Raelyn jolted awake, her heart pounding against her ribcage as the deafening sound of a sonic boom echoed through the valley. The cave walls trembled, loose pebbles tumbling to the ground. She grabbed the laser rifle beside her, gripping it tightly, and crept toward the mouth of the cave, her movements cautious but deliberate.
The night sky outside was eerily still, save for the glowing streak of a sleek, futuristic jet cutting through the darkness. Its body was triangular, with edges lined by pulsating blue lights that gave it an ethereal glow. The surface of the jet appeared seamless, as if carved from a single piece of shimmering black metal that reflected the moonlight. Strange symbols etched into its wings pulsed faintly, casting flickers shadows across the rocky terrain.
Raelyn crouched low, eyes narrowing as the jet descended slowly. It hovered a few feet above the ground, completely silent except for the faint hum of its engines. Then, with sharp hiss, a hatch opened, and a ramp extended.
Three figures emerged, silhouettes at first, but the moonlight soon revealed their details. Two men in sleek, dark suits flanked a woman who walked ahead of them. The woman's presence was striking—her strides confident, exuding power and elegance. Her long coat, black and trimmed with silver, swept behind her like a cape.
She stopped a few feet from Raelyn, her arms crossed. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, almost otherworldly. Her sharp cheekbones framed piercing green eyes that gleamed like emeralds in the dim light. Her auburn hair cascaded in soft waves past her shoulders, catching the faint glow of the jet behind her. Her lips curled into a faint smile, but the coldness in her eyes froze Raelyn in place.
"Hello there, my descendant," the woman said, her voice smooth and melodic, yet laced with authority.
Raelyn stiffened, tightening her grip on the rifle. "Who are you? What do you mean by 'descendant'?"
The woman tilted her head, the smile remaining but not reaching her eyes. "Amara Vale. I'm sure you have many questions. But thi—" she gestured to the desolate surroundings—"is hardly the place for answers. Come, let's speak somewhere suitable."
She turned and began walking back toward the jet, her strides unhurried but purposeful.
Raelyn hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to run, but curiosity and something unexplainable rooted her feet. She swallowed hard and followed.
The jet hummed as it began to lift off the ground the moment they were inside. With a deafening boom, it shot upward into the sky, the stars blurring as the speed increased.
Inside, Raelyn was momentarily awestruck by the interior. The walls were made of a polished, silvery material that shimmered like liquid metal. Holographic panels hovered in midair, displaying complex symbols and maps she didn't understand. The seats molded themselves to their occupants, shifting and adjusting for comfort. A soft, ambient glow illuminated the space, and the faint hum of the engines was oddly smoothing.
Amara led Raelyn to a private room at the back of the jet. The room was spacious, with walls of glowing panels that pulsed faintly with gold light. A plush, high-backed chair sat on either side of a sleek black table. Amara gestured for Raelyn to sit before settling into her own seat with an air of regal poise.
"How's your mental state after what you endured in that place?" Amara asked, her green eyes studying Raelyn closely.
Raelyn stiffened. "How do you know about that?"
Amara's smile deepened, but it remained cold. "Because I've been there, Raelyn. I've survived it."
Raelyn's brow furrowed. "If that's true, why didn't I see you there? I went through every inch of that place."
Amara folded her hands on the table. "Because it happened at different times. I walked that maze long before you were born."
Raelyn's breath hitched. "What do you mean? You're... from my time?"
"No," Amara said calmly. "I'm your ancestor. And what you experienced wasn't random or coincidental. It was set in motion the day you were born."
Raelyn's voice was tight. "Set in motion? What are you talking about?"
Amara leaned back, her gaze distant. "I've been in this time for over 200 years, Raelyn. That place you survived... it's not what you were told. The angel lied to you it's not a prototype or an experiment. It's a curse."
Raelyn blinked. "A curse?"
Amara nodded slowly. "A curse on our bloodline, passed down through generations. I've spent centuries piercing together its origin. It all begun with one of our ancestors—Aveline Corwyn."
Raelyn felt her stomach drop at the name. "What happened to her?"
Amara's expression darkened. "Aveline encountered a demon named Vexis. He had taken a human form and fallen in love with a mortal woman. But when his true identity was discovered, the townsfolk captured his lover. They branded her a witch and tortured her mercilessly—impaling her body, beating, and finally burning her alive. Vexis wasn't there to stop it. When he returned and found what they had done, his grief consumed him.
"He summoned his kind and waged war on the world in his rage, killing millions. Aveline was a soldier sent to stop him. She fought valiantly, but Vexis cursed her before he was banished. He condemned her and her descendants to a world of endless torment, vowing to erase our bloodline from existence."
Raelyn's voice wavered. "That... can't be real."
Amara's eyes met hers, cold and piercing. "Believe what you will, but that place—the maze—it's his creation. And it's not over."
Before Raelyn could respond, the jet began to descend. Outside the window, a massive tower loomed, piercing through the clouds. It's surface gleamed like polished steel, glowing faintly with intricate circuitry.
The jet landed on a platform, and Amara motioned for Raelyn to follow. They stepped out, and a glowing pad on the platform enveloped them in light. In an instant, they were teleported to the top floor.
The room they entered was luxurious and futuristic, with walls of transparent crystal that offered a breathtaking view of the skyline. Amara turned to Raelyn.
"Go wash up and change," she said, her tone brisk. "There are clothes in the room to your left. Once you're ready, we'll continue this conversation.
Raelyn hesitated but nodded. She stepped into the adjoining room, her mind reeling from everything she'd just heard.