The Detour – Something's Watching
The jeep rumbled along the narrow forest road, branches brushing the sides and leaves slapping the windshield. They were already a few hours into the return trip from the village, the back stacked with supplies and their spirits lifted—until the sky darkened unnaturally early.
"Looks like a storm's coming," Mike said, peering up at the thickening clouds.
"No signal," Amina muttered, checking her phone. "Of course."
Erick was driving, Emmy riding shotgun. She glanced at him. "We should hurry. That trail back to camp gets messy when it rains."
They pushed forward, but just as they rounded a bend—the engine coughed, stuttered, and died.
"What the hell?" Erick hit the brakes as the jeep slowed to a stop.
Mike jumped out, popped the hood. "It's not overheated. Everything looks fine… except—" He paused. "The wires are cut."
"Cut?" Emmy repeated, her voice sharp.
Everyone exchanged tense looks.
"No way animals did this," Amina said, pulling a flashlight. "This was done deliberately."
A low rumble of thunder echoed above them.
They decided to move the supplies under a canvas tarp and set up a temporary camp nearby, just off the road, until they could figure out a plan in the morning.
That Night
The fire crackled in the middle of the clearing, casting dancing shadows across their faces. Amina sat beside Emmy, who clutched the pouch the old woman gave her. Erick sat a little ways apart, sharpening a stick with his machete.
Then—a sound.
A flute.
Soft. Distant. Melancholy.
Everyone froze.
"You guys heard that, right?" Mike asked.
Emmy nodded slowly. "That's not a bird. That's—music."
They stood, flashlights sweeping the trees. The music continued, always faint, like it was just beyond their reach. Then—a sudden scream echoed through the jungle.
"Did that sound like… Zoe?" Amina asked, heart racing.
"No, she's back at camp," Erick said.
"But it was a woman's voice," Emmy whispered.
They waited in silence, but the forest had gone still again—unnaturally still.
Emmy pulled out her notebook and flipped to the last page she'd drawn. "There was a symbol I saw in the chamber. It looked like a flute." Her voice trembled. "I thought it was ceremonial… but now I think it's a warning."
Erick looked around, then met her eyes. "We're not alone out here."
The Next Morning
By sunrise, the jeep was mysteriously repaired.
Not a single wire was out of place.
Not one scratch.
Everyone stood around it in disbelief.
"…None of us fixed this," Mike said flatly.
Amina checked her bag. "Some of the supplies are missing."
No tracks. No evidence of someone approaching. Nothing.
As they loaded the remaining supplies, Emmy whispered to Erick, "I think someone—or something—wanted to keep us away last night. And whatever it was... it's tied to the ruins."
Erick didn't respond. But his hand tightened on the steering wheel as he looked back toward the trees.
Something watched them.
Something waited.
He swallowed hard, then turned back to the narrow jungle path ahead.
"We need to move," he said, voice low. "Trail's not gonna get easier in the dark."
Emmy nodded, but unease clung to her like sweat. They'd only gone a few hundred yards when she stopped.
"Wait… this isn't right."
The trail had twisted in a way she didn't remember. The markings they'd carved into tree trunks were gone, and the underbrush was denser than before.
Erick got out of the rover and scanned the trees. "We followed the same path. I'm sure of it."
But the trees were different. Older. The air heavier. Even the sounds of the jungle seemed to shift—less birdsong, more rustling.
"We're not heading back to the chamber," Emmy said. "We're deeper than we were."
Erick's jaw tightened. "So we're lost."
A low hum rose from the forest, almost like whispering.
Not lost. Taken.
Branches clawed at their arms as they pushed forward, trying to retrace their steps. But the jungle had changed its shape. The path was gone, and something else had taken its place.
A hush fell over the group.
Mike was the first to stop. "Did you see that?" he whispered.
Up ahead, partially obscured by the thick mist curling between the trees, a tall figure stood motionless. Its silhouette was unnatural—too thin, too tall, with limbs that bent the wrong way. Eyes like dull embers flickered from within a hollow, bark-covered face.
Emmy let out a shaky breath, clutching her notebook to her chest.
Amina stepped back, nearly tripping. "What is that?"
No one answered.
