Episode 19: Into the Depths

  The Calm Before the Storm

  Kade stood beside the mysterious woman, his mind swirling with confusion and uncertainty. She hadn’t given him much information, just enough to keep him on edge, just enough to make him wonder if this was a fight he was destined to lose.

  The creatures from the rift had receded into the shadows, their eerie forms melting into the air like smoke dissipating in a breeze. The land was eerily quiet now, but the oppressive weight of the rift’s energy still lingered in the atmosphere, a constant reminder that something was wrong, something had changed, and it was only a matter of time before the world felt its effects.

  Kade’s thoughts were a mess, bouncing between anger, confusion, and fear. What was he really fighting for? Was he meant to stop the rift? Or was he simply a pawn, caught between forces beyond his comprehension? He had no answers, and the deeper he delved into the unknown, the less sure he felt about everything he had ever known.

  The woman beside him, whom he had learned was called Ariella, was calm, too calm, as if she had seen it all before. Her expression was unreadable, but Kade could feel her eyes on him—assessing, evaluating. He hated it. He hated the fact that she seemed to know more about him than he did.

  “Why should I believe you?” Kade asked, breaking the silence, his voice tinged with frustration. “You come out of nowhere, kill those things, and then tell me that I’m the one who can stop this mess. What makes you think I can do anything about it?”

  Ariella’s gaze hardened, and for the first time, Kade saw a flicker of something—fear?—pass through her expression. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by the calm, controlled demeanor she always wore.

  “Because you’re not like them,” she said simply. “The creatures. They’re just pawns, just shadows of the rift’s true power. You, Kade, are something more. You’re connected to it in ways that neither of us understand. And that’s why we need to work together.”

  Kade opened his mouth to argue, but she held up a hand, silencing him.

  “You can question me all you want. But you know deep down that you don’t have all the answers either. The rift—it’s not just a crack in reality. It’s a force. A living, breathing entity that’s seeking something. And you, Kade, are tied to it. Whether you like it or not.”

  Kade clenched his jaw. The anger, the confusion, the fear—it all bubbled up inside him, threatening to spill over.

  “How do you know all of this? How do you know what’s inside me?” he demanded. “And what makes you think I want to be part of this… thing?”

  Ariella didn’t flinch. “Because I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen people like you. They think they’re fighting for the right reasons, but they don’t realize that they’re already part of the problem. The rift is inside you, Kade. The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can figure out how to stop it.”

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  Kade took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. The words hit harder than he expected. How could he trust someone who claimed to understand him so well, when he didn’t even understand himself?

  Before he could say anything else, a low rumble vibrated through the ground. It was distant at first, like the echo of thunder. But it grew louder, more intense. Kade instinctively reached for the weapon at his side, the cold metal of the gun feeling heavier than ever. But Ariella’s hand shot out, stopping him before he could make a move.

  “Not yet,” she murmured. “This is bigger than you think.”

  The Harbingers’ Arrival

  The rumbling intensified until the earth beneath them cracked open, sending rocks and debris flying in every direction. Kade’s heart skipped a beat as dark shadows erupted from the cracks in the earth. These weren’t the same creatures as before—they were bigger, more solid, more real in some way. Their eyes glowed with that same unnatural yellow, their bodies massive and grotesque.

  There were at least a dozen of them, their forms towering above Kade and Ariella. Their skin was slick with an oily sheen, and their claws—long and curved—scraped against the earth, sending sparks flying into the air. They were drawn to Kade, as if they knew he was the one they had been waiting for.

  “Get ready,” Ariella said, her voice low but commanding. She drew her glowing sword from its sheath, the blade humming with power. “This is just the beginning.”

  Kade could feel the power inside him stirring again, that dark energy rising from the depths of his being. The rift’s pull was undeniable, and for the first time, he felt the temptation to embrace it. To let it consume him and take control.

  But he knew he couldn’t give in—not now.

  Ariella moved first, her sword cutting through the air with precision as she dashed toward the closest creature. Her movements were a blur, her skill unmatched as she cleaved through the first two Harbingers with ease. But the others didn’t hesitate. They roared, their mouths stretching wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth. They charged forward, their massive claws slashing through the air.

  Kade didn’t wait. He ran toward the nearest creature, the heavy weight of his own hesitation pushing against him. His mind raced—this wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about control. He had to control the power, or he’d be consumed.

  As the creature lunged at him, Kade moved with a speed he hadn’t known he possessed, sidestepping its massive claws and rolling to the side. His breath came in sharp bursts as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes locking onto the creature’s vulnerable underbelly. He didn’t think. He acted.

  With a cry, he drew his blade—the one he had found long ago, hidden beneath the rubble—and thrust it upward into the creature’s soft, exposed flesh. It screeched in pain, but Kade didn’t stop. He twisted the blade, driving it deeper, until the creature finally crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

  The others were still coming, relentless, unstoppable. But Kade felt something shift within him. The energy. It was there. It was part of him.

  He couldn’t stop it. He wouldn’t.

  Ariella’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and focused. “Kade, focus. Don’t let them overwhelm you.”

  But it was too late. The dark energy coursing through Kade’s veins was more than just power—it was a hunger, an insatiable desire to destroy. And as he fought, he realized it was pulling him deeper into the abyss.

  His eyes glowed faintly, yellow light seeping from his pupils. He could feel the rift inside him, just beneath his skin, thrumming with life, eager to break free.

  And then, as if answering his unspoken call, the sky above him cracked open once more, the rift widening, and a new, more terrifying force began to spill through.

  The Rapture

  The rift exploded open, a massive wave of energy flooding the battlefield. Kade and Ariella both staggered back, shielding themselves from the onslaught of raw, unfiltered power that surged forth.

  The ground beneath them shuddered as the rift widened to unimaginable proportions. The very sky seemed to twist and collapse inward, folding into itself like a black hole drawing in the light. The air was thick with dark energy, suffocating, as if reality itself were beginning to break apart.

  From the depths of the rift, something huge emerged—a colossal, towering figure, its form barely comprehensible. It was a swirling mass of shadows, tendrils of darkness writhing and twisting in every direction. Its eyes, if they could even be called eyes, glowed with a blinding light, radiating power and malice.

  Ariella took a step back, her face paling at the sight. “It’s here. The true source.”

  Kade’s pulse raced, his breath caught in his throat. This was no longer just a battle for survival—it was the beginning of something far worse. The entity before him was the rift’s heart, the force that had been slowly consuming everything.

  And it was waiting for him.

  To be continued…