The blaring alarm jolted Justin out of his thoughts as he sat at his desk, sketchbook in hand. The sudden red glow of emergency lights illuminated the room, painting everything in harsh, flickering crimson.
"All personnel, report to your designated stations immediately," a robotic voice echoed through the halls.
Justin shot up, adrenaline spiking. The entire Framework base buzzed with activity as agents rushed to gear up. Moments later, the doors to the main briefing room hissed open, and Director Kain strode in with his usual commanding presence.
"Listen up," Kain barked, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "We've got an emergency Echo event—West Side District. It's close, and it's tearing through everything in its path. Civilians are in danger." His sharp eyes scanned the room before landing on Justin and his team. "You're up."
Justin exchanged a glance with Nia, who nodded as if to say, It's time.
"Gear up and move out," Kain ordered. "I want that area cleared, and I want that Echo gone. No mistakes."
The air was thick with smoke and chaos when Justin and his team arrived. The West Side District, usually bustling with activity, was now a battlefield. Cars lay overturned, storefronts shattered, and the distant cries of civilians added to the pandemonium.
Ahead of them, the Echoes stood, their warped forms radiating an eerie, otherworldly energy. There were nine of them—shadowy humanoid figures with glowing veins of energy coursing through their bodies.
"Alright, team," Nia said, her voice calm yet authoritative. "Stay sharp. Reid, scout ahead and report on their movements. Dante, you're with me. Justin, hang back and cover our flanks."
"Got it," Justin replied, already feeling the rush of his powers kicking in.
The fight erupted like a storm. Justin dodged an attack from one Echo, countering with a swift kick that sent it stumbling into Nia's path. She finished it off with a precise strike, sending the creature hurtling into the portal they had prepared.
Dante grappled with two Echoes at once, his brute strength overwhelming them as he hurled one into the energy rift. Reid zipped across the battlefield, using his agility to outmaneuver another before slashing through it with precision.
Justin, meanwhile, held his own, adapting quickly to the Echoes' attack patterns. But something felt off.
As the team pushed back the last few Echoes, Justin noticed something strange. Counting the creatures left, he realized there were only eight.
"Wait," he called out, pausing mid-step. "One of them is missing."
"What?" Nia shouted, panting from exertion. "Where'd it go?"
Justin's sharp eyes scanned the area, his mind racing. He didn't see anyone toss it into the portal. Where had it gone?
Then he spotted it—a faint trail of blood leading away from the battlefield and disappearing into a dark alley.
"Cover me," Justin said, breaking away from the team.
"Justin, wait!" Nia called, but he was already gone.
Justin followed the trail through the alley, his pulse quickening. The blood led to a cracked wall that seemed ordinary at first glance. But as he approached, he noticed the faint shimmer of energy—a portal disguised as part of the environment.
The blood trail disappeared into the wall. Justin hesitated for only a second before stepping through.
The moment he crossed the threshold, darkness enveloped him. The air was damp and cold, the faint metallic tang of blood lingering.
Then came a sharp pain at the back of his head.
Everything went black.
When Justin groggily came to, he found himself slumped against the floor, his hands bound tightly behind him. His vision swam, but he could make out the figure standing over him.
"Well, well, well," a voice drawled, its accent unmistakably Australian. "Look what we have here."
The man stepped closer, his silhouette becoming clearer. He was tall and wiry, with an unsettling grin that didn't quite reach his sharp, calculating eyes. His movements were casual yet predatory, like a cat toying with a mouse.
"Didn't think I'd be entertaining company tonight," the man said, crouching down to Justin's level. "But here you are. The rookie everyone's been talking about."
Justin strained against his bindings, glaring up at the man. "Who the hell are you?"
The man's grin widened. "Name's Cyrus. But you can just call me your worst nightmare."
Justin's heart pounded as Cyrus chuckled darkly. This was no ordinary Echo—this was something else entirely.
And Justin was in deep trouble.