Emmy opened her notebook, flipping through pages filled with sketches, glyphs, and scribbled notes from the excavation. She stopped on a page she hadn't looked at in weeks—an old legend transcribed from a crumbling tablet near the chamber.
She stared at the drawing.
It was the same figure.
"Guys," she said, voice trembling, "that thing… it's the Guardian."
Erick turned sharply. "The what?"
"The Guardian of the chamber," she whispered. "It's not supposed to move. It's a statue—or it was."
The creature took one slow step forward, branches cracking underfoot. It didn't blink.
It didn't need to.
They froze.
The Guardian moved with deliberate grace, its footsteps silent, but somehow echoing through the dense jungle air. No one could move—locked in place by some unseen force or pure, paralyzing fear.
Its burning eyes never left them.
Then, as if the spell broke, Erick snapped back to his senses.
"Run!" he shouted.
He grabbed Emmy's hand. Mike yanked Amina away from the path. The group bolted through the undergrowth, thorns slicing at their arms, branches whipping past their faces.
Behind them, the sound of something crashing through the trees grew louder. The Guardian was gaining.
"Faster!" Erick shouted, glancing back—its twisted form was closer now, almost gliding rather than running.
"There!" Amina pointed ahead, breath ragged. "A waterfall!"
Without hesitation, they sprinted toward it.
"Jump! Stay under the water—don't let it see you!" Erick yelled.
One by one, they dove into the crashing falls, the roar of water drowning out everything else. Beneath the surface, hidden by the curtain of falling water, they waited—hearts pounding, lungs burning, listening for whatever might come next.
Only silence followed.
But they knew—it was still out there. Watching. Waiting.
Erick looked around beneath the crashing falls, his eyes scanning through the spray and shadows.
"There," he pointed to the rocky wall beside the waterfall—barely visible, a narrow opening tucked behind the cascade. "Swim to the side!"
They pushed through the water, lungs burning, clothes heavy, and slipped behind the falls. Cold stone scraped against them as they squeezed into a hidden cave entrance.
Inside, the roar of water faded, replaced by the sound of their gasping breaths and the distant drip of water echoing through the cave.
They climbed out, soaked and exhausted, collapsing onto the damp stone floor.
Erick crept toward the entrance, listening.
The jungle beyond the waterfall stirred softly, but the heavy footsteps were gone. The presence—the weight they'd all felt—it had retreated.
"It's gone," he breathed.
Amina sat up, wiping her face. "What was that thing?"
Mike shook his head. "We weren't supposed to see that. We were just here to set up the research station. Nothing about this was in the mission briefing."
Emmy opened her soaked notebook, flipping back to the same page. "This whole place… it's older than we thought. The Guardian wasn't just a myth—it's real. And it was watching the chamber."
Erick turned to her, his voice low. "Then what exactly is in that chamber… that it's guarding?"
As they caught their breath, the cave around them slowly came into focus—narrow, jagged walls, slick with moisture. Strange symbols had been carved into the stone, barely visible under a thick layer of moss.
A faint glow shimmered further inside, like reflected light from something… moving.
"Do you see that?" Mike asked, already stepping forward.
But Emmy wasn't looking at the light.
She stood frozen, staring deeper into the shadows at the back of the cave. A figure had appeared—tall, robed in something that shimmered like liquid stone. It didn't move. Didn't blink. But its presence pressed against her chest like weight.
"Emmy?" Amina's voice broke through the stillness.
Emmy didn't respond.
A whisper coiled through the cave, too soft for the others to hear—but clear as day to her. A voice—ancient, dry as bone and deep as the earth—spoke in a language she had only seen in fragments before, in buried tablets and dreams she thought were just her imagination.
She understood every word.
"The Guardian does not watch the chamber. It watches you. It was called—by your blood… your name…"
Her knees weakened. The figure raised a hand, pointing slowly at her.
A flash of memories—not hers—rushed through her mind: rituals, voices chanting her name, a stone door sealed by blood, and the Guardian kneeling before a figure that looked exactly like her.
She stumbled back, heart racing.
"It wants me," she whispered. "The Guardian… it's not protecting the chamber from intruders. It's protecting me."
The others turned, stunned.
"What do you mean?" Erick asked.
"I think…" Emmy said, voice barely audible, "I've been here before."
