The air around the pedestal shimmered with energy as Emma held the third shard in her trembling hand. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing louder in the silence that followed the strange roar. Adrian and Carlisle stood frozen behind her, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.
"Emma, are you okay?" Adrian asked, stepping closer.
She nodded, though her grip on the shard tightened. "I think so. But...it feels heavier than the others, like it's carrying more."
Carlisle studied the pedestal and the surroundings with a furrowed brow. "This shard must be connected to the collapse of this city. It's infused with temporal energy from the fracture. Be careful—it's unpredictable."
Emma glanced at the shard in her hand, its light casting faint, shifting patterns across the crumbled ruins. For a moment, she thought she saw glimpses of people—ghostly figures moving about in a time long gone.
Adrian's voice broke through her thoughts. "We should get out of here. This place isn't stable."
She nodded and tucked the shard into her satchel with the others. As soon as she did, the ground trembled beneath their feet.
"What now?" Adrian muttered, gripping his sword tightly.
The tremors grew stronger, and a low hum filled the air. Carlisle cursed under his breath, his eyes darting around for an escape route. "We've disturbed the energy here. The city's reacting to us taking the shard. Run!"
---
They sprinted through the ruins, the ground shifting and breaking apart behind them. Emma's legs burned as she pushed herself to keep up, her breath coming in short gasps. Adrian ran beside her, his protective gaze flicking toward her every few moments. Carlisle led the way, his map clutched tightly in his hand as he navigated the chaotic landscape.
The ruins seemed alive now, shifting and warping as if the city itself were trying to trap them. Walls rose where there had been none, and pathways crumbled into nothingness.
"This way!" Carlisle shouted, darting down a narrow corridor between two towering remnants of buildings.
Emma followed, her heart racing. The whispers from the shards grew louder in her mind, a cacophony of voices that made it hard to focus.
"Emma…"
The voice was clear this time, cutting through the noise like a blade. She stumbled, her vision blurring as images flashed before her eyes.
A man standing in the ruins, his face obscured by shadows. A clock spinning backward, its hands moving faster and faster. A distant explosion that sent ripples across time itself.
"Emma, keep moving!" Adrian's shout brought her back to reality. He grabbed her arm and pulled her forward just as a section of the corridor collapsed behind them.
---
They finally emerged into a clearing, the tremors subsiding as the ruins seemed to settle. All three of them collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
"That was too close," Adrian said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Carlisle sat up, his face pale but determined. "We need to leave this area before anything else happens. The shard's energy is too volatile."
Emma nodded, though her mind was still reeling from the vision she'd seen. The voice, the man in the shadows—it all felt too real to ignore.
"We're heading back to the safe house," Carlisle announced. "From there, we'll figure out our next move."
---
The journey back was quieter than usual. Even Adrian, who often tried to lighten the mood with jokes or small talk, was uncharacteristically silent. Emma felt the weight of the shards in her satchel with every step, their presence a constant reminder of the danger they faced.
When they finally reached the safe house, it was nearly nightfall. Adrian started a fire while Carlisle spread out his maps and notes on the table. Emma sat in a corner, staring at the shards as they glowed softly in the dim light.
"What's going on with you?" Adrian asked, sitting beside her.
She hesitated, then said, "I saw something back there. When I touched the shard."
Adrian's brow furrowed. "What did you see?"
"A man. I couldn't see his face, but he was standing in the ruins. And...I heard a voice. It called my name."
Adrian frowned. "You think it's connected to the shards?"
Emma nodded. "It has to be. There's something about them—something bigger than just stopping the Syndicate. I think they're trying to show me something."
Adrian's expression softened. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Together."
---
Carlisle interrupted their conversation with a sharp cough. "I've pinpointed the location of the next shard."
Emma and Adrian joined him at the table, where the map displayed a new marking.
"It's in the Mountains of Solitude," Carlisle explained. "A place notorious for its harsh conditions and dangerous wildlife. But it's also where the Syndicate is rumored to have a stronghold."
Adrian groaned. "Of course it is. Why would it ever be easy?"
Carlisle ignored him and continued, "We'll need to prepare carefully for this one. Supplies, weapons, and a solid plan. The Syndicate won't give up the shard without a fight."
Emma stared at the map, her resolve hardening. "Then we fight. If they have a shard, we can't let them keep it. Not with what's at stake."
Adrian placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll be ready."
---
That night, Emma lay awake, her mind racing with thoughts of the next shard and the challenges ahead. The voice from the ruins still echoed in her mind, its tone both haunting and comforting.
"Who are you?" she whispered into the darkness, hoping for an answer.
But there was only silence.
The shards on the table glowed faintly, their light casting shifting patterns on the walls. Emma watched them until her eyes grew heavy, the weight of their mission lulling her into an uneasy sleep.