Chapter 3: The Echo of Betrayal

Elara’s heart raced as she made her way through the dimly lit corridors of the research facility. The weight of her decision pressed down on her with every step. Darius’s plan was simple but risky: they needed to retrieve the artifact and extract critical information from its energy patterns. The Entity, if it truly harbored knowledge of the Lost City of Sorrows, would lead them to answers that had been buried for centuries.

But Langston could never know.

“He wouldn’t understand,” Darius had said. “His fear will blind him. This is bigger than any of us, Elara. We can’t let this opportunity slip away.”

Elara had reluctantly agreed. The whispers in her mind were growing more insistent, and she couldn’t ignore the pull any longer.

The Stealth Operation

It was nearly midnight when they reached the lab. Darius had deactivated the security cameras along the route, but time was short. Any deviation from routine would be flagged by the facility’s automated systems.

“Stay close,” Darius whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the building’s infrastructure.

Elara nodded, her nerves fraying as they entered the containment chamber. The artifact pulsed faintly within its reinforced glass case, its silvery light casting eerie shadows across the room.

“We’ll have to open the chamber manually,” Darius said, pulling out a small device. “This will override the locks temporarily.”

As he worked, Elara approached the glass. The whispers surged again, clearer than ever.

Elara… you are so close. Free me.

Her breath hitched. The voice wasn’t just in her mind—it resonated in her chest, vibrating through her very core.

“Almost there,” Darius muttered, his fingers flying over the device.

The locks released with a soft hiss, and the chamber door slid open. A wave of energy washed over them, warm and electric. Elara stepped forward, her hand trembling as she reached for the artifact.

“Wait!” Darius said sharply. “We don’t know how direct contact will affect you.”

But it was too late. Elara’s fingers brushed the artifact’s surface, and the world around her dissolved.

The Vision

She was standing in a vast, empty expanse, the ground beneath her shimmering like liquid silver. The sky above was dark and endless, punctuated by faint glimmers of light.

“Elara,” the voice called, no longer a whisper but a resonant presence that surrounded her.

“Where am I?” she asked, her voice echoing in the void.

“This is the liminal space,” the Entity replied. “A fragment of my consciousness. You have connected to me, and now we can speak freely.”

The air shimmered, and a figure began to take shape before her—a shadowy silhouette with indistinct features. It radiated both power and sorrow, an overwhelming presence that made Elara’s knees buckle.

“Why did you call me?” she demanded, summoning her courage.

“Because you are the only one who can release me,” the Entity said. “The chains that bind me are tied to the Lost City of Sorrows. If you do not act, my power will fade, and the truths I guard will be lost forever.”

“What truths?”

“The truth of your world’s past. The wars, the suffering, the lies your people have been told. I hold the memories of those who came before, and with them, the key to a better future.”

Elara hesitated. “And if I release you? What happens then?”

The Entity’s form wavered. “That depends on you. My power is a reflection of the emotions that created me. If you wield it with wisdom, you can reshape the world. But if you falter…”

The vision shifted suddenly. She saw flashes of cities crumbling, people screaming, fire and ash consuming the land.

“...you risk unleashing destruction.”

Elara’s heart pounded. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You must,” the Entity said. “You are stronger than you believe.”

Betrayed

Elara snapped back to reality, gasping for air. Darius was holding her by the shoulders, his face etched with concern.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I… I saw it,” she stammered. “The Entity. It showed me the past—and the future. It’s real, Darius. All of it.”

Before he could respond, the lab door slammed open.

“What the hell are you two doing?” Langston’s voice thundered as he stormed into the room, flanked by two security guards. His eyes blazed with fury as they landed on the open containment chamber.

“Langston, I can explain—” Elara began.

“Explain?” Langston interrupted. “You broke into a secured lab and tampered with a volatile artifact! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Darius stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “We were trying to gather more data. The Entity was reaching out to Elara—”

“You mean you were manipulating her!” Langston snapped, his gaze narrowing. “I warned you, Elara. This thing is dangerous, and now you’ve put everyone at risk.”

Elara felt a surge of guilt and anger. “I wasn’t manipulated! The Entity needs our help, Langston. It holds the key to understanding the Lost City of Sorrows.”

Langston shook his head. “You’re being naive. That thing is a weapon, not a savior. And you’re playing right into its hands.”

He turned to the guards. “Secure the artifact and escort these two to the holding area. We’ll deal with this properly.”

Confined

Hours later, Elara sat in a small, windowless room, her mind racing. Darius had been taken to another room, leaving her alone to wrestle with the consequences of her actions.

Langston’s words echoed in her mind: That thing is a weapon, not a savior.

But the Entity’s plea was just as vivid: You are the only one who can release me.

The door opened, and Langston entered, his expression grim.

“You’ve put me in an impossible position, Elara,” he said. “I vouched for you when you joined this team, and now you’ve jeopardized everything we’ve worked for.”

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “But I couldn’t ignore it. The Entity is alive, Langston. It’s not just an artifact—it’s a being with knowledge we can’t even comprehend.”

“And you think you can control it?” Langston asked, his tone laced with disbelief. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with. None of us do.”

“I’m not trying to control it,” she said. “I’m trying to understand it. To help it.”

Langston sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m taking you off the project. Effective immediately.”

Elara’s heart sank. “You can’t do that.”

“I can, and I will,” he said firmly. “You’re too close to this, Elara. It’s clouding your judgment.”

As he turned to leave, Elara called after him.

“You’re making a mistake, Langston. The Entity isn’t our enemy—it’s our only hope.”

He paused but didn’t look back. “I hope you’re right. For all our sakes.”

Resolve

Left alone once more, Elara’s despair began to transform into determination. Langston might have removed her from the project, but she wasn’t about to give up. The Entity had chosen her for a reason, and she wouldn’t abandon it.

She would find a way to escape the facility, retrieve the artifact, and seek the Lost City of Sorrows—no matter what it took.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***