Erik, Liam, and Mia sat tensely in the infirmary chamber, their eyes darting toward the heavy doors that separated them from the chaos outside. The chamber that once filled with the warm light of Asgard's golden glow now felt cold. The soft hum of the healers' magic was barely noticeable over the sounds of battle that raged beyond the walls.
The unsettling cries of the wolves echoed through the stone corridors and sending a shiver down their spines. Thor's thunderous roars of fury seems to shook the walls, and with every howl of pain from the wolves the three teens felt the tension within them coil tighter.
Liam was the first to break the silence. His voice, though firm, carried a thread of doubt.
"The big god will win, right?" he asked, his eyes locking onto one of the healers. A man who draped in white robes with glowing hands that had been tending to Liam's wounds. Now he paused, his expression calm but serious as he looked up at the anxious boy.
"Lord Thor is very powerful," the healer replied with a reassuring nod. "He is the God of Thunder, the protector of Asgard. There is no doubt that he will win. The wolves stand no chance against his might."
Liam nodded, taking in the healer's words, but the knot in his stomach didn't ease. Despite the healer's confident assurance, a deep gnawing sense of unease still lingered within him. He could feel it in the pit of his stomach.
Erik and Mia shared a glance, both of them sensing the same ominous feeling that Liam did. It was as if the air around them was thick with dark cloud.
"This doesn't feel right," Mia finally whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant sounds of battle. She hugged her arms around herself, as if trying to ward off the cold that had settled deep within her.
Erik nodded in agreement, his jaw clenched. The instinctual urge to fight that had gnawed at him earlier was still there but now it was mingled with a growing fear, as it they were missing something.
Outside, the sounds of the battle continued. The wolves' painful yelps and Thor's furious screams of rage reverberated through the walls.
Suddenly, an unsettling sensation washed over Erik, Liam, and Mia. The feeling clawed at their senses, sending a shiver down their spines. Erik was the first to react, his heart pounding as he instinctively sensed that something dangerous was close—too close.
Without a second thought, Erik's gaze snapped toward the door where the sense of dread was strongest. His eyes widened in alarm.
"Something's coming!" Erik shouted. The words barely left his mouth before chaos erupted in the room.
The healers froze in place, their faces draining of color. The once-calming atmosphere of the chamber was shattered as panic spread. Their families now looked around with fear and confusion.
Liam and Mia already on edge from the tension in the air so they can reacted almost instantly, just a second later than Erik. The unease fueling their adrenaline.
Erik scanned the room, his mind racing. There were no weapons in sight, nothing they could use to defend themselves.
Except for the small surgical knives the healers had been using.
His gaze locked onto one of the knives on a nearby tray. Without hesitation he lunged for it then grabbing the handle and turning to face the door.
"Get ready!" Erik ordered.
Liam and Mia needed no further prompting. They each grabbed a surgical knife from the healers then positioned themselves beside Erik, forming a protective line in front of their families.
Their families huddled together, fear etched across their faces. Mia's father though he also still weak instinctively stepped forward, placing himself in front of Erik's mom and Liam's grandpa.
The chamber was deathly silent for a moment. The ominous presence grew stronger with each passing second.
And then, the door began to creak open.
All eyes were fixed on the widening gap as a figure clad in black and imposing armor stepped into view. The armor was sleek and menacing, with edges that caught the dim light and reflected it in cold, muted tones. The figure's face was obscured by a mask.
With a quiet click, the door closed behind him, and a faint blue light shimmered along its edges, sealing it shut. The cold light bathed the room, the warmth had been drained from the air leaving only a chilling void.
The figure turned slowly to face them. His gaze that hidden behind the mask making the hairs on the back of Erik's neck stand on end. The masked intruder took in the scene, noting the knife clutched in their hands, and a low chuckle escaped from behind the mask.
"Well, well," the figure said. "I must admit, I'm a little shocked to see you all ready to greet me like this."
His tone was mocking, as if the idea of them posing any kind of threat was utterly laughable to him.
Erik's grip on the knife tightened, his knuckles turning white as he took a cautious step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of his mother and the others. His heart pounded in his chest but he forced himself to meet the figure's gaze.
How did he get in here? What are all the guards doing outside? Is this figure so strong that he can paralyze them?
These thoughts flashed through Erik's head and made him even more afraid.
"Could it be that the wolves outside are just a diversion so he can come in here and kill us?!"
"Who are you?" Erik demanded, forcing his voice to be steady.
The masked intruder tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question, before a dark smile spread beneath his mask.
"Ah, where are my manners?" he said, his voice dripping with sinister charm. "You can call me... an old friend of Asgard. But I suppose that doesn't really answer your question, does it?"
He took a step closer.
"Let's just say I'm here to ensure that things go... according to plan." The last words were spoken with a chilling finality.
Erik, Liam, and Mia exchanged tense glances, each of them sensing the overwhelming danger in the air. Whoever this figure was, he was far more than they had bargained for.
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