Chapter 39: The Final Confrontation

The wind howled, blowing the treetops while the atmosphere was so filled with an inflow of energy. Emma was paralyzed in place, her heart pounding inside her chest, as her soul was crushed by the weight of the decision. Still echoing in her mind were the words of the woman in shadow: *"A life for a life."* The light from Lily was fast fading, her small body shaking with her struggle to hold the power. Standing beside Emma, Nathaniel grasped his sword and shot his eyes back and forth between the ancient evil and this mysterious woman offering them aid. The very earth beneath their feet shook with the roar that came out of the ancient evil-weakened but not defeated. "Emma, we have no time!" Nathaniel yelled, scarcely heard above the din. "What are we to do?" Emma turned to him, her throat dry. She had not a single idea. This woman had promised them that she could save Lily, but at what cost? Yet, if she refused her help, they would surely lose this gallant girl who fought so valiantly to save them all. "We can't let her die," Emma whispered, and the prick of tears touched her eyes. The smile on the woman's face expanded; her eyes shone with satisfaction. "Your choice, Emma. But you must hurry. Your time is running out." Emma's fists clenched, her mind racing in circles. She could hear the soft whimper of Lily, clinging desperately to the light. The ancient evil faltered, its shadowy limbs jerking with squirms, threatening to rise once more. And with its strength regained, Eldridge Falls would be lost. "Emma." Nathaniel's voice was barely audible, desperation etched into every letter. "We have to move now. Emma's breath caught in her throat, and she turned to Lily-to the girl who had risked everything to protect them. Then she looked at the woman, her dark presence sending chills down her spine. She didn't trust her, but what choice did she have? "Do it," Emma said, the words shaking. "Save her." The woman's smile broadened, and she stepped forward, her hand outstretched toward Lily. "It will be done. In that instant, the wind died, and the earth held its breath. She laid her hand on Lily's forehead and for one second all was Stockstill. Then from beneath her hand, a blinding flash of brilliance burst from inside of Lily's body, and Emma threw an arm over her eyes in protection against the light. As the light dimmed, Emma blinked through her shock. Lily was lying in the dirt, her breathing shallow but normal. She was alive. But the woman… she had vanished. Emma was by her side in an instant, pulling Lily into her embrace. "Lily, are you okay?" she asked, trying to be so gentle, though with every heartbeat, this battle would rage higher against her better judgment. Lily's eyes flickered open-fragile but breathing. "Emma…," she whispered slowly, "I'm so sorry… couldn't stop it." Emma felt her stomach drop, turning towards the ancient evil; her heart sank. There it was, rising again, solidifying in its form, getting stronger. Whatever had been unleashed by Lily was not enough. The ancient evil was back. "We are not done yet," Nathaniel growled, straining, taking a step to where he stood right in front of the monster, his sword raised. Her heart was racing in her chest, and they would never be able to outrun it on their own. Then she remembered: the artifact-the one they had found just days ago, back in the history of the town. It was said to be imbued with the power to finally destroy the ancient evil. "We need the artefact!" Emma yelled at Nathaniel. "It's our only hope! Nathaniel nodded grimly. "I'll get it. Hold it off as long as you can!" Emma swallowed hard, her hands shaking, struggling up to her feet. She couldn't let this happen after everything they had been through. She turned toward the ancient evil, its monstrous form towering over her, its red eyes glowing with malice. We are not afraid of you, Emma said low, talking more to the creature than to herself. Yet with her words, the fear clutched at her guts. A deafening roar shook the ground as the ancient evil vented its wrath. Its shadowy limbs lashed out at her everywhere. Emma had barely time enough to throw herself onto the ground before one of the dark limbs crashed into the earth where she had been standing but a moment before. Emma!" Nathaniel yelled, dashing toward her with the artefact tightly clasped in his hands. He strode to her side and extended the glowing artefact. It was warm to her hand, humming with energy. "This is it," Nathaniel whispered with a mingled tone of eagerness, fear, and doubt, "this is our only shot. Emma starred in rapt amazement at the little, much smaller artefact that now lay in her hand, feeling the weight of its power. Yet how were they to use it? How could this little thing defeat such an enormous force of darkness? She had little more than time to ask when the ground shook violently, and another bone-rattling roar escaped the ancient evil. Its form was growing, expanding, as if feeding from the fear and chaos around it. "We have to stop it now!" Nathaniel yelled. Emma nodded, and her heart jumped into overdrive. She held the artefact up; its light pulsed much stronger, almost directly in time with the ancient evil approaching. But nothing happened. "I don't understand," Emma exclaimed, panic rising higher in her chest. "Why isn't it working?" Nathaniel looked at the artefact, confusion in his expression. "I don't know, maybe it needs more power?" Before they could work that one out, the evil of old struck again, its huge arm this time flailing in their direction. Emma and Nathaniel jumped in opposite directions, narrowly avoiding the creature's monstrous limb. "This isn't working!" Nathaniel yelled. "We need to figure this out now!" Emma was thinking frantically, and then she knew they were missing it, that one piece of the puzzle that was due to fall into place. She turned to Lily, who lay on the ground, half-closing her eyes. And then it clicked. "Lily!" Emma exclaimed, running to the girl. "You're a part of this, aren't you? The artefact. It wants your power. Lily's eyes fluttered open, and she peered up at Emma weakly. "I. I don't know if I can," she whispered. It was a stab in the gut-a gallant young girl, so fractured-and this being their only hope. "You can do this, Lily. I believe in you. After a moment of indecision, Lily nodded slowly. She reached a quivering hand out towards the artefact and made contact with it. That instant, the light emanating from the artefact burst brighter than it had been before, illuminating the entire clearing with brilliance. The ancient evil shrieked back so loudly it was deafening, recoiling back from the light. Its form began to flicker and fade, the darkness peeling away like smoke in the wind. "It's working!" Nathaniel shouted, hope in his voice. But to say that they were about to win this battle, the ground beneath them suddenly opened, great rumbles booming in the air. Something even darker was to rise from the bowels of Earth, a force far older, far stronger than anything they'd ever fought against. Emma's blood ran cold as she watched on in horror. It wasn't over. Not by a long shot.