The Neuro Regression lab buzzed with the low hum of the machines, a sound that had become a constant companion for Adrian and Maya. This time, the setup was different. Adrian and Maya had modified the system, connecting additional processors and creating a neural feedback loop designed to push beyond the boundaries of individual memories.
Adrian stared at the mark on his arm—darker now, the spirals almost glowing faintly in the dim light. It pulsed like a heartbeat, a constant reminder of the stakes.
"Are you sure about this?" Maya asked, her voice laced with concern. She was running diagnostics, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "If this goes wrong—"
"I know the risks," Adrian interrupted. "But if the Threads of Aevum are real, they could hold the answers we need. Whatever this thing is hiding, I have to see it."
Maya exhaled sharply, nodding. "Fine. But I'm not letting you go in alone."
Adrian looked at her, surprised. "Maya, it's too dangerous—"
"Don't try to talk me out of it," she said firmly. "If something happens to you, someone needs to pull you back. Besides, you're not the only one with questions."
Adrian hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Let's do this together."
The setup took hours. They configured the system to synchronize their neural patterns, a process that required precision and constant recalibration. The goal was clear: to move beyond individual memories and access the Threads—a place described by Elias Greaves as the nexus of all time and consciousness.
Finally, they were ready. Adrian reclined in the chair, the electrodes cold against his temples. Maya sat in the adjacent chair, mirroring his position.
"Ready?" Adrian asked.
Maya nodded, her resolve unwavering. "Let's find the truth."
Adrian pressed the activation button. The world around them dissolved.
The transition was jarring. Unlike their previous regressions, this time there was no gradual shift into a specific memory. Instead, they were plunged into a swirling vortex of light and shadow.
Adrian felt disoriented, his senses overwhelmed by the chaotic swirl of colours and sounds. He could hear Maya's voice faintly in the distance, but the words were lost to the cacophony.
Then, suddenly, the chaos subsided.
They stood in a vast expanse of shimmering threads, stretching infinitely in every direction. Each thread glowed with a soft light, pulsating with energy. Some were vibrant, others dim, and a few flickered as if on the verge of fading out entirely.
"This is it," Adrian said, his voice echoing. "The Threads of Aevum."
Maya stepped closer to a nearby thread, her expression awestruck. "It's beautiful."
Adrian reached out, his fingers grazing a thread. Images and sensations flooded his mind—a kaleidoscope of moments, lives lived and forgotten. He pulled back, shaken.
"They're not just memories," he said. "They're... everything. Every moment, every choice. It's all here."
Maya nodded, her eyes wide. "But where do we start?"
Adrian scanned the threads, searching for something familiar. His gaze settled on a cluster of dark threads, their glow faint and unsteady. They seemed to pulse in unison, drawing him in.
"There," he said, pointing.
Maya hesitated. "Are you sure? Those don't look stable."
Adrian nodded. "If The Veiled One is protecting something, it's there."
They moved cautiously, the ground beneath their feet shifting like liquid. As they approached the dark threads, the air grew colder. The energy around them felt heavy and oppressive.
Adrian reached out to touch one of the threads, but before he could, the shadows began to stir.
From the darkness, The Veiled One emerged. Its cloaked form seemed larger, more imposing than before, and the air around it crackled with an unseen force.
"You were warned," the voice resonated, deeper and more menacing than before.
Adrian stepped forward, his fear replaced by determination. "We're not leaving. We need to know the truth."
The figure didn't move. "The truth is not yours to take. The cost will be more than you can bear."
Maya joined Adrian's side, her voice steady. "What are you hiding? What's in these threads?"
The Veiled One raised a shadowed hand, and the threads around them began to shift, revealing glimpses of events—wars, betrayals, and moments of despair.
"These are the forgotten," the voice said. "The echoes of choices that should never have been made. To know them is to invite ruin."
Adrian clenched his fists. "Who decides what should be forgotten? You? These memories belong to all of us. We have a right to know."
The shadows around the figure writhed, and for a moment, it seemed to falter. "You do not understand. To remember is to destroy. The weight of these truths will break you."
Adrian stepped closer, defiant. "Then let it. Show me."
The figure paused as if considering his words. Then, slowly, it raised both hands. The dark threads unravelled, their light spilling out and enveloping Adrian and Maya.
The visions were overwhelming. Adrian saw fragments of a world undone—a timeline where choices spiralled out of control, leading to catastrophic consequences. Entire civilizations were destroyed, and lives were erased.
He saw a young man standing before The Veiled One, his face contorted with anger and despair. He recognized him instantly: Elias Greaves.
"This is the price of knowledge," The Veiled One's voice echoed. "This is what you risk."
Adrian gasped as the visions subsided. He was back in the Threads, Maya beside him, her face pale.
"We can't leave it like this," Maya whispered. "If these memories are so dangerous, why not destroy them? Why keep them hidden?"
Adrian turned to The Veiled One, his resolve unshaken. "Because it's not about the memories. It's about control. You're not protecting us—you're protecting yourself."
The shadows around the figure surged, and for the first time, Adrian felt its anger.
"You know nothing of what you face," it said. "But you will."
Before Adrian could react, the figure raised a hand, and the Threads began to collapse around them.
Adrian and Maya jolted awake in the lab, gasping for air. The machines around them sparked and hissed, overloaded by the strain.
"What happened?" Maya asked, her voice trembling.
Adrian looked at his arm. The mark was now fully formed, the spirals glowing faintly. He met her gaze, his expression grim.
"It's not over," he said. "We've only just begun."