Chapter 34: The Trials of the Lost
The air in the facility feels heavier than usual, oppressive with an unspoken tension that seems to press down on everyone. Whispers circulate among the prisoners about a place called Os Portões Perdidos, a chamber deep within the infernal complex where Lucian takes those he deems most deserving of his twisted attention. No one returns from there the same.
Caleb approaches me in the dimly lit common area, his expression grim.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “Lucian’s summoned you to the gates.”
My stomach tightens. The name alone is enough to send a chill through me, but the look in Caleb’s eyes confirms my worst fears. This isn’t just another of Lucian’s tests; it’s something far worse.
“What happens there?” I ask, my voice shaky despite my efforts to sound calm.
Caleb hesitates before answering. “It’s different for everyone. The gates show you things… memories, regrets, fears. Lucian uses it to break people, to strip them of whatever will they have left. No one comes out untouched.”
My heart pounds in my chest, but I nod. If this is part of Lucian’s game, then I have no choice but to play it—and survive.
The guards come for me later that day. They say nothing as they escort me through the labyrinthine halls of the facility, their footsteps echoing ominously in the silence. The route they take is unfamiliar, descending deeper than I’ve ever been allowed to go. The air grows colder, heavier, with each step.
When we reach the doors, I understand why they’re called Os Portões Perdidos. The massive iron gates loom before me, etched with symbols that seem to writhe and shift under the flickering torchlight. The air around them hums with a sinister energy, and the faint sound of whispers seeps through the cracks, as if the gates themselves are alive.
The guards step aside, and Lucian appears, his presence as suffocating as ever. He’s calm, almost casual, as he gestures to the gates.
“Welcome, Nerina,” he says, his tone laced with mockery. “You’re about to learn more about yourself than you ever wanted to know.”
I don’t respond, my throat too tight to speak. Lucian steps forward, his cold gaze locking onto mine.
“This isn’t just a test,” he continues. “It’s an opportunity. If you emerge from the gates intact, you’ll be stronger for it. But if you break…” His smile sharpens. “Well, let’s just say you won’t be much use to anyone.”
With a wave of his hand, the gates groan open, revealing a swirling vortex of darkness within. The whispers grow louder, filling my ears with a cacophony of voices that seem to come from every direction. My feet feel rooted to the spot, but the guards behind me nudge me forward.
Taking a deep breath, I step through the gates.
The darkness envelops me completely, disorienting and suffocating. For a moment, there’s nothing but the sound of my own breathing. Then the whispers return, clearer now, each voice distinct but overlapping. They speak my name, recounting fragments of memories I’d tried to bury.
Suddenly, the darkness shifts, and I’m no longer alone. I’m standing in a room I recognize instantly—my childhood bedroom. The sight is so vivid, so real, that for a moment, I forget where I am. The air smells of old wood and lavender, just as it did back then.
And then I see her. My sister, Elise. She’s sitting on the bed, her face turned away from me, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
“Elise?” I whisper, my voice trembling.
She turns slowly, and my breath catches in my throat. Her face is pale, her eyes hollow, and blood stains the front of her dress.
“You left me,” she says, her voice barely more than a whisper. “You promised you’d protect me, but you left.”
Tears blur my vision as I take a step toward her. “I didn’t mean to,” I say, my voice breaking. “I tried to come back, but…”
“But you didn’t,” she interrupts, her voice growing louder, harsher. “You abandoned me, Nerina. You let me die.”
The room begins to twist and distort, her words echoing around me. I fall to my knees, clutching my head as the voices grow louder, accusing me, condemning me.
When the scene shifts again, I’m standing in a barren wasteland. The air is thick with smoke, and the ground is littered with bodies. I recognize some of them—faces from my life, people I cared about, people I’d hurt. They stare up at me with lifeless eyes, their mouths twisted into silent accusations.
“This is your doing,” a voice says behind me. I turn to see Lucian, his expression unreadable. “Every choice you’ve made has led you here. Every failure, every betrayal. You think you can fight me, Nerina? You can’t even fight yourself.”
His words cut deep, but something within me stirs—a spark of defiance that refuses to be snuffed out. I take a step toward him, my fists clenched.
“You don’t control me,” I say, my voice shaking but resolute. “Not anymore.”
Lucian’s smile widens, and he steps aside, revealing another figure standing in the distance. It’s me—but not the me I know. This version of me is cold, her eyes void of emotion, a puppet with strings leading back to Lucian’s hands.
“This is who you’ll become,” Lucian says. “Unless you accept the truth: You belong to me.”
The whispers return, louder than ever, but this time, I fight back. I force myself to move, to confront the shadows and voices that have haunted me for so long. Each step feels like a battle, but with every step, the whispers grow fainter, the darkness less oppressive.
Finally, I emerge from the gates, gasping for air. My body feels heavy, my mind exhausted, but I’m still standing. Lucian is waiting for me, his expression unreadable.
“Impressive,” he says, his tone laced with something resembling genuine admiration. “Few make it out intact. But don’t mistake survival for victory, Nerina. Your trials are far from over.”
As the guards lead me away, I catch Caleb’s gaze from across the room. There’s relief in his eyes, but also something else: hope. I survived the gates, but I know this is only the beginning. Whatever lies ahead, I’ll face it—not just for me, but for the Threads and for everyone who’s suffered under Lucian’s rule.