The stormy night sky cast a dark and foreboding shadow over the school courtyard. The wind rustled through the trees, and the distant rumble of thunder echoed through the deserted grounds. Erica's dormitory window was suddenly illuminated by a flash of lightning, revealing the building's imposing structure. The wind picked up, whipping her window curtains into a frenzy.
Erica was fast asleep in her nightgown, oblivious to the tempest raging outside. But the thunder boomed again, and she jolted awake, her eyes wide with fear. She rushed to close the window, but the wind had other plans. With an unseen force, it slammed the window shut, sending Erica flying across the room. She landed with a soft thud, her back against the wall, legs barely touching the ground.
As she struggled to catch her breath, Erica's eyes turned white, and she was consumed by a vision. In the heart of the school, an ancient temple stood tall, its entrance guarded by a mysterious girl wielding a strange dagger. An orb glowed on a staff, casting an ethereal light. The scene shifted, and Erica saw Witchelder, her eyes blind, yet her voice booming with prophecy.
"In the realm of shadows, where darkness reigns, the Duskbinder shall rise, with power to reshape the plains. A warrior reborn, with purpose clear, to vanquish witches, and banish fears."
Witchelder's form shifted, her face changing to reveal different visages. "But lo, a maiden fair, with faith intertwined, shall rise within the circles, a protector aligned. With powers equal to the Duskbinder's might, she shall stand against him, in the final light."
****
[END VISION]
****
The vision ended, Erica's eyes returned to normal, and she collapsed to the ground, her body trembling. The storm outside ceased as suddenly as it had begun, and the room was quiet once more. Her roommate, Sharon, slept peacefully, unaware of the turmoil that had just transpired.
Erica struggled to her feet, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. She stumbled backward, her hand grasping for the wall to steady herself. Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with terror.
"The prophecy...?! What did it mean? What's happening to me?"
She looked around the room, hoping to find some answers, but everything seemed ordinary again. The window was closed, the curtains still, and Sharon slept on, oblivious to Erica's distress. The only sign of the strange occurrence was Erica's own racing heart and the lingering sense of dread that clung to her like a shroud.
****
[NOW IN PARIS - MORNING]
****
The Eiffel Tower stood majestic against the Parisian skyline, its iron latticework glinting in the sunlight. The bustling tourists below created a stark contrast to the serene blue sky above. But as the gaze shifted to the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the atmosphere transformed. The weathered facade seemed to absorb the harsh sunlight, casting long shadows that stretched like skeletal fingers.
Inside the warehouse, the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant hum of city life beyond its walls. The stillness was palpable, until the rusty machines suddenly roared to life, their vibrations growing in intensity. Cobwebs disintegrated as if an unseen force stirred, and a blood-red circle materialized on the floor, swirling with an otherworldly power. Elian and Lilly were sent tumbling across the cold concrete, their bodies rolling helplessly as the circle vanished, leaving them stunned and disoriented.
Elian dusted himself off, looking around in confusion. "Where the hell are we?" He offered a hand to help Lilly up, and she took it, still disoriented.
"I have no idea," Lilly replied, rubbing her head. "Everything here is so... rusty. How did we even get here?"
Elian's expression turned serious. "Your blood activated the Chronospect Map, and it brought us here."
Lilly's eyes widened as memories flooded back. "That's right! I remember now. The map must have brought us here for a reason. We just need to figure out what that is."
Elian's gaze intensified. "I think the map brought us here to find the Chosen One."
Lilly surveyed their surroundings, her eyes settling on the blocked exits. "Well, I can't find a way out. All the doors are sealed with heavy machinery."
Elian's head lifted, determination in his eyes. "There's always a way out."
Lilly looked up, her gaze following the towering walls. "You can't be serious. How do you expect us to climb that high?"
Elian's attention, however, was fixed on Lilly's face, his expression softening. Lilly turned to him, noticing his distraction. "Elian? What's wrong? What are you looking at?"
Elian's cheeks flushed as he snapped back to reality. "Oh, um, nothing. To climb that high, we need to—"
Before he could finish, a girl came crashing through the glass roof above, her body slamming into the ground with a sickening crunch. Elian and Lilly rushed to her side, Lilly quickly placing her hands on the girl's neck.
Elian's expression turned concerned. "Lilly, what's going on? Is she okay?"
Lilly's face fell, her eyes welling up with tears. "She...she's gone."
Elian shook his head. "No one could survive that fall."
Lilly's frustration boiled over. "So this is it? That damn portal brought us here just to witness her death? What's the point of any of this?"
Elian placed a calming hand on Lilly's arm. "There must be a reason for us to be here, Lilly. It might not be about her. We just need to find out what it is."
Lilly's anger flared. "Then why the hell are we here anyway? We can't even escape! I'm so tired of all this bullshit."
