Chapter 184 - 183. Lutz’s Resolve
Lutz stood near the altar, his heart pounding as he took in the sight of the chamber. Every vine, every flicker of light seemed to mock his hesitation, daring him to take the plunge. Astrid’s life depended on him. Her golden hair gleamed even in the dim light, splayed out on the bed as though she’d been placed there by some cruel god. Her face, normally so calm, now twitched in pain, likely a reflection of the battle raging within her.
Lutz swallowed hard. "Astrid... I’m sorry." He wasn’t sure if the words were for her or for himself. A pit of guilt had opened inside him, widening with every step that led him toward his decision. His mother, Evergreen, had caused so much suffering, not just to Astrid but to so many others. And now, this was the only way he could atone.
"You can do this... We are all counting on you..." Lutz heard a faint voice.
"Are you guys watching?" Lutz muttered under his breath, slightly annoyed.
"Huh? No... No!" Little Mathilda’s voice stammered in a panic, like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
*Smack*
"Ouch!" Mathilda yelped as Tyler’s voice chimed in, stern and chastising. "I told you, no peeking."
Lutz let out a breath of relief, but his hands were trembling. He wasn’t going to touch Astrid, not like they’d all assumed. Instead, his eyes turned toward the second altar, one that had been dormant since they entered.
With deliberate movements, he began to remove his dress, piece by piece.
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Meanwhile, Mathilda rubbed the back of her head where Tyler had smacked her. Grumbling, she reactivated the observation array. She and Tyler both watched in fascination as a small cylindrical device, dark and glass-like, emerged from the floor near Astrid’s bed.