IMMORTAL QUEST
Chapter 4: A Fractured Beginning
The next morning at Ridgewood High, life carried on as usual for the rest of the students. For Scott and his friends, though, normalcy was a distant memory. The vision from the Realm Between replayed in their minds, and the weight of their newfound roles hung heavily over them.
As Scott approached their usual spot by the lockers, he caught sight of Derek leaning casually against the wall, chatting with a couple of girls. When he noticed Scott, Derek broke off mid-sentence and walked over.
"Morning, Fearless Leader," Derek said, his tone light but tinged with an edge. "So, what's the plan today? Save the world before or after lunch?"
Scott frowned. "Can we not do this now?"
"I'm just saying," Derek continued, "it's a lot to take in. Maybe we should just—"
"Just what?" Mia interrupted, appearing with Allison in tow. "Ignore it? Pretend we didn't see or hear anything?"
"Exactly," Derek shot back. "We're teenagers, Mia, not superheroes. We don't have powers or weapons or even a clue what we're up against!"
"Enough!" Scott snapped, his voice sharp. "We don't have all the answers yet, but sitting around arguing won't help."
The tension in the group was palpable as Theo and Malia arrived, both glancing uneasily at their bickering friends.
"Let's just get through the day," Scott said, his tone softer now. "We'll meet after school and figure out our next move."
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The First Encounter
The group didn't make it to the end of the day before things spiraled.
During lunch, Scott felt a strange pull, as if something—or someone—was calling to him. He glanced around the crowded cafeteria, his eyes landing on a girl he didn't recognize. She sat alone at a corner table, her gaze fixed on him. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, and her piercing green eyes seemed to hold a secret.
Mia noticed Scott's distracted expression and followed his gaze. "Do you know her?"
Scott shook his head. "No, but…"
Before he could finish, the fire alarm blared, sending students scrambling. Teachers shouted for order, but the chaos only grew as the sprinklers activated, drenching everyone.
"Great," Allison muttered, wringing out her hair.
Scott turned to the group. "Something's not right. Stay close."
As the cafeteria emptied, the mysterious girl didn't move. Instead, she stood slowly, her eyes still locked on Scott.
"You need to leave," Scott called to her, but she just smiled faintly.
Then, the lights flickered, and the room grew unnaturally cold. Shadows pooled around the girl's feet, stretching and twisting unnaturally.
"What the—" Theo began, but his words were cut off as the shadows surged forward.
Scott barely had time to react before a tendril of darkness lashed out at him. He ducked, pulling Mia down with him as it struck the wall behind them, leaving a jagged crack.
"Run!" Scott shouted, but the group hesitated.
"Not without you!" Mia said firmly, grabbing his arm.
"Guys, move!" Derek barked, shoving Theo and Allison toward the door.
The mysterious girl stepped forward, her voice calm and chilling. "You cannot escape what's coming. Surrender the medallion, and I might spare you."
Scott stood, clutching the medallion tightly. "Who are you?"
Her smile widened, but her eyes remained cold. "A messenger."
Before Scott could respond, the shadows lunged again, this time aiming for the entire group.
---
The Medallion's Power
Instinctively, Scott held up the medallion, and a brilliant light erupted from it, pushing the shadows back. The girl hissed, shielding her eyes.
"Run now!" Scott shouted, and this time, the group obeyed.
They sprinted through the empty hallways, the sound of their shoes echoing against the tile. Behind them, the shadows followed, relentless and unyielding.
"This way!" Theo yelled, leading them into the gym.
They slammed the doors shut, panting as they tried to catch their breath.
"What the hell was that?" Allison demanded.
"No idea," Scott admitted, his hand still gripping the medallion. "But it's connected to this."
Malia, her voice steady despite the panic, said, "It must be one of the forces she warned us about."
"Great," Derek muttered. "We're not even a day into this Guardian thing, and we're already being hunted."
Scott turned to the group, his expression grim. "We need to be ready. If they're coming after us, we can't keep running."
"Ready with what?" Mia asked. "We don't have powers or weapons. We barely know what we're doing."
Scott looked at the medallion, its surface still glowing faintly. "We'll figure it out. We have to."
---
After School
The group reconvened at Scott's house, each of them still shaken from the encounter.
Theo spread out his notebook on the coffee table, flipping to a blank page. "Okay, let's list what we know. One: the medallion is connected to the Guardians. Two: there are six medallions total. Three: we're apparently the new Guardians."
"And four," Allison added, "there are people—or things—trying to stop us."
"Don't forget the visions," Malia said. "The woman in the Realm Between said we each have a role to play."
"What roles?" Derek asked, his frustration evident. "She didn't exactly leave us a manual."
Scott leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "We need to focus on what we can do now. The medallion reacted to that girl. Maybe it's a weapon, or maybe it can help us find the others."
"But how?" Mia asked.
Scott didn't have an answer, but he knew they couldn't afford to wait for one.
---
That Night
Scott sat alone in his room, staring at the medallion. He could still feel the power from earlier, like a spark just beneath the surface.
Mia's voice echoed in his mind: "You'll figure this out, Scott. You always do."
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused on the medallion. Slowly, the room around him faded, and he found himself standing in the Realm Between once more.
The silver-haired woman appeared, her expression calm but urgent.
"You've begun to awaken," she said. "But your journey is only beginning."
Scott straightened, determination burning in his chest. "What do I need to do?"
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "You'll know when the time comes. Trust yourself, and trust your friends. Together, you are stronger than you realize."
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This chapter pushes the group into their first real encounter with the forces opposing them, highlighting their vulnerabilities while hinting at their latent potential.