Elian's voice remained calm and soothing. "You need to calm down, Lilly. This isn't our fault. We can't control the situation, but we can control our thoughts and emotions. Let's take a deep breath and focus on the present moment. Remember, every storm will pass, and the sun will shine again. We got this, Lilly."
Lilly took a deep breath, her expression softening. "Wow...that's deep."
As they locked eyes, the air between them crackled with anticipation. Their gaze lingered, and the world around them melted away. Slowly, as if drawn by an unseen force, they leaned in towards each other. Their faces inched closer, their lips almost touching. The tension built, and the moment hung suspended in time.
Just then, the dead girl began to stir, her bones stretching back to normal as she slowly got up. Elian's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly pulled away from Lilly, his attention fixed on the miraculous scene unfolding before them.
Elian's eyes remained wide open, his face still inches from Lilly's. "Holy shit!"
Lilly's expression turned from embarrassment to shock, her silence palpable.
The blonde girl, Scarlett, now fully revived, stood behind Lilly, her presence seemingly unnoticed by Elian.
Lilly's confusion deepened. "What the fuck was that, Elian?"
Elian slowly pointed behind Lilly. "How the fuck did she do that?"
Lilly turned, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Oh my god...how the fuck did you survive?"
Scarlett introduced herself, her manners apologetic. "I'm Scarlett Cruz. Sorry if I ruined your date. I'll just leave."
As she turned to depart, Elian spotted a scorpion tattoo on her back.
Lilly reminded her, "All exits are blocked. Don't waste time searching. Our only way out is through where you came in."
Elian revealed their purpose, "Actually, we're here for you. And how the fuck did you do that?"
Scarlett turned, curious. "How did you get in? And what do you mean by saying you're here for me?"
Elian explained, "That mark on your shoulder...you're a Scorpio...not just an ordinary Scorpio, but a Chosen One. You have a greater purpose to serve."
Scarlett's expression changed, her eyes narrowing.
Lilly urged, "We must get you out of here!"
Scarlett feigned confusion. "Am sorry, who are you again?"
Elian readdressed the situation, "We are the—"
But his words were cut short as a part of the building wall collapsed, and a dragon emerged from the rubble.
The ground trembled as the dragon reared back, gathering energy. Its chest expanded, and then, with a primal roar, it released a torrent of fire descending towards Elian, Lilly, and Scarlett. Quickly, Elian used his magical force shield to protect them from the inferno.
The dragon paused, flames dancing in its nostrils, tiny sparks swirling like angry fireflies, ready to unleash another fire breath. Elian controlled his force shield, encasing the dragon in a tight circle. The dragon, now trapped like a yolk inside an eggshell, released its inferno, roasting itself to ashes.
Scarlett turned to Lilly, "Actually, that's a good idea. We have to go. That's the dragon that dropped from the roof." Lilly's eyes widened in awe, "Wow."
Elian continued his introduction, "Well, Scarlett Cruz, I'm Elian Blackwood, and this is Lilly Lumen."
Scarlett's expression turned curious, "Wow, that's great. So what brought you guys to Paris in the first place...apart from 'you're here for me'?"
Lilly whispered, "Wow, it is Paris."
Elian explained, "We're here for you, Scarlett. You're one of the chosen signs, and you must come with us to fight for the greater good of the world."
Scarlett's eyes narrowed, "Hmm...that sounds like suicide to me."
Lilly countered, "It'll only be suicide if you refuse to fight for this world."
Scarlett asked, "Who are we fighting anyway?"
Elian replied, "The one who sent that dragon after you."
Lilly added, "You're truly gifted, Scarlett. After all, you have nothing to lose. You just came back from the dead..." She chuckled, "How is that even possible?"
Scarlett smiled sadly, "You have no idea. Like water, I've learned to yield and adapt to the forces of pain and suffering. And in doing so, I've discovered a deeper strength within myself. I feel no pain...well, technically."
Lilly nodded, impressed, "Wow, that's solid."
Scarlett turned to Elian, "Are you going to lead the way or not?"
Elian searched for a rope to create an anchor and then suddenly, the blood circle reappeared. "Oh yeah, this is the way."
Scarlett hesitated, "There's no way I'm entering that thing."
Elian entered the blood circle, followed by Lilly. Scarlett reluctantly followed, "Well, guess I'm coming."
****
[WOODS - CONTINUE]
****
The woods were shrouded in an eerie fog, obscuring all visibility. As we ventured deeper, the silence was broken by the gruesome sight of five lifeless bodies - three men and two women - lying disfigured on the ground. Their flesh was torn apart, as if ravaged by a wild beast.
Ruby leaned against a tree, her figure barely recognizable beneath the bloodstains and swelling. Her eyes were closed, her hand clutching a dagger tightly. A haunting whisper echoed through the woods, echoing in Ruby's mind.
"You can't hide from your destiny, young one. Free me, and I will show you how powerful you can be."
Ruby's eyes slowly opened, and she was met with the horrific sight of the dead bodies. A flashback triggered, and memories came flooding back.!