The tunnel shook.Lena barely managed to keep her footing as she sprinted after Cassian, the book clutched to her chest. The air was thick with dust, the scent of ancient stone splitting apart filling her lungs.Behind them, something rumbled. Moving.Not just the collapse of the chamber—something else. Something alive.Dorian cursed as a chunk of the ceiling cracked and fell, missing him by inches. “This is exactly why we don’t touch cursed books in haunted tombs!”“No one forced you to come!” Idris shot back, his fingers glowing as he traced a rune in the air. A shield of shimmering light spread above them, catching falling debris before it could crush them.But it wouldn’t last.Lena felt it now. The pull of something vast, like the Rift had stretched its fingers into this place and refused to let go.Cassian grabbed her arm, his voice sharp. “Move!”She forced her legs to keep going, even as a whisper curled through the tunnel behind them."You cannot run."Lena’s breath hitched.
The cavern air was cold—too cold. Lena’s breath came in short, uneven gasps as she staggered forward, her boots skidding over loose gravel. The weight of the book in her arms felt unbearable now, pressing against her ribs like something alive.Cassian was at her side, his grip firm on her wrist as he guided her through the dimly lit tunnel beyond the collapsed chamber. Idris and Dorian were close behind, their footfalls hurried, tense.No one spoke.Not until they reached the next clearing—a vast, open space carved from ancient stone, where flickering torches lined the walls, casting strange, elongated shadows.Lena exhaled, bending slightly, her hands on her knees. The sensation from before—the pull of the Rift—hadn’t faded. If anything, it had deepened, thrumming in her chest like a second heartbeat.Dorian was the first to break the silence. “Okay, can we just—pause for a second? Because I’d really like to discuss how we just barely survived being crushed to death and that thing in
The weight of Idris’s words settled over the group like a storm cloud.Lena’s pulse thrummed beneath the glowing mark, the energy curling up her arm like tendrils of ice. She clenched her fist, trying to will the sensation away. It didn’t work.Cassian still held onto her, his grip firm but steady. “There has to be a way to stop this.”Idris exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. “There might be, but we don’t know what this mark means yet. If the Rift put it there, it’s not just a simple curse—it’s a tether.”Dorian let out a low whistle. “Great. So we’re dealing with a magic brand that may or may not turn Lena into a walking Rift portal.”Lena shot him a glare. “Helpful.”He held up his hands. “Just stating the obvious.”Cassian turned back to Idris. “What if we find something in the book?” His gaze flicked to the ancient tome Lena still clutched. “It reacted when she touched it. Maybe it has answers.”Idris hesitated, then nodded. “It’s our best lead.”Lena’s fingers curled
Darkness consumed everything.Lena gasped, reaching for something—anything—but there was nothing to hold onto. The ground beneath her had vanished, replaced by an abyss that stretched endlessly in all directions. A chilling wind howled through the void, carrying echoes of voices, whispers that slithered into her mind.She wasn’t alone.Cassian’s voice cut through the darkness. “Lena?”“I’m here!” she called, heart hammering. “Where are you?”No answer.Then, a flicker of light—a dim glow appearing ahead, revealing Cassian standing several feet away. But something was wrong. His stance was rigid, his expression blank, and his silver eyes burned with an unnatural light.“Cassian?” she whispered, stepping forward.He didn’t move.The light expanded, illuminating more figures. Idris stood beside Cassian, his face pale, his usual confidence absent. Dorian was there too, his hands clenched into fists, jaw tight. They weren’t looking at her. They were looking past her.Lena turned.Behind he
The cavern was deathly silent.Lena stood in the dim torchlight, her breath unsteady, her pulse thrumming with the remnants of power from the trial. The mark on her wrist still glowed faintly, its warmth no longer searing but alive, pulsing in time with her heartbeat.Cassian’s hands remained firm on her shoulders, his silver eyes scanning her face, searching for something—an answer, reassurance, maybe even a sign that she was still her.“What happened?” His voice was low, careful.Lena swallowed, the weight of the trial still pressing against her chest. “I fought myself.”Dorian let out a low whistle. “Well, that sounds… horrifying.”“It wasn’t just a fight,” Lena murmured, glancing down at her wrist. “It was a test. The Rift wanted to see if I would break—if I would give in to the part of me that it already owns.”Idris stepped closer, his eyes sharp with understanding. “And you didn’t.”“No.” Lena exhaled, steadying herself. “I took control of it.”A ripple of silence passed betwee
Lena’s breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as she steadied herself against Cassian’s grip. The cavern swam back into focus, the flickering torchlight casting jagged shadows along the stone walls. The mark on her wrist pulsed with renewed energy, a steady rhythm that echoed in her bones.She had passed the second trial.But something was wrong.The ground beneath them trembled, and a deep, guttural sound reverberated through the air—a sound that didn’t belong to any living creature. The Rift wasn’t retreating. It was responding.“Lena,” Cassian’s voice was tight with concern. “What happened in there?”She exhaled slowly, her fingers still curled into fists. “It showed me the worst of myself—the version of me that gave in to the Rift’s power. I had to destroy her.”Dorian let out a low breath. “You fought yourself again? Maybe we should start worrying about your self-esteem.”Lena shot him a look. “Not funny.”Idris, who had remained eerily quiet, finally spoke. “The Rift isn’t testing y