Zack's POV
Far from the others—beyond the jungle's edge where the land split into obsidian cliffs—Zack knelt before something that didn't belong in this world.
The creature loomed in the shadows, its form flickering between solid and smoke, eyes like molten silver. It had no mouth, yet Zack could hear it speak—straight into his mind.
"The Guardian is distracted. You must act before the eclipse."
"I know," Zack said, voice low and steady. "They're hiding in the waterfall cave. The Guardian chased them, just like you said it would."
A ripple of approval pulsed from the creature.
"The girl… she remembers. The bloodline is waking."
Zack's eyes narrowed. "Emmy doesn't know who she is. Not yet."
"She will. And when the moon turns, she will either unlock the Gate… or be consumed by it."
Zack hesitated, clenching his fists.
This wasn't part of the original mission. He'd come for power, yes—but not for this. Not for monsters and bloodlines and ancient gods clawing back into the world.
Still… it was too late now.
"She trusts me," he said. "I'll keep her close."
"Do not fail. She is the Key. And she belongs to us."
The creature faded into mist, vanishing into the fissures of the earth.
Zack stood alone beneath the darkening sky, the moon just beginning to rise—its edges already starting to darken.
Zoe crouched low in the bed of the supply truck, hidden beneath a tarp, heart hammering in her chest. She hadn't meant to spy—she was just looking for her comm device. But then she heard Zack's voice… and something else. Something that wasn't human.
She froze, every word slicing into her like ice.
"Emmy… the Key… the eclipse…"
The creature's voice was like wind over broken glass, but clear enough.
Zoe clamped a hand over her mouth as the shadows near Zack shifted and vanished. She didn't wait. She bolted from the truck, legs trembling, lungs burning as she ran through the camp toward the main tent.
"Mr. Sympson!" she cried out, stumbling inside.
The older researcher looked up from a dusty map, startled. "Zoe?"
She grabbed his sleeve, eyes wide with panic. "I heard him—Zack. He was talking to something—something wrong. He said they're coming for Emmy before the eclipse!"
Mr. Sympson went still. His face paled.
"No…" he whispered. "Not the Guardian. It's too soon. If it doesn't find her before they do… they'll take her. Everything will be lost."
Zoe's mouth fell open. "You know about this?"
Sympson didn't meet her eyes. "I've read about it. Old journals. Hidden fragments. I never thought it was real—not until now."
Just then, Maggy entered the tent, brows drawn together in concern. "What's going on?"
Zoe turned to her, still shaking. "Zack's a traitor. He's working with something… something ancient. And Emmy—Emmy's in danger."
Maggy's face drained of color. "Where is she now?"
Sympson grabbed his field bag and a flare gun. "Hopefully still hidden. But if Zack knows where she is… we don't have much time."
Maggy stared hard at Mr. Sympson, her voice low and urgent. "This isn't the right time. The eclipse is days away."
Sympson nodded grimly. "I know. But something's changed. They triggered the Guardian early—Zack and whatever he's working with. They're trying to take her before the eclipse."
Zoe stood to the side, eyes darting between them. "Wait… what? Take Emmy? What are you talking about?" Her voice cracked with disbelief.
Neither of them answered.
Maggy's eyes scanned the tent. Her expression shifted—tense, cautious. "We can't talk here," she said. "Someone's watching us. Every move."
Sympson nodded again, his face unreadable. "Yes. We need to act—but carefully. If we tip them off... we lose her."
Zoe looked at them both, stunned. "You two knew this whole time?"
Still, no answer.
Maggy straightened, suddenly calm. "I know what to do," she said. "Just follow my lead."
She turned and walked out of the tent, disappearing into the shadows of the camp, leaving Zoe standing there—heart pounding, questions flooding her mind.
Everything she thought she knew about this mission… about her team… was unraveling.
The air in the cave was thick with the smell of damp earth and ancient stone. The cold chill from the waterfall behind them still clung to their skin, but as they ventured deeper, the temperature began to shift. It felt… alive, almost like the cave itself was breathing.
Emmy led the way, her senses heightened. Something in the back of her mind told her this was no ordinary cave. She wasn't sure why, but she felt drawn to the narrow path that twisted further into the heart of the earth.
"Where is this leading?" Mike asked, his voice barely a whisper. The glow from his flashlight flickered as they moved, casting strange shadows on the walls.
