Elara and Adrian ascended the narrow cliff carrying Marianne along, her focus sharpened on the task at hand. The rugged terrain demanded her complete attention, every movement calculated and deliberate. Yet, in a sudden and inexplicable moment, she felt a peculiar sensation wash over her, as if a void had opened up within her being.
Her hands, once steady on the climbing belay, faltered and their grip loosened involuntarily. A wave of disorientation swept through her, leaving her momentarily suspended between the solid rock face and the vast expanse below. Though she couldn't discern the source of this sudden weakness, the sensation lingered, casting a shadow over her ascent and stirring an unsettling emptiness within her soul.
Her sudden moment of weakness sent a ripple of concern through the group. Adrian, ever vigilant, noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor and quickly moved to support her.
"Be careful! What happened to you?" Adrian's voice had a genuine concern as he steadied her with a reassuring grip. "You seemed a bit off just now."
Elara blinked, trying to shake off the strange sensation that had gripped her. "I'm not sure, It's like... something just shifted within me, but I can't quite explain it."
Adrian had sensed a disturbance earlier, a gnawing feeling that something had gone awry with Alexander. But he hesitated to voice his concerns to Elara, so instead he said somethink else. "We're in this together, remember? Lean on me if you need to."
Meanwhile, Marianne, snugly secured in the specialized suit strapped to Adrian's back, remained unaffected by the strange sensation that had gripped Elara. With the treacherous terrain now behind them, she focused on maintaining her balance and supporting Adrian as they ascended the challenging climb.
As they reached the summit, an unsettling figure was waiting for them and Marianne's complexion paled instantly, "Is this real? What in the world is happening?"
Xyreon stood before them, perched at an altitude of over 2000 feet, an unexpected and ominous presence.
Elara and Adrian, unfamiliar with Xyreon, exchanged wary glances. "And who might you be?" Elara inquired with tone betraying a hint of suspicion.
"There's no time for pleasantries, Miss little human. I'm certain you're well aware of who I am and what I can do," Xyreon retorted sharply.
"Miss little human? Hahaha! What's this? A new term in the lexicon of dominants?" Adrian quipped, attempting to diffuse the tension with humor. Yet, a chill ran down his spine as Xyreon's demeanour remained unsettlingly calm. It was clear that this encounter was far from ordinary or dangerous.
"I would love to chit chat if time permitted. Sadly, it doesn't," Xyreon remarked casually, his tone belying the gravity of the situation. "Oh, and it appears someone is absent from our gathering. No matter..."
With a swift motion, Xyreon pulled Adrian like magic in front of him and grabed him by the neck, leaving the group stunned and speechless. Shock and disbelief washed over them as Marianne, already weakened by injury, succumbed to unconsciousness. Elara, though mentally prepared for anything, found herself overwhelmed by the unfolding events. "Stop! What's happening? Is this real?"
Each word uttered seemed to hang in the air, unanswered and surreal, as the gravity of their predicament sank in.
"YOU little ant!! Do you dare to show strength before me!!?" The voice boomed like thunder. And indeed, a bolt of lightning crackled through the air, striking Xyreon's back, causing him to recoil and release Adrian.
YOU ARE READING
Echoes of Transcendence
Science FictionIn the hushed moments before the final act, he imparted his last words to Alexander and his voice resonated with wisdom. - Humans harbor a distorted fear of death. It is not death itself they fear, but the loss of their separation, the dissolution...
