The world had shattered. The ground cracked open, spewing molten earth like an open wound. It was as if the very sky had been torn apart, black clouds swirling in a chaotic dance. The roar of the earth was deafening, like an ancient beast awakening from centuries of slumber.
Selene barely registered the tremor in the ground beneath her feet. Her heart was pounding in her chest, every beat a reminder of the terror building within her. The sky the sky above them was no longer just a backdrop. It was alive. Alive with a presence she couldn't comprehend.
And yet, standing beside her, Alaric remained calm, unbothered by the destruction unfolding around them. His face, as beautiful and dangerous as it always was, was unreadable—except for that flicker of something else. Something darker.
"Isn't this... a bit dramatic?" Viktor's voice broke through the madness, his usual bravado tinged with uncertainty.
But Alaric didn't answer. His eyes, fixed on the horizon, narrowed. He could feel it the shift in the air, the dark pulse of something ancient and unstoppable. A force greater than any human or demon. A force that called to him.
"Get out of here," Selene said, the words spilling out before she could stop them. She didn't know who she was talking to. To Alaric? To Viktor? Or maybe, to herself. She was scared. Terrified.
But Alaric only smiled, the smile of a man who had nothing left to lose. "You think running will save you?"
The earth continued to tremble, growing worse with each passing second. Selene's breath hitched in her throat. What was happening? What had Alaric unleashed this time?
A low, growling roar filled the air, and Selene turned her head to see something emerging from the deep rift in the earth a creature, a beast, like nothing she'd ever seen. It was massive, with dark, oily skin, scales like armor, and eyes glowing with an unnatural, hellish light. Its wings spread wide, eclipsing the shattered sun, casting shadows over the ruined world.
"Shit," Viktor muttered, backing away, his grip tightening on his blade. "That's no normal creature."
"It's not," Alaric said softly, his voice oddly reverent. "It's the beginning of the end."
Selene felt her chest tighten as the realization hit her like a physical blow. This wasn't just a random attack. This was planned. The rift in the earth. The beast. And Alaric's ominous words. It was all connected. But to what? To who?
Before she could process, the creature roared, sending a shockwave through the air. The force of it sent her stumbling backward, crashing into Cassian, who caught her, steadying her as the ground beneath them shook violently.
"Stay close," Cassian ordered, his voice grim as his eyes darted to the creature looming over them.
Selene barely nodded, her mind racing. What the hell was going on? And why was Alaric acting so... so detached? So calm in the face of this chaos?
Alaric took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving the creature. The air around him began to crackle with an energy Selene couldn't explain. It wasn't just the power of the beast. No, this was something else. Something darker. Something that resonated deep within her, calling her, urging her to remember something something she couldn't quite grasp.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice shaking with equal parts fear and confusion.
Alaric didn't look at her. Instead, he whispered to himself, too softly for anyone else to hear. "It's coming. It's time."
The creature bellowed again, its roar sending ripples through the atmosphere. It was a sound that shook the very bones in her body. Then, as if responding to some unseen command, it descended from the skies, aiming straight for them. Its claws were like sharpened daggers, and its teeth gleamed like the edge of a blade. It was coming for the coming for Selene.
Her heart slammed in her chest as panic overtook her. The world was spinning, the ground shaking violently. And through the noise, through the chaos, she could hear Alaric's voice, low and dangerous.
"Do not run, Selene. You're not going anywhere."
It was as if his words were the only anchor in the madness, the only thing holding her to this moment. But then, something shifted.
The creature's eyes locked onto hers. And in that instant, Selene knew she knew with the certainty of the universe that the beast wasn't here just for destruction. It was here for her. It had been summoned by something inside her. A power she didn't understand.
Alaric had done this. He had orchestrated this chaos.
But why?
Before she could ask, the creature lunged.
Time slowed. In the chaos of it all, Selene's life flashed before her eyes. She could see her past her life before the end. The world that had been whole. And then she saw the future a future she didn't want, one filled with blood and betrayal, darkness and regret.
And then, there was Alaric. Standing between her and the beast. Protecting her? Or controlling the situation?
It was impossible to tell.
But as the creature barreled toward them, Alaric raised his hand, and a pulse of energy erupted from him, ripping through the air. The beast screamed, a terrible sound, as it was pushed back by the force. But it wasn't enough to stop it. It was only delayed.
Alaric turned to her, his expression unreadable. "This is your choice, Selene," he said, his voice cold. "You can either run or you can fight. But no matter what, you will never escape what's coming."
Before she could respond, before she could even fully understand what he was saying, the world plunged into darkness.