"I don't know," Emmy admitted, her fingers brushing against the cold rock. But the feeling in her gut told her they needed to keep going.
Suddenly, the path widened. The rocky walls gave way to an enormous cavern, and before them lay an unexpected sight—a paradise.
A lush, vibrant forest stretched out before them, glowing with an ethereal light. Strange trees with glowing leaves towered above them, casting a soft, otherworldly glow that bathed the entire space in an almost dreamlike haze. Flowers bloomed in colors Emmy couldn't even name, their petals glowing like stars in the night.
"This… this can't be real," Amina whispered, her voice filled with awe. She stepped forward, eyes wide, barely noticing the shimmering streams of water that cut through the landscape.
"No," Erick murmured, his voice tight with disbelief. "This wasn't on any map. We couldn't have found this… this place."
Emmy stepped closer, heart racing. Something about this place—this hidden paradise—felt… familiar. The soft hum in the air, the faint whispers carried on the breeze, tugged at her mind like a memory she couldn't quite grasp.
"It's not just a place," she said softly, as if the words were coming from somewhere deep within her. "It's a calling."
Mike and Amina exchanged worried glances, but Erick's gaze hardened, his jaw set. "We need to figure out what's really going on here. Before it's too late."
As they stepped further into the mystical place, the air around them seemed to hum with ancient energy. The world felt suspended in time, as though they had stepped into something far older than anything they could have imagined.
Emmy's heart beat louder, and then she saw it. In the distance, beyond a crystal-clear lake, something stood—half-hidden in the shadows of the trees.
It was the Guardian—but this time, it wasn't watching from afar. It was waiting.
As Emmy's gaze locked onto the Guardian, its form looming in the shadows of the glowing trees, she felt the ground beneath her shift. The presence of the creature was overwhelming, a weight on her chest that she couldn't shake.
Then, something caught Amina's eye.
"A-Emmy…" Amina stammered, her voice trembling.
Emmy turned toward her, following Amina's wide-eyed stare. Through the mist and the soft glow of the mystical trees, she saw someone standing beside the Guardian—a figure she hadn't seen in weeks.
"Ellen?!" Amina shouted, her voice echoing in the strange, still air.
Emmy's heart skipped a beat. "No… it can't be."
But there she was. Ellen, their old friend from the city, standing beside the Guardian as if she belonged there, her expression unreadable. She was dressed in the same gear they'd all been wearing, but her movements were slow, deliberate, like she was in a trance.
"Ellen!" Emmy called, running toward her, her feet stumbling over the strange, soft grass beneath her. "What are you doing here? How did you—why are you with the Guardian?"
The others followed, confusion and fear tugging at their hearts. They reached Ellen in moments, but as they neared, Emmy froze.
Ellen didn't seem surprised to see them. She didn't even flinch. She simply turned, her eyes hollow—almost as though she wasn't fully present. The Guardian stood still beside her, an eerie, silent sentinel.
"I've been waiting for you," Ellen said, her voice distant, like she was speaking through a fog. "The Guardian told me you would come. You… you have to be here. The bloodline has to be awakened."
Emmy's breath caught. "What do you mean? What's happening? Why are you with it? What is this place?"
Ellen's eyes flickered to the Guardian, her face expressionless. "It called to me. Just like it's calling to you. You're the one it wants, Emmy. It's not me anymore. I'm… just here to help it."
A chill ran down Emmy's spine. "No. This isn't you, Ellen. Snap out of it. You're not… you're not working with it."
But Ellen's gaze never wavered. "I'm sorry, Emmy. I didn't want this, but the Guardian says it's time. The Gate must open."
Suddenly, the air grew heavier, the ground beneath them vibrating as though something far deeper in the earth was stirring.
"Ellen, listen to me—what's happening?" Amina demanded, stepping closer.
Ellen's lips barely moved. "The Guardian… it's waiting for the bloodline. You're the key, Emmy. It needs you."
The last words hung in the air like a whisper of doom.
The Guardian stepped forward, its massive form now less menacing, more regal—its glowing eyes locked onto Emmy with something like reverence. The air around them stilled, heavy with energy.
Then, it spoke.
