The SUV slowed to a cautious crawl as the alley narrowed into a dead end. Rain pelted the rooftop above like a thousand tapping fingers, echoing in the confined space. Inside, the atmosphere was taut—every breath held, every eye sharp and searching.
Maya's fingers clenched around the locket, its red glow pulsing softly against her palm. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out even the rain's steady rhythm. Her gaze flicked to Liam, whose knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, watching for pursuers.
Kai sat beside her, his posture rigid, eyes shadowed beneath his dark brow. He exhaled slowly, the tension barely easing from his frame. "The message—it wasn't random. Someone wants you to make a choice, Maya. But what they don't tell you… is that every choice changes the future."
Selene's voice, fragile but resolute, broke the heavy silence. "The curse in the locket binds to the soul. If you accept it willingly, it grants power — but the price is your humanity."
Maya swallowed hard. Her eyes darted to the locket again, its light growing stronger, flickering like a living thing demanding attention.
"Power or peace," Liam said quietly, reaching to squeeze her trembling hand. "What do you want? What do you need?"
Maya's breath hitched. The weight of the question pressed down on her like the storm outside — fierce and unforgiving.
Suddenly, the radio crackled again, slicing through the silence like a razor. This time, the voice was cold and unmistakable:
"You cannot run from your destiny, Maya. The clock is ticking. Choose: the light that saves or the darkness that consumes."
The words sent a shiver racing down her spine. Her fingers involuntarily tightened on the locket until her nails dug into her skin.
Kai's gaze sharpened, piercing through the shadows in the car. "They want to force your hand. But it's your choice alone. The question is… will you choose before time runs out?"
Outside, the alleyway's shadows deepened. A low rumble rolled in the distance—a sound that wasn't thunder.
Maya's eyes widened as a pair of headlights pierced the darkness, racing toward them.
Liam slammed his foot on the accelerator, but the vehicle jolted violently—something heavy had crashed into the rear.
The locket flared with an intense burst of light that momentarily blinded everyone.
When vision cleared, Maya's breath caught in her throat.
In the backseat, a hidden figure stirred — alive, but not who they expected.