Lena barely slept.Despite the exhaustion weighing on her bones, her mind refused to rest. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the Rift stirring inside her—not as a threat, but as a presence. It was quiet now, a steady hum beneath her skin, but she could feel it waiting. Watching.By the time the sun began to rise, she gave up on sleep entirely.She stepped out of her tent, wrapping her cloak tighter around her as the morning air bit at her skin. The camp was still, the others deep in much-needed rest after the chaos of the past days. Only Cassian was awake, standing at the edge of the clearing, sword in hand.Lena watched as he moved through his training, each strike and parry precise, controlled. He had always been disciplined, but this morning, his movements were sharp—like he was fighting something unseen.“You’re up early,” she said, breaking the quiet.Cassian stilled for half a second before lowering his blade. He turned, silver eyes sweeping over her. “So are you.”Lena o
Lena paced the length of the camp, her thoughts tangled in the crimson sky above. The Rift’s presence pressed against her senses, a silent, pulsing awareness she couldn’t escape. It wasn’t attacking her. It wasn’t resisting.But it was there.Cassian hadn’t spoken much since Idris left, his jaw tight as he sharpened his blade. Dorian, for once, wasn’t cracking jokes. The weight of what they had seen had settled over them all, thick as a storm.“We can’t just sit here,” Cassian said suddenly, breaking the silence.Lena turned to him. “What do you suggest?”He met her gaze, steady and unyielding. “We find out what the Rift is doing. We don’t wait for it to come to us.”Dorian exhaled. “Much as I hate agreeing with Cassian, he has a point. That sky isn’t just for show.” He gestured upward. “The last time something like this happened, entire cities collapsed.”Lena’s pulse spiked. “Then we need to move.”Before they could plan their next step, the trees rustled—and Idris emerged from the
Lena stood at the edge of the camp, the fire’s glow flickering behind her as the cold night pressed in. The weight of the Rift’s whispers still clung to her, a presence just beneath the surface of her thoughts.She exhaled, forcing her hands to stop shaking.It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.Yet, the memory of that power—the absolute certainty of control—lingered like a drug she hadn’t realized she craved.A rustle in the underbrush made her stiffen.She turned just as Idris emerged from the shadows, his gaze sharp even in the dim moonlight.“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said, his voice unreadable.Lena gave a short, humorless laugh. “Not much difference between out here and in there.” She nodded toward the camp. “Either way, I can’t sleep.”Idris studied her for a moment before stepping closer. “You felt it, didn’t you?”Lena’s heart stuttered.Felt what?Idris didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to. His knowing expression told her he already had the answer.Lena hesitated, b
Lena’s pulse thundered in her ears as she sat up, her breath shallow. The forest was the same, yet everything felt different. The Rift’s energy still clung to her skin, cold and electric, like a whisper that refused to fade.Cassian’s grip on her arm was tight, his expression a storm of worry and restrained panic. “Lena, talk to me. What happened?”She swallowed, her throat dry. “I—I saw something.” Her own voice felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else. “A future. A throne. The world at my feet.”Dorian let out a sharp breath. “So, y’know, just the usual apocalyptic nightmare?”Lena ignored him, turning to Cassian. “It felt real. Like a memory that hasn’t happened yet.”Idris knelt beside her, his sharp eyes scanning her face. “And the other you?”Lena shuddered. “She’s waiting. Watching.” She exhaled shakily. “And she thinks I’ll choose to become her.”Silence settled over them, thick and suffocating.Cassian ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenching. “That’s not going to
The forest was eerily silent, the air thick with an unspoken tension as Lena steadied herself. The weight of what she had seen still pressed against her ribs, but she forced herself to focus. She wasn’t that version of herself. Not yet. Not ever.Cassian remained close, his presence a grounding force as the group regrouped. Dorian was the first to break the silence.“So, we’re just going to ignore the fact that Lena basically had a one-on-one with her evil twin?” He ran a hand through his hair, eyes sharp with something between concern and curiosity. “Because, personally, I think we should be panicking a little more.”Lena shot him a dry look. “You panicking isn’t exactly new, Dorian.”He pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. “Excuse you, my panic is usually justified.”Cassian exhaled, crossing his arms. “Enough. We need a plan.” He turned to Lena. “You said you saw a future. One where you’d embraced the Rift’s power. Do you think it was a vision of what will happen, or just w
