Stuck in an Island with Twelve Beautiful Women

Rose stood and walked toward the center of the altar again, eyes fixed on the stone’s surface. She placed both hands flat on it and whispered something no one else could hear. The stone responded - light flickered again - and something opened.

Not visibly. Not like a crack or a door. But the air changed. It felt deeper, heavier, like they were no longer standing in just a forest clearing - but at the edge of something vast and sacred.

And they all felt it.

Lucy gasped and stumbled, catching herself on Jude. "There’s something under us."

"Not underground," Emma said, her brow furrowed. " Beyond. "

Rose turned. "It’s time we go there."

Sophie crossed her arms. "Go where?"

Rose met her eyes. "Inside."

A silence fell again.

Jude finally spoke. "You mean descend into the altar?"

"No," Rose said. "The altar is a doorway. The path begins within us. It’s been guiding us to this point - not to find something, but to become something."