The darkness dissipated slowly, revealing Snow standing amidst the ruins of the cavern. Debris littered the ground, candles extinguished, and the air reeked of burned magic. Arachne was gone, Kyle nowhere in sight.
Snow's chest heaved, her mind racing. What happened? Where was Kyle?
A low, mocking laugh echoed through the cavern, Arachne's voice dripping with amusement. "Snow, so predictable."
Snow's sword was up, her eyes scanning the shadows. "Where's Kyle?"
Arachne stepped from the darkness, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "With the Shadow King, Snow. The game's begun."
Snow's grip on her sword tightened, anger and fear warring within her. "You'll pay for this, Arachne."
Arachne's smile was cold. "You'll need more than anger, Snow. The Shadow Realm's rules...are not yours."
Suddenly, the cavern dissolved, Snow plunging into a vortex of darkness. The last thing she heard was Arachne's whisper...
"Welcome to the game, Snow..."
Snow's world went black, her fate unknown.
