Rising from the Ashes BY Only For You

The puppet's wooden mouth split even wider, cracking at the edges. Thick, black-red blood began to gush out

from the widening seam, and it poured in streams that made the sight almost unbearable.

Tiana and Chantelle instinctively drew closer to each other, a bone-deep chill gripping them. A shared,

unspoken fear filled the air-something terrible was about to descend.

The puppet chuckled. "Stanley, I've waited for you here... in this cursed Underworld Kingdom of the Dead...

for 100 years. From the moment they buried me, I knew you'd never let go. Even after all this time, I knew

you'd still crave the Elixir of Immortality."

Stanley shouted, his voice wild with denial. "No! No, you're not real! You can't be real! I saw you die-l

remember everything! I was there when the Demon Queen forced the arsenic poison down your throat!

"First, you vomited blood, even spitting up your internal organs! Then, you went into convulsions while the

light in your eyes gradually dimmed and was replaced by blood red..."

The puppet's entire body began shaking violently, letting out a malevolent roar that echoed through the

chamber.

"Why? I treated you as a brother among our people, as my own flesh and blood, only to have you betray me

in the end! Why did you hand me over to die?"

The fear drained from Stanley's face, replaced by a cold, snarling grin. "Why? Simple-because I wanted to

live forever. I wanted the Elixir of Immortality, Maximillian. You can't blame me for that.

even then what the Elixir meant.

mankind! To drink it was to defy death and become eternal!

that kind of temptation."

and added, "So, of course, you had to die in my place. If you want to hate someone, hate

Queen for being heartless and

heavy crack, the puppet collapsed onto the floor. Its voice screeched through the air, filled

and fury.

I want you to suffer and die in agony from poison just like I did!

me? You don't deserve eternity-you don't even deserve to

for 100 years!"

puppet let

more blood

its face, though no

understand where all

coming from. It

of thin air, the

viscous blood flowing endlessly

the puppet's

began seeping into the puppet's eyes, nose, and other

helpless person filled with hatred who wanted revenge

it.

kill you, Stanley. I must kill you and make you feel the same torment

voice grew weaker but more

laughter that echoed through the tomb like the sound of

victory.

if your vengeful spirit truly still lingers in this

was able to kill you

arrogance knew no bounds

gloated over his