The Edge of Oblivion

Elena’s Point of view:

"Orion!." As I tore across the darkness, the shadows tightened around me like a vice and my voice broke. My shard flicked weakly under my hold, the light diminishing every second. "Say something!" Kindly say something!"I'm here," his voice emerged from the choking emptiness, weak but consistent. Even as terror seized my chest, relief poured over me.

"I'm not going to leave Elena. I promise this.Tears fogged my eyes, but I continued forward, neglecting the frigid tendrils dragging at my legs. You better not, I murmured, my voice shaking and trembling.

"Because I don't know what I would do without you.”His laughter was tense and nearly sour. "You would survive. You have more strength than I do."Don't you dare say that?" I snapped, wrath bursting through my anxiety. "We live together, Orion.

That is always how it has been.The vacuum screamed, and the stranger materialized once more, their shape glistening with terrible purpose. Their hollow eyes gleamed as they approached, their smile harsh and contemptuous. Their voices a bitter whisper, they snarled, "How touching." But here love will not save you.

The vacuum absorbs all."Get away from him immediately!!" I snared and pushed my shard ahead. The light blazed, creating long, spooky shadows dancing across the twisted shape of the stranger. From us, you have taken enough.Hissed, stepping back but not quite withdrawing, you believe your terrible light can stop what's coming? "Elena, the void always comes first.

That cannot be changed by you."Elena, ignore these!," Orion's voice emerged, his words firm and un-faltering. You are stronger than they could ever know. We will oppose this. In unison.Together, I said, clutching my shard firmly. We do not stop. Whatever.

The ground underfoot trembled furiously, fissures like a web of devastation spreading out. I stammered; the shard slipped slightly from my hands. The shadows rose once more, their frozen tendrils curling around my limbs. As they hauled me back, the sound of the vacuum deafening. I yelled."Elena! Orion yelled, his body flickering far away.

He came forward, his light blazing more and stretched out for me. "Wait on!" I am arriving for you!"I'm not letting go!," I sobbed, using all I had to fight the darkness. My chest hurt, my legs burned, but I kept on. "Orion, don't you dare stop?!",""I won't!" he yelled, his voice shaky with both terror and will. His hand extended to mine, our fingertips brushing just long enough for the shadows to lash again. The power sent us both sprawled, his light dwindling dangerously.I yelled, flinging myself toward Orion. "Get going! Kindly, get up!"I'm fine," he said, though his voice suggested tiredness.

He forced himself to his knees, staring directly at me. " Elena, we are not giving up. Not now. Not seldom.The laughing of the stranger rang, harsh and piercing. "How lovely," they remarked, their body glistening as they approached. But your rebellion has no effect whatsoever. You shall travel both through the void.Orion cried, forcing me away as a tsunami of shadows slammed into us. "Elena, look out! The effect drove me tumbling, my shard sliding from my hands.

"No!!" Screaming, I reached for the shard as it slid over the collapsing earth. The roar of the vacuum got louder, shadows closing in from all directions." grab my hand!" Orion yelled, desperation in his voice. I grabbed for him, our hands gripping just as the ground underfoot collapsed.We fell.His words rang in my thoughts as we fell into the darkness: "Elena... no matter what happens, I'll find you." Though shaky but firm. His words were the sole thread of hope among the emptiness swallowing us whole.

The emptiness burst into anarchy, shadows coiling and slinking like living nightmares, dragging me more into their frigid hold. Though the sound of Orion's words sliced through the pandemonium, frantic and raw, the scream of the darkness was overwhelming."Elena!!" His yell shook with terror, and it set a flutter of hope in my chest. Don't let it control you! Still hold on!"I'm trying." Tears running down my face, I cried as the ground underneath me collapsed still more.

My legs hung over the chasm, my fingers gripped the edge of the sharp stone tightly. "Orion, I'm unable to..." I could not hang on much longer!"Yes, you can!" he yelled, his form straining across the stifling gloom toward me. Though his shard of light burned dimly, flickering with every step, his will never wavered.

"I almost reached there. Just keep with me, Elena. Stay with me!Between us the stranger materialized from the shadows like a spectre, twisted. Their sunken eyes fixed on me, their smile harsh and nasty. "You ought to pay her, Orion," they hissed. She is already starting to slide. You are clearly able to see it.

She almost vanished."Distance yourself from her now!" Orion shouted, pushing ahead pushed forward. The stranger withdrew quickly as its light blazed, but they laughed, a cold, terrible sound resonating in the emptiness.The stranger whispered, their voice full of poison, "You cannot save her." And you will follow after she is gone. The emptiness leaves no one empty I said."Shut up!" I cried, my hand slinking slightly as the edge under me cracked once more.

"Orion, quick!"His voice breaking, he yelled, "I'm coming he shouted!" He reached for me, his hand open, but the shadows sprang faster, coiling around him and dragging him back."No!!" I started to cry; my hold wavered.

"Orion!":

"Don't let go, Elena!" Now his voice became frenzied, his eyes fixed on me. "Just hold on!" Please, hold on!Under me the ledge yielded way. I yelled as I dropped, the nothingness engulfing me entirely. His agonizing scream tore over me as the light vanished from the mothering blackness."Elena...," his voice emerged weakly but deliberately across the chasm. I'm not stopping. I'll be found.

Before quietly engulfing me, his words were the last thing I heard. Elaine! My chest tightened with every second as my voice rang in the stifling blackness. The vacuum screamed louder, almost drowning her voice totally.