Jiang Xia could hardly sleep that night. Her father's notebook, the swirling Rift, and Qin Chuan's chilling revelations consumed her thoughts. She had entered a labyrinth of secrets, and the further she ventured, the more entangled she became. But one thing was clear: this was no longer just about her father—it was about the future of everything she held dear.
Morning came too quickly, the city alive with its usual hum of life. Yet, as Jiang Xia walked into the office, she felt the weight of a thousand unseen eyes watching her. Her steps faltered as she neared her desk. Something wasn't right.
On her desk was an unmarked envelope. Her name was written on it in neat, blocky handwriting. Jiang Xia glanced around, her stomach tightening. She opened it carefully, pulling out a single piece of paper. The message was short, but its meaning was crystal clear:
"The Rift is not your fight. Walk away while you still can."
---
A Web of Deceit
Jiang Xia stared at the note, her mind racing. Someone knew what she was doing. Someone was trying to warn—or threaten—her. She quickly folded the note and slipped it into her bag. Panic wouldn't help her now.
As she sat at her desk, Wei Lin appeared, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," he said, placing the cup in front of her.
Jiang Xia forced a smile. "Just a rough night."
Wei Lin leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You're not the only one. Did you hear about what happened last night? Security found someone snooping around the lower levels. They didn't say who, but it's all anyone's talking about."
Jiang Xia's pulse quickened. Was he referring to her and Qin Chuan? Did security know she had been there? She tried to keep her voice steady. "Really? Any idea who it was?"
"No clue," Wei Lin replied, shaking his head. "But you know how this place is. Secrets on top of secrets."
Secrets indeed, Jiang Xia thought as she nodded absently. She needed to act fast before the walls closed in around her.
---
Planning the Next Move
That evening, Jiang Xia met Qin Chuan in a dingy diner on the outskirts of the city. The neon sign outside flickered erratically, casting strange shadows on the cracked pavement.
"Someone knows what we're doing," she said, sliding the note across the table. Qin Chuan read it, his expression hardening.
"This isn't a warning," he said, his voice low. "It's a threat. They're trying to scare you off."
"Well, it's not going to work," Jiang Xia replied, her eyes blazing with determination. "We need to move faster."
Qin Chuan nodded. "I've been working on accessing the internal database. There are files hidden deep within the system—files that might tell us what they're really planning."
"How do we get them?" Jiang Xia asked.
"We need someone on the inside," Qin Chuan said. "Someone with clearance. I have a contact, a former technician who worked on the Rift Project before being quietly removed. He might be able to help us."
---
The Technician
The contact's name was Li Wen, a gaunt man in his late thirties with a haunted look in his eyes. Jiang Xia and Qin Chuan met him in an underground parking garage, the dim overhead lights casting eerie shadows.
"I told you I was out," Li Wen said, his voice shaky. "I want nothing to do with this anymore."
"You don't have a choice," Qin Chuan said bluntly. "You know what they're doing. You know what's at stake."
Li Wen's gaze flickered to Jiang Xia. "Who's she?"
"My father was part of the Rift Project," Jiang Xia said, stepping forward. "He disappeared because of it. I need to know the truth."
Li Wen studied her for a moment before sighing heavily. "The truth? The truth is that the Rift is a Pandora's box. It's not just a doorway—it's a void. A trap. Everyone who gets too close pays the price."
"That's why we need your help," Qin Chuan said. "We're not trying to control it. We're trying to stop it."
Li Wen hesitated before nodding. "Fine. But if we do this, there's no turning back."
---
Breaking In
Li Wen provided them with a set of credentials that would grant temporary access to the Rift Project's secure server. The plan was simple: Jiang Xia would use the credentials to infiltrate the system while Qin Chuan and Li Wen kept watch.
The next night, under the cover of darkness, they made their move. Jiang Xia's hands trembled as she swiped the access card Li Wen had given her. The elevator hummed softly as it descended to the lower levels.
When the doors opened, she stepped into a room bathed in cold blue light. The Rift loomed in the center, its swirling energy casting long shadows across the walls. Jiang Xia swallowed hard and made her way to a nearby terminal.
As she connected the credentials, the screen came to life. Files flooded the display, each one more chilling than the last. Experiment logs, subject reports, and encrypted communications painted a horrifying picture.
One file caught her eye: "Temporal Anomaly – Subject 001: Jiang Yuan."
Her heart stopped. She opened the file, her eyes scanning the data. It was a report on her father, detailing his role in stabilizing the Rift. The final entry read:
> "Subject exhibited signs of temporal dislocation. Recommended for further observation. Status: Missing."
Jiang Xia's breath hitched. Temporal dislocation? What did it mean? Was her father still alive—somewhere within the Rift?
Before she could delve deeper, an alarm blared, shattering the silence. Jiang Xia yanked out the credentials and turned to see Qin Chuan and Li Wen rushing toward her.
"They know we're here!" Qin Chuan shouted. "Move!"
---
The Escape
The three of them sprinted toward the elevator, but the sound of approaching footsteps made Jiang Xia's stomach drop. Security guards burst into the room, their weapons raised.
"This way!" Li Wen hissed, leading them toward a maintenance hatch. They crawled through the narrow passage, the sound of shouting and gunfire echoing behind them.
Jiang Xia's heart pounded as she followed Qin Chuan, her mind racing with questions. They emerged into a back alley, the cool night air hitting her like a slap. They didn't stop running until they were several blocks away.
When they finally stopped, Li Wen collapsed against a wall, gasping for breath. "We're dead. They'll hunt us down."
"No," Qin Chuan said firmly. "We're just getting started."
Jiang Xia nodded, clutching the drive containing the stolen files. "My father was part of this. Whatever they did to him, I'm going to find out. And I'm going to stop them."
---
A New Resolve
Back at their safe house, Jiang Xia reviewed the files in silence. The more she read, the more horrified she became. The Rift Project wasn't just an experiment—it was a weapon, a means of rewriting reality. And her father had been caught in its crossfire.
Qin Chuan placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out," he said. "Together."
Jiang Xia looked up, her eyes filled with determination. "This isn't just about my father anymore. It's about stopping them before they destroy everything."
As the first light of dawn crept through the window, Jiang Xia knew there was no turning back. The Rift Project had to be dismantled, no matter the cost.