The air was thick with tension. The echoes of the Rift still pulsed beneath Lena’s skin, a phantom sensation she couldn’t shake. Cassian’s grip on her shoulders was firm, grounding her, but even his presence couldn’t erase what she had seen.Herself.Or rather, a twisted version of herself—one who had already embraced the Rift’s power.Lena exhaled shakily and pushed herself upright. The others were watching her closely. Dorian looked skeptical, Idris unreadable, but it was Cassian’s expression that made her chest tighten. Concern. Worry. And something deeper—something she wasn’t sure she was ready to name.“What happened?” Cassian asked again, softer this time.Lena swallowed, her throat dry. “I—” She hesitated. How was she supposed to explain that she had just met a version of herself who claimed she was destined to become something else? Something not entirely human?Dorian crossed his arms. “You disappeared into the Rift, and for a solid minute, we thought you were dead. Then boom
Silence stretched between them after Lena’s declaration. The weight of her words lingered, heavy and unshakable.Cassian’s hands were still on her arms, steadying her, grounding her. But he didn’t speak. He just watched her, his storm-gray eyes searching hers, as if trying to find the girl he had known before.The girl who wasn’t this.The girl who hadn’t just claimed something unnatural as her own.Lena felt the absence in her mind like an open wound. A memory stolen, a piece of her past erased. But in its place, something else had taken root—something vast, something boundless.The Rift wasn’t just inside her.She was inside it.Dorian shifted uneasily, his fingers drumming against the hilt of his dagger. “So, uh… anyone else want to acknowledge how terrifying that was? No? Just me?”Idris crossed his arms, his sharp gaze fixed on Lena. “What do you mean, you are the Rift?”Lena swallowed hard. “It’s not just a force. It’s alive. It doesn’t just take—it creates. It doesn’t just dest
The journey to find the Oracle was not one Lena had been prepared for.Because finding her wasn’t an option.She had to call her.And the Oracle did not answer unless she deemed the caller worthy.Lena stood in the center of the ancient clearing, the air thick with an unnatural stillness. The ground beneath her feet pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat deep within the earth. Dark, jagged stones surrounded them, each one carved with symbols Lena didn’t recognize.This was the place.“The last time someone called on the Oracle,” Idris murmured, “they were never the same again.”Dorian scoffed. “Well, that’s not ominous at all.”Cassian’s expression was unreadable, but Lena could feel the tension radiating from him. He hadn’t spoken much since they agreed to seek the Oracle. He didn’t have to. She could see his worry in the way his jaw tightened, in the way he stayed just close enough to reach her if something went wrong.And something would go wrong.Lena took a steady breath. “How do I sta
Lena's body tumbled through the void, weightless and helpless against the pull of forces beyond her comprehension. The Rift was neither light nor dark—just endless, shifting energy that coiled around her, threatening to consume her whole.Her breath came in ragged gasps, her pulse hammering. The last thing she remembered was Cassian’s voice—his presence breaking through the Rift’s grasp like a distant beacon. But now, she was alone again, suspended in nothingness.Until she wasn’t.With a violent pull, the world around her shifted.Lena slammed onto solid ground, pain shooting through her limbs as the impact knocked the air from her lungs. She groaned, blinking rapidly as her vision adjusted to the dim surroundings.This wasn’t the forest.She was somewhere else.The air was thick, buzzing with an energy so strong it made her skin prickle. Strange symbols pulsed faintly across the walls, shifting and rearranging themselves as if they were alive. The ground beneath her was smooth, almo
The journey through the forest was eerily quiet.Lena could hear the others moving behind her—Cassian’s steady, purposeful steps, Dorian’s occasional grumbles, Idris’s near-silent movements—but the world around them felt wrong. The further they went, the more the air thickened, charged with an energy that made her skin prickle.The Rift was close.She could feel it now, its presence curling around her like invisible tendrils, whispering at the edges of her mind.You are not ready. But you will be.Lena clenched her jaw and pushed forward.The trees thinned, and suddenly, the landscape opened into a vast, rocky expanse.A jagged tear split the earth ahead, shimmering with an unnatural glow. The Rift.It wasn’t just a portal—it was a wound in reality itself.Dorian let out a low whistle. “Yep. That looks like a really bad idea.”Cassian ignored him, his eyes locked onto the Rift. His grip tightened around his sword. “Are you sure about this, Lena?”She swallowed hard. “No. But I have to
Lena barely slept that night.The presence in the forest had vanished, but its whispers still clung to her mind. You are not ready. But you will be. It wasn’t a warning. It was a promise.By the time dawn broke over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold, she had made a decision.She couldn’t keep running from this.She had to face the Rift—on her terms.The camp was already stirring when she rose to her feet. Cassian was standing near the fire, sharpening his sword, while Dorian sat on a fallen log, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Idris was the only one still motionless, his gaze fixed on the forest’s edge as if he could still sense whatever had been watching them last night.Lena took a breath and stepped forward. “I need to go back.”Three heads snapped toward her.Cassian was the first to speak. “Back where?”“To the Rift,” Lena said, her voice steady. “I can’t ignore it anymore. I need answers.”Cassian immediately shook his head. “Absolutely not.”Dorian groane