
The gate trembled, the red veins beginning to crack as the force of their unity surged through it. The whispers of the abyss wailed in agony, recoiling as the radiant energy pulsed from the family's combined will.
"Hold on!" Angeleva shouted, the power surging one final time.
With a deafening crack, the gate shattered. The dark energy dissipated, and the path to Zack and Jen was revealed.
The family wasted no time. They rushed forward, the abyss quivering in defeat. Ahead, the sealed chamber awaited — and at its center, Zack and Jen remained in their desperate embrace.