The world was chaos.
The rift above pulsed and crackled, spilling light and shadow into the darkened wastelands. The creatures that emerged were a nightmare—distorted forms with jagged limbs, eyes like burning coals, and a hunger that Kiran could feel deep in his bones.
"What's happening?" Kiran shouted as he stumbled after the woman who had saved his life.
"No time for questions," she snapped, firing another crackling beam of energy at a creature lunging toward them. The creature exploded in a cloud of ash and static, but more surged forward, their shrieks splitting the air. "Just keep moving!"
Kiran barely had time to process her words before she shoved him toward an abandoned building. They ducked inside, the sound of crumbling rubble echoing as she slammed a strange metallic device onto the wall. It flared with light, forming a shimmering barrier over the entrance.
"Good. That'll hold them off for a few minutes," she muttered, brushing ash off her armor.
Kiran pressed his back against the wall, panting. His heart felt like it was going to burst, and every muscle in his body screamed with exhaustion. "Who… who the hell are you?"
The woman glanced at him, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Elyra" she said briskly. "And you just became the biggest problem in the multiverse, kid."
Kiran blinked. "The what now?"
Elyra sighed, as though explaining the obvious. "That crystal you touched—it's a Rift Key. One of the most dangerous artifacts in existence. It opened a rift to the Infinite Realms, connecting this world to… everything else." She gestured toward the barrier, beyond which shadows writhed and pressed. "And those things outside? Riftborn. They're just the beginning."
Kiran stared at her, the words washing over him like a tide of incomprehensible information. "I didn't… I didn't mean to—"
"No one ever does," Elyra interrupted, her voice hard. "But you did. And now they're coming for you."
"Why me?!" Kiran demanded. "I didn't ask for this! I was just scavenging!"
"Doesn't matter." Elyra knelt and began fiddling with a small holographic device that projected a map in midair. "The Rift Key bonded to you. That means you're connected to the rift. Wherever you go, it'll follow—and so will they."
Kiran's mind reeled. This couldn't be happening. A day ago, he'd been worrying about water rations and avoiding raiders. Now he was… what? The target of interdimensional monsters?
He looked down at his wrist, where the glowing sigil Elyra had imprinted on him shimmered faintly. "And what's this thing you put on me?"
"A ward," she said, not looking up. "It marks you as mine. For now, it'll keep weaker Riftborn off your scent. But it won't stop the big ones. They'll still come."
"Great," Kiran muttered. "Just great."
Elyra stood abruptly. "We need to move. The ward will buy us some time, but not much."
"Move where?" Kiran asked, panic creeping into his voice. "I don't even know what's going on!"
"To the nearest gate," Elyra replied, slinging her weapon over her shoulder. "There's a waystation a few klicks from here. If we can get there, I can stabilize the rift and maybe figure out why it chose you."
"Stabilize it?" Kiran echoed. "You mean… close it?"
Elyra shook her head. "Rifts don't just close. Not without consequences. But we can control the flow. Keep the really bad things out—for now."
Kiran wanted to argue, to demand more answers, but the look in Elyra's eyes silenced him. She wasn't just some random scavenger or soldier. She moved and spoke with the confidence of someone who'd faced this kind of chaos before.
"Fine," he said, swallowing his fear. "Let's go."
Elyra smirked faintly. "Smart choice, rookie. Stick close and do exactly as I say."
She deactivated the barrier, and they slipped back into the ruins. The rift above loomed larger now, casting an unnatural glow over the wasteland. The air hummed with energy, and Kiran could feel it vibrating in his chest, pulling at him.
"Eyes open," Elyra murmured, scanning the shadows.
The creatures were quieter now, but Kiran could still sense them, lurking just out of sight. His grip tightened on the machete he'd nearly forgotten he was holding.
"Why are they after me?" he whispered.
Elyra glanced at him. "Because you're the Rift Key's chosen wielder. It marks you as a threat—or an opportunity. Either way, they want you dead. Or worse."
"Worse?"
She didn't answer.
The silence was oppressive as they navigated the ruins. Every step felt like it echoed too loudly, drawing attention. Kiran's pulse pounded in his ears.
Then, without warning, the ground beneath them cracked, and a massive Riftborn burst through the rubble. This one was different—its form sleek and predatory, with a long, whip-like tail that crackled with electricity.
"Run!" Elyra shouted, firing her weapon.
Kiran didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted, the creature's shriek echoing behind him as Elyra covered their retreat.
"What the hell is that thing?!" he yelled over the noise.
"A Reaver!" Elyra shouted back. "One of the Rift's hunters. Keep moving!"
Kiran ducked and weaved through the ruins, his lungs burning. The Reaver was fast—too fast. He could hear it closing the distance, its tail whipping through the air with a sharp crack.
Elyra skidded to a stop ahead of him, planting a device on the ground. "Down!" she yelled.
Kiran threw himself to the ground just as the device detonated, releasing a burst of energy that sent the Reaver flying. It slammed into a wall with a deafening crash, but even as it fell, it began to stir again, its body reforming.
"They don't stay dead, do they?" Kiran gasped.
"Nope." Elyra grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet. "That's why we don't fight them—we run."
As they bolted toward the horizon, Kiran's mind raced. He didn't know where this journey would take him, but one thing was clear: his life as a scavenger was over.
The Rift had chosen him. And now, he would have to survive it.