Its voice was deep and ancient, echoing through the trees and the cave walls as though the forest itself was speaking.
"Your Majesty… welcome home."
Emmy's breath caught in her throat.
The words echoed in her mind like thunder. She barely heard Amina gasp, or Mike take a step back in disbelief. Erick's mouth was slightly open, eyes wide, trying to process what he just heard.
The Guardian knelt.
And then… the forest responded.
From the trees, vibrant birds fluttered down in bursts of color. Small animals—foxes, deer, even creatures they couldn't name—emerged from the glowing foliage. They didn't seem afraid. In fact, they looked… honored.
They gathered around the clearing, forming a silent audience as if welcoming a queen returned to her rightful throne.
"Wh-what's happening?" Amina whispered, eyes darting between the Guardian and the growing circle of wildlife.
Emmy slowly stepped forward, her legs trembling. "I… I don't know. I don't understand."
The Guardian raised its head. "You were born of the old line. The Keeper's blood runs in you. You have returned to us, and with you, balance may be restored."
Mike took a slow step forward, stunned. "Does that mean… she belongs here?"
Erick's eyes were fixed on Emmy, his voice low. "Or this place belongs to her."
And for the first time, Emmy wasn't afraid.
She didn't know how or why, but deep down… a part of her felt it too.
This was her home.
Zack's POV
The moment the Guardian knelt, Zack felt it—something inside him cracked.
The cold wind brushed past his face, but it wasn't chilling—it was awakening. Birds sang a strange, harmonic tune. Trees swayed not with the wind, but with rhythm, like they were dancing to a song only they could hear. From every corner of the forest, creatures emerged—flocks of birds, glowing-eyed deer, slithering vines that shimmered with life.
Emmy.
His blood boiled.
"No," he hissed, teeth clenched.
Shw knew it.
She had finally found out.
Zack's fists trembled at his sides, rage swirling through him like a storm. His voice roared through the trees—
"NO! I need her! She belongs to me!"
The ground responded to his fury, dark cracks crawling across the forest floor beneath his feet. He reached into his satchel, yanking out a scroll wrapped in blackened hide, the edges burning with ancient sigils.
His voice deepened as he spoke the incantation, each word thick with venom:
"Kāloren fae mor'thai... rise, my shadowborn."
A gust of black wind exploded from the scroll, and from the cracks below, a creature slithered up—tall, grotesque, made of shadows and bone. Its eyes gleamed red, its body ever-shifting.
Zack's eyes burned with madness.
"Find her," he snarled. "Bring her to me. Destroy anyone who gets in your way."
The creature let out a piercing screech before melting into the forest.
Zack stared after it, chest heaving. "You may have fooled the Guardian, Emmy… but you were never meant to rule this place. You're mine. And I will take you back."
Zoe crouched low behind the thick roots of an ancient tree, eyes locked on Zack through the tangle of shadows. Beside her, Maggy barely breathed, her hand gripping a rune-etched charm pulsing faintly with light.
They had followed him quietly, ever since Zoe had overheard his twisted plan.
When the forest trembled and Zack shouted those chilling words—"She belongs to me!"—Zoe flinched, but Maggy didn't move. Her focus was razor-sharp.
"He's summoning it," Maggy muttered, voice tight. "We need to act. Now."
Zoe nodded, heart pounding. "Are you sure the trap will work?"
"It has to," Maggy said. "This isn't just some spirit. It's a shadowborn—a corrupted guardian spirit. And he's sent it after Emmy."
The ground rumbled beneath them, and Zoe's breath caught as the creature emerged—all shifting limbs, sharp edges, and red eyes glowing like embers.
Maggy whispered an incantation under her breath. A circle of glyphs she had carved into the forest floor lit up around them, faint at first, then glowing brighter—blue-white energy thrumming with power.
"Now," Maggy said.
As the shadow creature darted past them, a burst of light exploded from the ground. Ethereal chains of light shot upward, wrapping around the creature mid-leap. It thrashed, shrieking in rage, but the trap held.
Zoe stepped forward, staring at it in horror. "It's like… it's alive and rotting at the same time."
Maggy held the charm in both hands, chanting louder now. The glyphs pulsed in rhythm with her voice, forcing the creature to the ground.
Zack, in the distance, turned sharply—he felt it.
