Nightmare Mythos

After a minute of recollecting themselves, the cohort forced themselves to run forward yet again.

This time, their pace was stable, unlike the period when they were on the marathon and were forcing themselves to sprint.

They do this so that they can replenish the strength they lose while being able to rest? It was Jeremiah's words once all of them were ready to go once again.

-I know it's a bit insane to tell you this but we're going to run. As we do, you used this time to rest as well. Insane? Yes, I know. But we move forward as we always did.

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Hence, they were in a situation where their breaks were literally a short stop for over a minute before running.

In this span of a few minutes, however, the cohort felt awkward to each other. It was because Jeremiah was still not talking while Cesar remained unresponsive to the gazes of the others who demanded an explanation for Erin's disappearance.

Finally, being able to close their distance towards the end of the table while being far enough to be near the candelabra, Jeremiah broke the silence.

"Erin has been corrupted,"

That phrase alone was enough to fill the gaps that confused the group but Jeremiah gave more explanation so that the blame for Erin's actions would not be directed to Cesar, who was innocent throughout the time.

"Actually, I've noticed it as well but I couldn't pinpoint the cause of his corruption… well, there's one thing he didn't tell us about, and his travel on the way up towards here. Also, when we talked about the Darkness that dwelled under this table, you noticed that he always reacted very subtly. He couldn't hide it from me, so you must've noticed it as well,"

Suddenly, Cesar remembered the time when the Dwellers in the Dark were mentioned from the mouths of the others, he also noticed Erin reacted differently from the rest.

As if a mere word coming from it left a distaste in his mouth… and it actually showed.

Now he was gone, consumed by the same corruption he hated.

Suddenly, Cesar felt a nudge from his side and couldn't help but look at the side where Jeremiah was signaling him to give even further explanation while repeatedly raising his brow up and down.

Cesar was reluctant at first since there was no need for any other additional words aside from Jeremiah but the way he was being pressured was too annoying. Hence for his trip toward the end of the table to be stable, he'll have to come clean.

With a cough, Cesar replied, "He told me while we're running that he's been corrupted by the Dwellers in the Dark. There was black smoke on his neck as he continued to exhaust his power just to buy us a couple of minutes to avoid being at the mercy of the Nightmare. W-when it was too much, he told me to let go and the corruption had already affected most of his face,"

He paused, "That's why I let him go,"

Cesar was ready to answer whatever question they threw at him. It's not like it matters anyway.

Erin wasn't going to be saved.

But the group didn't pry Cesar any longer. There was nothing to ask anyway when the only two people who knew mostly what happened told them that it was nobody's fault, in which, they were correct.

"Let's not just waste his sacrifice then…" Klaus reminded, his voice coming back to his usual soothing tone before glancing at Cesar, "It must be hard for you to do it. I'm sure you were hesitating,"

Cesar clenched his fist and didn't respond to Klaus, not even giving him a glance as they continued with their pace.

Afraid that they might wake up yet another hidden danger, they stopped conversing with each other and focused their attention ahead.

…

Their way ahead has been very eerily quiet and fortunately safe. By the looks of it, the gargantuan candelabra isn't the only monumental attraction that the table has.

Along their way, they encountered a collapsed spiraling lamp that must've fallen from the roof of the hallway they were in. They had to cross it very carefully since shards of glasses and stones are spread from the path they took.

Additionally, they came across with a very huge rectangular plate that acted as a wall for their size. Because of it, the group had to take another route by moving at the edge of the plate and used the very narrow path to move forward.

There were many more as well and all of it was crossed by the cohort.

So far, everything has been holding up.

Throughout their three days of venture, the group had finally reached the end of the table.

Just as they were expecting, they haven't seen a door protruding out from the cold surface of the table.

"It must be at the bottom. The opposite side where Cesar must've taken is probably the only way out to this particular hallway," Jeremiah raised this idea, something they had been thinking about before the start of the marathon.

But just to double-check, two groups with two people roamed around to see if they had neglected a door on their way. Jeremiah and Cesar were a team, while Klaus and Quentin were the other.

"Nothing on my side,"

"Same here,"

In a few minutes, they went back to where Amar is positioned and informed each other that the coast is clear and they were ready to venture down.

And they did.

After tiring hours of holding onto the segment of the table that assisted the entirety of its cold surface as they went down, they were finally on the ground floor.

"There…"

Just like the same Cesar had entered the hallway, it wasn't really tainted by the darkness like the areas under the table. And to this confirmation, It could be said the same for the opposite side.

Hence by squinting their eyes at the very far front, they could see an ancient wooden door… however, it was being protected by a dim, shadowy wall.

Their eyes wavered the moment when they saw something on its side.

There, waiting for them to come, was the Nightmare they thought they outchased days ago.