Jiang Xia hurried through the crowded streets of the sprawling metropolis, her phone gripped tightly in one hand while her other adjusted the strap of her bag. The neon glow of the city reflected off the wet pavement, painting the night with streaks of pink, blue, and green. She was late, again. Not because she couldn't manage her time—far from it. As a marketing strategist at Envision Technologies, one of the most innovative tech firms in the country, Jiang Xia was used to juggling a hundred priorities at once. But tonight, something was gnawing at the back of her mind, a vague unease she couldn't quite shake.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from her mother. "Call me when you can."
Jiang Xia sighed. She had promised her mother she would visit this week, but work had consumed every waking moment. With a guilty grimace, she dialed the number as she weaved through the crowd. Her mother picked up on the first ring.
"Xia," her mother began, her tone equal parts relief and reproach, "you've been impossible to reach. Are you still working this late?"
"Hi, Mom," Jiang Xia replied, her voice betraying a mix of exhaustion and apology. "I've been swamped. Deadlines everywhere. I was going to call you tomorrow."
Her mother sighed audibly. "You're always swamped. You're working yourself into the ground, just like your father."
Jiang Xia's steps slowed. It wasn't unusual for her mother to bring up her father, but there was always a shadow of sadness that hung over those conversations. Jiang Yuan had disappeared twenty years ago under circumstances that were as baffling as they were painful. One day, he was a devoted researcher at an obscure tech company, and the next, he was gone without a trace. No note, no explanation. Just… gone.
"Mom, not tonight," Jiang Xia said softly. "I'll come by soon, I promise. We can talk about everything then."
Her mother hesitated before replying. "I just… I worry about you. You're so much like him."
The line went silent. Jiang Xia stared at the screen after the call ended, her mother's words echoing in her mind. She barely remembered her father—most of her memories were fragments of laughter, the scent of his cologne, and the way he'd ruffle her hair when he came home late from work. But those fragments were all she had. The rest was a void filled with unanswered questions.
---
The Meeting
The next morning, Jiang Xia was greeted by a barrage of emails, most of which were marked URGENT. She skimmed through them quickly before noticing a peculiar calendar invite. The subject line simply read: "Special Briefing – The Rift Project". It was scheduled for 11:00 AM in the executive boardroom.
Jiang Xia frowned. She had never heard of the Rift Project before, and as someone responsible for shaping the company's public image, she was usually looped in on all major initiatives. Curiosity piqued, she made her way to the boardroom just before the meeting started.
The room was uncharacteristically dark, illuminated only by the cool glow of a massive display screen. Around the table sat several high-ranking executives, each with an air of nervous excitement. At the head of the table stood Mr. Gao, the enigmatic CEO of Envision Technologies. He was a man known for his charisma and vision, but today, there was something else in his expression—something almost predatory.
"Thank you all for being here," Mr. Gao began, his voice commanding the room. "What I'm about to show you is the culmination of years of research, innovation, and, most importantly, secrecy."
With a click of a remote, the screen behind him lit up with an abstract image of swirling energy. It was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic, a dance of light and shadow that seemed to defy logic.
"This," Mr. Gao continued, gesturing toward the screen, "is The Rift. A doorway to possibilities we've only dreamed of."
Jiang Xia felt a chill run down her spine. There was something unsettling about the way he said it, as if the Rift was less of a project and more of a Pandora's box.
"What kind of possibilities?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Mr. Gao smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Imagine a world where we're no longer bound by the limitations of time and space. A world where history can be rewritten and the future controlled. The Rift is not just a technological breakthrough—it's a tool for shaping destiny."
The room buzzed with murmurs. Jiang Xia's unease deepened. The idea of rewriting history was not only ethically questionable but also dangerous. She glanced around the table, searching for any sign of dissent, but all she saw were nodding heads and greedy eyes.
As the meeting concluded, Mr. Gao approached her. "Ms. Jiang, your expertise will be invaluable as we unveil this to the world. I trust you'll give it your full attention."
Jiang Xia forced a polite smile. "Of course, Mr. Gao."
But as she left the room, a single thought echoed in her mind: What exactly am I getting involved in?
---
A Box of Secrets
That evening, Jiang Xia found herself at her mother's house, a modest apartment filled with remnants of the past. Photos lined the walls, many of them featuring her father. She lingered on one particular photo—a black-and-white portrait of Jiang Yuan standing proudly in front of a lab.
"Thinking about him again?" her mother asked, placing a cup of tea on the table.
Jiang Xia nodded. "I wish I knew more. About his work, his disappearance… all of it."
Her mother hesitated before walking to a cabinet and pulling out an old, dusty box. "I've kept this for years. I thought it might help you understand, but I never had the heart to go through it myself."
Inside the box were faded photographs, handwritten notes, and a leather-bound notebook. Jiang Xia opened the notebook, her eyes scanning the densely written pages. One line stood out:
> "The Rift is more than a project. It's a doorway. But at what cost?"
Her heart skipped a beat. The Rift. The same name as the project she had learned about that morning. She flipped through the notebook, finding sketches of strange symbols and diagrams, as well as cryptic references to "dimensional stability" and "temporal feedback."
"Mom," she said slowly, "what do you know about Dad's work?"
Her mother shook her head. "Not much. He said it was cutting-edge, something that could change the world. But he never shared the details. All I know is that one day, he left for work and never came back."
Jiang Xia's grip on the notebook tightened. She had always believed her father's disappearance was an accident or a crime, but now a darker possibility loomed in her mind. Was he involved in something like the Rift Project? And if so, had it claimed him?
---
Unanswered Questions
Over the next few days, Jiang Xia couldn't focus. Her mind kept returning to the notebook and the cryptic message about the Rift. At work, she began subtly asking questions, trying to piece together more about the project. Most people knew little, or claimed to, but she sensed there was more beneath the surface.
One evening, as she stayed late in the office, she decided to dig deeper. Using her credentials, she accessed the company's secure server and searched for anything related to the Rift Project. What she found sent a shiver down her spine.
Files labeled "CONFIDENTIAL" detailed experiments involving "dimensional interference" and "chronological realignment." There were references to test subjects, anomalies, and unexplained phenomena. One file was partially redacted, but a single phrase stood out:
> "The stability of the Rift requires a human anchor."
Jiang Xia leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. What did it mean to be a "human anchor"? And who had been involved in these experiments? She glanced at the clock—it was nearly midnight. Gathering her things, she hurried out of the office, the weight of her discoveries pressing down on her.
As she stepped into the cold night, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall, with sharp features and an air of authority. Jiang Xia instinctively backed away.
"You shouldn't be looking into things you don't understand," the man said, his voice low and threatening.
"Who are you?" Jiang Xia demanded, her heart pounding.
The man smiled faintly. "Someone who knows what the Rift really is. And someone who knows the cost of digging too deep."
Before she could respond, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving her alone with her fear and a growing sense of foreboding.
---
A Path Forward
Back at her apartment, Jiang Xia locked the door and sat down with the notebook. She flipped to the last page, where her father had written:
> "If you're reading this, you're closer to the truth than anyone else. But be careful. The Rift is not just a tool—it's a trap."
Jiang Xia closed her eyes, her father's words echoing in her mind. She didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: she had to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
With renewed determination, she picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in years.
"Hello?" a voice answered.
"I need your help," Jiang Xia said, her voice steady. "It's about the Rift."