The group lay sprawled across the football field, their breaths coming in sharp gasps as they tried to process what had just happened. Erik stared at the sky, still glowing with the residual energy of the magic he'd used to bring them back. His heart pounded in his chest, not just from exertion but from something new: fear.
For the first time since discovering his powers, he realized that there might be limits. The creature—whatever it was—had been too powerful for him. He could feel its ancient energy still lingering, like a dark, looming cloud on the edge of his awareness.
Carter was the first to speak. "Okay... what the actual hell just happened?"
"We almost got squashed by a... a freaking monster," Zara said, sitting up and brushing dirt off her jeans. She still clutched her phone, but for once, she wasn't recording. "That thing was massive. Erik, what was that?"
"I don't know," Erik said quietly, his voice unsteady. "It came from the mountain. I didn't mean for it to happen."
"You didn't mean for it to happen?" Sasha repeated, her voice sharp. She got to her feet, brushing off her clothes with trembling hands. "Erik, you brought us there. You summoned that thing with your powers. How could you not know what you were doing?"
Erik didn't have an answer. His powers had felt limitless until now, but the creature had been something else—something that existed outside his control. He didn't like the feeling of it.
Lili stood up and crossed her arms, staring at Erik with a mix of concern and frustration. "We need answers, Erik. You've been playing with these powers like they're a toy, but that thing we saw? That wasn't a game."
"I know," Erik muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't expect this. I thought I could just... you know, do whatever. Have fun."
"Well, the fun almost got us killed," Hugo said softly. He hadn't said much since they'd returned, his face pale and eyes wide. "We can't keep messing around."
The group fell silent, the weight of what had just happened sinking in. Erik's mind raced, trying to think of a way to fix this. If that creature was still out there—and it definitely was—then they had just unleashed something far beyond their understanding.
Suddenly, a soft glow caught Erik's eye. He looked down at his hand, where a faint golden light was pulsing from the center of his palm. The same light that had emerged from the cracks in the mountain. He clenched his fist, and the light faded, but it left behind a lingering sensation—like a connection to something greater.
"There's something going on," Erik said, his voice low. "That creature... it didn't just appear out of nowhere. It was already there, buried beneath the earth. I think—" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I think I woke it up."
Lili frowned. "What do you mean, 'woke it up'?"
Erik took a deep breath. "My powers—they're not just about bending reality or making stuff float. There's something deeper. I felt it when we were up there. That creature... it's part of something ancient, something tied to this power. And now that I've tapped into it, I don't think it's going to stop."
Sasha's eyes widened. "Are you saying there are more of those things?"
"Maybe," Erik said grimly. "And I think they're drawn to me."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. The air felt heavy, the weight of Erik's words pressing down on them like a tangible force.
"So, what do we do?" Carter asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "I mean, we can't just sit around and wait for more monsters to show up."
"We need to figure out what we're dealing with," Sasha said, her practical nature kicking in. "There has to be a way to control this—or at least understand it."
Erik nodded, though inside, he wasn't so sure. He had no idea where to even start. But as the unofficial leader of this group, he felt the pressure to do something. To figure this out before things spiraled even further out of control.
"I'll do some research," he said, his mind already racing through possibilities. "There has to be some kind of clue about what's going on. Something about the connection between my powers and that creature."
Lili stepped forward, her expression softening. "Erik, whatever this is, we're with you. But you need to take this seriously now. No more games."
Erik met her gaze and nodded, appreciating her support more than he could express. "I will. I promise."
As the group began to discuss their next steps, Erik's mind drifted back to the creature. That ancient energy still hummed faintly in his chest, like a whisper at the edge of his consciousness. He didn't want to admit it to the others, but he could feel something else stirring. Something deeper.
Whatever he had awoken, it wasn't finished.