Present Timeline – Mei's Escape
Mei's tears blurred her vision as she sprinted through the dim, winding corridors, her breath ragged. The sound of footsteps echoed behind her—shadows closing in fast. Anger bubbled inside her, overtaking her fear. She skidded to a stop and turned to face the nearest pursuer.
"You won't take me!" she screamed, focusing the swirling emotions within her.
The shadow lunged, but before it could reach her, a beam of searing energy erupted from Mei's hands, engulfing it. The creature writhed in the light before disintegrating into nothingness. Mei stared at her hands, trembling.
"Where have you been?" she muttered under her breath, marveling at the power now coursing through her.
The remaining shadow charged at her, and she instinctively raised her hands again. This time, a sharper, brighter beam fired from her palms, obliterating her attacker. Mei staggered back, her breathing uneven. She clenched her fists, a mixture of fear and wonder flickering across her face.
Past Timeline – Lingxi Outskirts, 9:55 PM
Kai appeared amidst the dense forest, disoriented and confused. The cool night air brushed against his face as he surveyed his surroundings.
"What happened... where am I?" he muttered.
A familiar voice called out, jolting him. "Kai! Quick, create an illusion of Mei to deceive the shadow!"
Kai turned to see Lila supporting an injured Ryu. Lila's tone was urgent as she continued, "Ryu's hurt. I can't follow you. It's up to you!"
Kai's mind raced, a strange sense of déjà vu creeping in. "This... I've been here before. Mei was injured. Ava was also hurt, and the shadows took her."
"Kai!" Lila's shout broke his train of thought. "We're running out of time! What are you doing?"
Shaking off his confusion, Kai focused. His hands glowed as he conjured an illusion of Mei, shimmering in the moonlight. The figure darted deeper into the forest, drawing the shadow's attention.
"Hey! Over here!" Kai shouted.
The shadow turned toward the illusion, a sinister grin forming. "Now I've got you."
As the shadow chased after the illusion, Kai moved swiftly through the trees. He paused when a familiar red smoke began swirling around him. The air grew heavier, and the forest seemed to darken.
Kai took a cautious step back. The shadow stopped, cloaking itself in the crimson mist, unmoving but menacing.
---
Present Timeline – Lingxi City, 1:42 PM
Ryu and Lila navigated the city streets, their eyes darting around for signs of danger. Ryu suddenly stopped, gripping Lila's arm.
"Look," he said, pointing ahead.
Lila turned, her gaze narrowing. "It's the shadows... but why are they crimson?"
Before they could react, the shadow moved. In an instant, Ryu vanished.
"Ryu?" Lila whispered, her voice trembling. Panic set in as she turned to run, her mind racing.
She collided with Mei, who was trembling, her face streaked with tears.
"Mei! You're alright!" Lila exclaimed, gripping her shoulders. "Where's Kai?"
Mei shook her head, her sobs intensifying.
"What happened?" Lila pressed, her voice filled with worry.
Mei wiped her tears. "I don't know. He just... disappeared. That shadow—it touched him, and he was gone. I've never seen anything like it."
Lila's expression hardened. "You're not alone. I just saw one of those things. It touched Ryu... and now he's gone too."
Mei's eyes widened in shock. "What is going on?"
---
Past Timeline – Lingxi Outskirts, 10:19 PM
Kai stood frozen, his eyes locked on the crimson shadow. It hadn't moved since appearing, but its presence weighed heavily on him.
"Kai! Kai!"
The shout broke through the tense silence. Kai turned to see Ryu approaching. His relief was short-lived as the shadow began inching closer.
Ryu grabbed Kai's shoulder, his voice urgent. "Move slowly and don't take your eyes off it."
Kai hesitated. "Why?"
"Just trust me," Ryu said, his voice firm. "It touched me earlier, and somehow I ended up here. I think if you keep your eyes on it, it can't hurt you. But if you look away... it moves closer."
Kai's mind raced. "Quantum energy," he murmured. "It's not just teleporting you. It's pulling you through time."
Ryu's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you saying?"
Kai didn't respond immediately. Instead, he created an illusion of himself to maintain eye contact with the shadow. Slowly, he backed away, motioning for Ryu to follow.
"You were sent back in time," Kai said, his tone grim. "That's why you're here."
Ryu shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "That's impossible."
Kai stopped and gestured toward a clearing in the forest. In the distance, Mei lay injured, clutching her stomach.
"Do you remember this day?" Kai asked. "Do you remember how she was hurt by the blood manipulator?"
Ryu's breath caught as recognition dawned. "No... no way. This can't be happening."
As Kai helped Mei to her feet, Ryu of the past was at the sanctuary's edge. His body began shimmering, the edges of his form flickering.
Lila ran to him, her face pale with fear. "Ryu! What's happening to you?"
Ryu looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I don't feel so good..."
Lila's voice cracked. "No! Stay with me!"
But her words were in vain. Ryu dissolved into glowing particles, his essence scattering into the air. Lila fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she clutched at the empty space where he had been.
---
Present Timeline – Lingxi City, 2:10 PM
Mei and Lila stood face-to-face with the crimson shadow. It loomed over them, its form shifting like smoke, its eyes glowing with malevolence.
Mei stepped forward, her hands glowing with energy. "I'll stop it," she said, her voice firm.
Lila's eyes widened. "Mei, no! We don't even know what it is!"
But Mei had already unleashed a barrage of beams, each one striking the shadow with blinding intensity. When the light faded, the shadow remained unscathed, its form twisting mockingly.
"What?" Mei whispered, her confidence faltering.
Lila grabbed her arm. "Keep looking at it! Don't let it move!"
"What are you going to do?" Lila asked, her voice shaking.
Mei clenched her fists, her mind racing for a plan. She couldn't let the shadow win—not after everything it had taken.
But as the shadow loomed closer, a chilling realization settled over her. This wasn't just any shadow. It was something far more ancient, more powerful, and more dangerous than anything they had faced before.