He sat there, battered and bloodied, his glasses shattered, at the mercy of Parker's sinister demands. El regarded Seth's motionless form, her emotions carefully hidden beneath a façade of composure. She had always been skilled at concealing her true feelings.
Impatiently, Parker thrust a sharp piece of flint into El's hand. The weapon gleamed with an almost hypnotic allure, its polished edge honed to a deadly thinness. Slowly, El approached Seth, who appeared as if he were merely sleeping, despite the visible injuries that marred his face.
Tears welled up in El's eyes as regret and sorrow flooded her thoughts. I'm so sorry, Seth.
Observing her hesitation, Parker stepped closer, his desperation palpable. His gaze darted from the dagger to El to Seth, urging her to fulfill his dark request.
"Come on," he implored. "Let's get this done and over with."
Through her tear-filled eyes, El caught sight of Parker's uneasy movements, his hand reaching into his pocket. A glimmer of something caught her attention—a glowing rock, the artifact.
Her mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. Was it a contingency plan, an alternative should she defy his commands?
"Do it now!" Parker spat.
"Now," El repeated, her voice calm and measured.
Suddenly, Seth's eyes snapped open. To Parker's horror, he lunged forward, seizing the artifact and causing the ropes restraining him to fall away. Reacting swiftly, El swung her arm and struck Parker at the back of his head with the dagger. He crumpled to the ground as El seized Seth's hand, propelled by the ethereal glow emanating from the artifact.
As they fled, guided by the artifact's light, Parker's weakened voice called out, pleadingly. El paused, turning to see him lying on the ground, blood trickling from his head. His eyes held a profound sadness that tugged at her heart, but she knew there was no turning back.
Then, disaster struck.
The warehouse walls quivered, showering them with dust and debris. Panic coursed through El as she shouted over the chaos, seeking answers.
Seth, clutching the artifact tightly, stretched his sleeve, placing it beneath the glowing rock. "It's burning!" he exclaimed. "This must be its power."
Chunks of wood crashed down around them, the warehouse trembling violently. A colossal wall segment collapsed, severing their path and trapping Parker on the other side.
"Parker!" El cried out, but it was too late. She watched helplessly as he lay motionless, his legs crushed by the weight of debris. There was no rescue possible.
"We have to escape," El determined, gripping Seth's hand firmly. Together, they navigated the collapsing warehouse, skillfully evading falling wreckage and supporting each other's progress. Seth's shattered glasses hindered his vision, relying solely on El's guidance.
Through sheer determination, they located the doorway, which, too, threatened to crumble. Parts of the wall obstructed their escape route.
"Quickly!" El tugged Seth toward her, shoving him through the narrow opening. She squeezed herself out just in time, narrowly evading a massive plank that crashed down seconds later. Gasping for breath, El seized Seth's hand once more, and together they sprinted across the field, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the collapsing warehouse. Exhausted, injured, and breathless, they sought solace against the support of a sturdy tree.
El's grip on Seth's hand tightened, their eyes locked in a shared horror as the entire warehouse succumbed to destruction, its remnants engulfed in swirling clouds of dust.
The world seemed to hold its breath as El and Seth stood witness to the ruins left in their wake, forever altered by the consequences of their choices.