The Crown Prince's Love
Chapter 52

~Desmond~

As Randy and I cautiously entered the cave, drawn by the mysterious voice, an unsettling feeling crept over me.

The air felt charged with an unseen energy, and my instincts told me that something was amiss. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped us, as if we were being consumed by its brilliance. The world spun around us, and before I knew it, I was on the ground.

Regaining consciousness, a low groan escaped my lips, and I felt the throbbing pain pulsing through my body.

Opening my eyes slowly, I found myself in a place far removed from the forest or the cave. The surreal landscape featured a sky adorned with thousands of stars, seemingly closer than the usual sky. Randy was already on his feet, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

I struggled to sit up, my head aching. "Where are we?" I asked, my voice strained.

Randy turned towards me, his face etched with concern. "I have no idea. I'm still trying to figure out why we entered that cave and how we ended up in this peculiar place." He said, gesturing toward a vast blue sea where two children were visible on a boat.

Upon closer inspection, I realized they were our younger selves.

"This is when we were nine years old, right?" Randy questioned.

I nodded, rubbing my eyes. "Why are we on that boat, and what are we doing here? This doesn't feel like the real world." I said, scanning for any signs of life. Then, a short man with long white hair caught my attention, waving at us. I nudged Randy and pointed at the man.

"Who do you think he is?"

Randy looked at the man and shrugged. "I have no idea. But I believe we're stuck here, and we need to leave," he declared, standing up. "No one leaves until they finish what they came for," the man's voice echoed, suddenly appearing in front of us.

Startled, Randy and I clung to each other, fear evident in our eyes.

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded as the short man headed towards us, simultaneously being on the boat with our younger selves. "How... how are you here and there?" I pointed at him and the boat.

"The same way you are also there. My name is Phantom, and I am the transporter across the great sea of the dark hole," he introduced himself, laughing. "Who would have thought that your older selves would visit the dark hole?" I frowned, unsure whether to believe him.

The different sky filled with stars hinted at being in a different place, yet skepticism lingered. "What are we doing here exactly?" Randy asked. "I believe there must be a reason for our sudden appearance."

Phantom cleared his throat, preparing to explain. "You were summoned here to witness your past selves and understand your connection to the dark hole."

"I still don't understand. Are we here to relive our past?" I questioned.

Phantom nodded, silencing my attempts to speak. "Don't say anything else, listen to me," he instructed, motioning for us to follow him. "Follow me as I take you across the blue sea, but first..." He paused, stretching out his hands toward us. Randy and I exchanged puzzled glances, uncertain of Phantom's intentions. Tentatively, we extended our hands toward him.

Phantom's eyes widened, and he burst into laughter.

"Foolish boys!" he muttered, snapping his fingers. In an instant, we found ourselves on the boat. "I have no time to waste, but since you've offered me your hands, it seems you both came without anything," he laughed. Confused, Randy and I shared a questioning look.

Phantom spoke cryptically, leaving us baffled. "What are you trying to say?" I asked.

Phantom laughed again. "You will find out once you reach the real world. I don't give rides unless I get something in return."

"And what do you plan on getting in return?" Randy inquired.

Phantom smiled mysteriously. "You will find out once you have returned to the real world."

I rubbed my hands together and observed our younger selves ahead of us. "What led us to enter the dark hole if we're not dead in the first place?"

Phantom began rowing the boat, humming a slow and somber tune.

Taking advantage of the moment, I surveyed our surroundings.

The dark hole surpassed my expectations in its beauty.

The sea, serene and blue, and the unchanging sky created a picturesque scene.

In this realm, there was no distinction between day and night, just a sky adorned with enchanting stars. However, the allure of the dark hole hid the truth, it was a realm bridging the living and the dead, or a space nearing the brink of death. "You both crossed paths because the Queen tampered with the dark hole, opening the gates. You.." he pointed at me, "found yourself here due to the opened gate and saved Randy from crossing over."

"I died?" Randy questioned.

Phantom nodded solemnly. "You died, and he saved you from..." He paused, his gaze searching the surroundings as if seeking something.

"You mean to say Heca-"

"Silence!" he yelled at me abruptly. "Her name is not to be uttered in the middle of the sea."

"Why?" I inquired.

"Because she escaped from her hell, and the vengeful souls she destroyed are after her. Mentioning her name in the middle of the sea might drag you down, and you may never return to your world!" I visibly gulped, my hand on my chest at the grave implication.

I refrained from continuing my sentence, not wanting Randy to dwell on the fact that the person responsible for our entry into the dark hole, and proximity to death, was the Queen.

I knew he would unfairly blame himself, so I kept silent.

"Brace yourself!" Phantom shouted as we reached the center of the sea.

"What are we bracing ourselves for!" I screamed in agony as the boat plunged suddenly.

"What the hell is happening?" My voice echoed as we descended deeper into the ocean floor.