Excellent.Then you'll have **three full, very long sequel chapters**, each continuing a different path of Jacob's fate.Each one will be long, dark, full of horror, mystery, and action—like a separate timeline of the same story.--

# **CHAPTER 7A — "Traces of the Creature"**

*(Continued from the version where Jacob accepted the truth)*

Jacob walked through the misty forest with Argo at his side, his ally following a few steps behind. The light that had entered Jacob still pulsed within him. It wasn't painful. But it was **alien**.

Every time his heart beat, he saw brief glimpses of the past, the future, or something in between.

Echoes of things yet to come.

Argo glanced at him occasionally, uneasily.

As if he sensed that his master had become… someone else.

The ally asked:

"Is that still you?"

Jacob didn't answer immediately.

Because he didn't know.

He entered the clearing. He stopped.

And Argo hissed softly, standing closer.

In the center of the clearing, **remnants of light** floated—like dust glowing above the ground.

Jacob knew what they were.

"It's from her," he said. "From that creature."

As soon as he got closer, the light began to coalesce into shapes.

First, into outlines.

Then into figures.

Finally, into the entire scene.

It was a **vision** only he could see.

Argo stood nearby, but didn't react—as if he were staring into empty air.

The ally narrowed his eyes.

"What's happening?"

"That... is her trace," Jacob whispered. "The creature's memory."

### **Vision of a Glade**

The images showed him a young woman running through the forest. She was running.

She was stumbling.

She was screaming, but without a sound.

A shadow followed her—not the same creature, but something connected to her race.

The shadow touched her shoulder—and then her memories began to pour out of her like light.

Her laughter, her face, her name—everything was sucked into the shadow.

And then…

The woman went blank.

Jakub flinched.

The vision vanished.

“What was that?” the ally asked.

Jakub looked into his eyes.

“What the creature wanted to warn me about.”

“Meaning?”

“Its enemy.”

Argo growled deeply, as if agreeing with that conclusion.

### **The Change in Jacob**

When they returned to the path, the ally stopped him.

"Your eyes..."

Jacob looked into the stream—in the reflection, his irises now had a pale blue shimmer, as if they didn't belong to a human.

"It's starting to change you," the ally said.

"I know," Jacob replied calmly. "And I'll use it while I can."

Argo barked in agreement.

### **Attack in the Forest**

The branches shook above them.

Something jumped from the tree.

Something armored in dark dust, with empty eyes, with long arms that ended in shadowy fingers.

The shadow he'd seen earlier in the vision.

Jacob felt the light within him react with fear.

And the shadow hissed:

**“BEARER…”**

**“I FOUND YOU.”**

Argo was the first to pounce.

--

# **CHAPTER 7B — “The Wrath of the Cave”**

*(Continuation of the version in which Jacob refused)*

After escaping the Cave of Whispers, Jacob's hands trembled for a long time.

He wasn't afraid.

At least not for himself.

He was afraid of what the creature might unleash to punish him.

Argo walked nervously beside him, growling occasionally toward the cave, as if evil still glared at them from the darkness.

The ally took a deep breath.

“You refused her. That… isn't something these creatures accept.”

“I've seen it,” Jacob replied. “We have to go.”

### **Signs of Revenge**

They hadn't gone a kilometer when the road began to… change.

The trees bowed toward the path.

The earth was lighter, as if burned.

And the fog hung low, clinging to their boots.

Argo jumped occasionally, peering into the thicket.

"She's following you," the ally said.

"I know."

### **First Attack**

As they reached the intersection of forest paths, **it** appeared.

Something small.

Human, but not quite.

A child—or perhaps its remains—made of shadow and the memories of those the cave had devoured.

It tilted its head.

Its eyes glowed with a pale light.

"Come back," it said in a thin voice.

"No."

The child burst like a bubble, and shadows flew from every tree, as if the forest were vomiting the wrath of the cave.

Argo jumped in front of Jacob.

The ally drew his weapon.

"This is punishment," he whispered. "You were a warning. Now you are a target."

Jakob grabbed Argo by the mane.

"We will fight."

**The forest exploded with shadow.**

---

# **CHAPTER 7C - "The Other Jacob"**

*(Continuation of the version where Jacob has his dark double)*

They ran through the forest long after leaving the cave, their breath burning in their throats.

But the shadow followed them.

The Other Jacob.

The same height.

The same face.

The same movements.

Only the eyes were as black as a starless night.

Argo kept hugging himself, growling, ready to give chase.

The ally hung back, terrified by the mere sight of this living copy.

Jacob stopped only at the clearing.

"We must face this."

"He is you," the ally said. "But... he is not human."

**The other Jacob emerged from the c

darkness.**

His steps were identical to Jacob's.

Even the way he moved his arms—a mirror image.

But when he spoke, his voice was hollow:

**"YOU ARE NOT YOURSELF ANYMORE."**

**"I WILL BE BETTER."**

Argo roared so loudly that the echo bounced off the trees.

### **Doppelganger Attacks**

The other Jacob moved forward with a speed that was unnatural.

As if the shadow of the lance had the power of the cave's anger.

Jakob jumped to the side—and saw that his doppelganger could anticipate his movements.

Because he was him.

But a different version.

The ally shouted:

"He's learning your style! Every move!"

"I know!"

The other Jacob stopped.

He smiled wryly.

**"I ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING."**

And he plunged the clearing into shadow.

--

# **WHAT NEXT?**

I can now write:

### ✔ **CHAPTER 8A – "Fighting the Shadow of the Forest"** (continuation of 7A)

Jacob gains new powers, but struggles with the consequences of using them.

### ✔ **CHAPTER 8B – "Vengeance of the Cave"** (continuation of 7B)

The creature releases the real hunter—and the forest turns into a living nightmare.

### ✔ **CHAPTER 8C – "Duel with the Doppelganger"** (continuation of 7C)

The shadow-Jacob tries to take over the real Jacob's life, including Argo.

**Which storyline do we continue with now? A, B, or C?**

And I can also—as of now—write ALL THREE.