"They'll know we're here now," Maggy said. "But it was worth it. He won't send this thing after Emmy."
Zoe looked at the creature struggling in the trap, then toward Zack's direction, eyes narrowed. "Then let's make sure he never gets close to her again."
---
Emmy's POV
Leaves whispered beneath their boots as they followed Ellen deeper into the enchanted forest. The air shimmered with a light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, a soft glow that painted the trees in golds and greens.
Birds with radiant feathers swooped above them in lazy circles, singing melodies Emmy had never heard before—melodies that felt familiar in her bones. Fox-like creatures with luminous eyes peeked from behind bushes, watching silently, curiously. Even the trees themselves seemed to shift aside gently as Ellen led them through, as if the forest recognized her—and recognized Emmy too.
Emmy looked around in awe. "I never thought this was real," she whispered. "Stuff like this only exists in books… or movies."
Amina, walking close beside her, nodded, her mouth slightly open in wonder. "It's like stepping into a dream you didn't know you had."
As they walked, a small creature the size of a cat padded up near Amina's feet. It had soft, moss-like fur and wide, shimmering eyes. It blinked up at her, tilting its head.
Amina knelt down slowly, hand outstretched. "Hey there, little one…"
But the creature let out a tiny squeak and darted behind its larger companion, a more confident version of itself that puffed up as if trying to look brave. Amina giggled.
"They're shy," she said, grinning. "But so cute!"
Emmy smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "They're not afraid of us… it's like they know we're not strangers."
Ellen, still walking ahead, glanced over her shoulder, her voice soft. "They remember you, Emmy. Maybe not in your mind, but in your blood… you've always belonged here."
Just then, the trees parted to reveal a hut—grown from the roots of a giant tree, its walls woven with vines, its roof covered in glowing moss.
"This is it," Ellen said. "Where it all begins."
The glowing moss roof shimmered as Ellen gently pushed open the vine-woven door. The scent of wildflowers and something older—earthy, ancient—washed over them. The inside of the hut was surprisingly spacious, with walls made of smooth tree bark and branches that twisted upward into a domed ceiling. Crystals floated lazily in midair, casting soft, colorful light that danced across the room.
Shelves were carved into the wood, holding scrolls, ancient tools, and jars filled with glowing herbs and liquids. In the center of the room stood a table carved from a single root, its surface etched with swirling symbols.
Emmy stepped inside slowly, almost afraid to disturb the magic. "It's… beautiful," she breathed.
Amina followed right behind, but paused as she felt a soft nudge against her leg.
She looked down.
The shy little creature had followed her. Its bigger companion stayed at the doorway, watching protectively, but the small one had tiptoed in after her—its eyes wide and curious. It blinked up at her, then gently tapped her boot with one paw.
Amina laughed softly, crouching again. "So you do like me, huh?"
The creature let out a tiny warble, then leapt into her arms without warning. It was light as air, warm, and its fur felt like velvet moss.
Ellen turned from a shelf where she was collecting something. "It chose you," she said simply.
"Chose me?" Amina asked, startled.
"These creatures don't follow strangers. If it followed you in, it's bound to you now. A familiar."
Amina blinked, holding the creature a little tighter. "Well, you've got excellent taste, little guy."
Meanwhile, Emmy wandered to the center table. Her fingers brushed across the carvings, and a soft hum vibrated beneath her skin. Symbols glowed faintly under her touch, as if waking up.
Ellen stepped closer. "This table holds memories. Echoes of your ancestors. You may see visions… or hear their voices. Don't be afraid."
Emmy looked at her, hesitant but intrigued. "What happens if I am afraid?"
Ellen smiled gently. "Then we hold on to each other."
Emmy placed her hand flat on the table.
The symbols flared to life.
The moment her palm touched the table, the hut vanished.
Light burst behind her eyes like a rising sun. Her feet no longer touched the ground. She was floating, weightless, surrounded by swirls of golden mist and fragments of memory. Voices echoed through the haze—soft, layered, speaking in a language she didn't recognize… yet understood.
"She has returned…"
"The bloodline breathes once more…"
The mist cleared.
She stood in the middle of the forest—but not the one she knew. It was older. Wilder. Trees reached impossible heights, their trunks glowing with runes. Above her, the sky was ablaze with stars forming ancient sigils.
