Revealing the truth

The cheerful call for breakfast rattled me to my core. Esther's voice, once a comforting sound, now echoed like a ghostly lament in my ears. I wearily unzipped my tent, the weight of the sleepless night bearing down on me. Emerging from her tent nearby, Nia stretched and yawned, her seemingly normal actions striking a jarring discord with the scenes etched in my mind.

I found myself instinctively studying her eyes, searching for a hint of that haunting, unnatural purple hue. They stared back at me in their normal, familiar shade of hazel, offering no answers to the storm of questions in my head.

“What're you gawking at, you absolute perv?" Nia's voice snapped me out of my reverie, her words doused in her typical bratty-nes. I stuttered an apology, diverting my gaze to the worn-out grass beneath my feet as I shuffled toward the campfire.

Esther was already there, stirring a pot over the fire. Her face was lit with a genuine smile as she announced she had made a bean stew for breakfast. As if adding a macabre punchline to a twisted joke, she playfully added she had put in an extra dose of her 'special ingredient' – love.

A chill ran down my spine. I couldn't help but envision Esther's 'love' taking a monstrous form, recalling the sight of that grotesque creature slithering from her pussy, crawling its way into Nia. My stomach churned, bile threatening to rise up my throat. What had she been feeding us?

The stew was served, the steam curling up from the bowl carrying an enticing aroma of herbs and spices. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a mouth-watering treat. Now, it was a grim reminder of the fear and uncertainty I harbored.

Each bean, each chunk of vegetables seemed to echo my dread. I was caught in a waking nightmare, the lines of reality, dreams, and horrors all blurred together.

Even as I tried to muster the courage to taste the stew, my body rebelled. The aroma, once enticing, now filled me with a sense of unease. The smell was a flashback to the previous night's horrors, the sight of that creature.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I pulled Nia aside, requesting a moment alone. The flash of a sinister smile that appeared on her face sent shivers down my spine, quickly replaced with an innocent grin. We walked away from the others until the murmur of their voices was nothing more than a faint hum in the background.

"Who are you, really?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes shimmered, the hazel color replaced by a deep shade of purple. The sight was jarring, the transformation terrifyingly fascinating. Her smile returned, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes.

The corners of her lips curled upward as she said, "Hmm... should I share my little secret?" She must have seen the revulsion written on my face, because she chuckled, the sound devoid of any warmth. "Don't look so scared," she said, a finger lifting my chin to meet her gaze, "I'm not here to hurt anyone. I just want to have some fun."

"How long... have you been inside Esther?" I stuttered out. It was a strange question, but one that needed asking. She paused for a moment before answering, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Since the day you invaded my home, my laboratory." Her response was cryptic, puzzling. “The main part of me is still in her, over there cooking up your grub”

"Your home... in the dungeon?" I asked, my brow furrowing in confusion.

She chuckled, nodding. "It wasn't a dungeon when I resided there. The high concentration of mana must have warped the place after I fell asleep. I think I've been cooped up too long," she continued, her tone casual. She leaned in, her lips brushing my cheek in a soft kiss that sent chills down my spine. "I'd like to spread my wings a bit. I think you owe me that much, considering how much of my property you took."

Realization hit me like a tidal wave. "You're... Cyrus," I said, recognition dawning on me. Her eyes flickered back to hazel, the playful smile never leaving her face.

Without another word, she turned on her heel, jogging back toward the others. I watched as she threw herself at Esther, hugging her from behind. I could see her whisper something into Esther's ear, and then, they both turned to look at me, a knowing smirk on their faces. I was left standing there, a cold dread settling in my stomach.