In front of her stood a woman cloaked in vines and moonlight. Her face was familiar… not because Emmy had seen it before, but because something in her soul remembered.
"You are the last of the Keepers," the woman said, her voice echoing across time. "The balance of this realm lies in you. The Guardian protects the roots, but your blood awakens the heart."
Emmy wanted to speak, to ask questions, but her voice was caught in her throat.
The woman stepped closer, placing her hand over Emmy's heart. Warmth bloomed from the touch.
"He seeks to claim what is not his. The traitor binds shadows to our sacred ground. You must choose, child of both worlds—run from what you are, or rise and reclaim it."
A loud crack echoed behind her—like something breaking through. The vision trembled.
The stars flickered. The forest began to burn around her—fiery vines twisting in from all sides. The woman's form began to fade.
"Before the eclipse," she said, her voice urgent now. "You must awaken the Rootstone. Only then—"
SNAP.
The vision shattered.
---
Emmy gasped and stumbled back from the table, nearly falling—but Erick was there, catching her. Amina rushed over, the little creature chirping in concern from her arms.
Emmy's hand still glowed faintly.
"She saw something," Ellen said, her expression serious.
Emmy looked at her friends, her heart pounding. "They called me a Keeper… and they said the eclipse… it's a countdown."
Scene continuation: Inside the Hut
The room was quiet, except for the soft hum still lingering in the air after Emmy's vision.
Emmy stood slowly, hand pressed against her chest where that warmth had bloomed. "The Rootstone," she whispered. "They said it's the key before the eclipse. I don't know what it is, but… I felt how important it was."
Ellen's eyes widened. "The Rootstone hasn't been spoken of in generations. It's the heart of this realm… hidden away after the last Keeper vanished."
"Then we have to find it," Erick said, his voice steady. "If Zack's summoning creatures and Emmy's this Keeper… then this is bigger than we thought."
Suddenly, the little creature in Amina's arms perked up. Its ears twitched. It let out a low, warning chirp.
A second later, the hut trembled.
Ellen spun toward the door. "Something is approaching. Fast."
"Zack's creature?" Amina asked, backing toward the wall.
Ellen nodded. "Or worse. If it sensed your awakening, it may be more than one."
The little creature leapt from Amina's arms and scurried to the wall, tapping on a root—it peeled back like a hidden passage.
"There's a back way," Ellen said urgently. "We don't fight here. Not yet."
Emmy turned to the glowing table one last time, heart still pounding. Choose… or run.
"I'm done running," she said.
The group followed Ellen into the passage, vanishing just as dark shadows crept past the doorway.
Zack's POV
He stood at the edge of the clearing, staring into the shadows where the creature had vanished.
It should've reached her by now. He felt the bond snap—someone stopped it.
His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. The spell had been perfect. The timing, the intent, the power behind it… all precise. There was only one explanation: interference.
Someone was working against him.
He turned slowly, scanning the camp. Everything looked normal. Too normal.
Zoe and Maggy sat at the research table, flipping through ancient texts and maps. Mr. Sympson hovered near the equipment, muttering about energy readings and anomalies. Nothing suspicious. Not even a sideways glance.
But Zack knew better. His eyes lingered on Maggy. She's been watching me lately… too closely. And Zoe—always so quiet, yet always nearby.
He walked toward them with a practiced smile.
"Any progress?" he asked, voice smooth.
Maggy looked up, tapping a page. "Yeah. We're getting a clearer reading on the ley lines near the Guardian's resting point. They seem to be reacting to the eclipse more than expected."
Zoe added quickly, "It might explain the spikes we've been picking up. Could be natural."
Zack nodded slowly, pretending to take interest. But inside, his thoughts burned.
They were lying. He could feel it.
They're hiding something from me.
He leaned closer to the map and pointed at a section near the cave entrance. "What about this ridge here? Any movement?"
Mr. Sympson joined them. "None yet. But if anything happens, we'll see it first. We're watching every shift."
Zack smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Then I'll just have to shift something myself.
He turned away calmly, but his mind was already racing. He'd summon another creature—stronger, faster, smarter. He wouldn't just send it.
He'd go with it.
If they want a game of shadows, I'll show them darkness.