The Pantheon: Rebirth

Ramifications

"So, you weren't kidding, the Labyrinth is really still alive." Zanders says, examining the newly formed hole in the ground.

Aurora stands herself up, wiping the dirt of her navy-blue jeans. "Yes, and I would implore you to not waste your time trying to destroy it again."

"we'll talk about it later. So, where's your temple?" Zander asks Parker, who is fidgeting with his shades. He doesn't respond.

"Parker? Are you okay?" Helen asks, gently placing her hand on his shoulder.

"huh? Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about something the oracle said."

The group look at Parker, silently asking him to share with the class.

"The oracle told us that they're harnessing godly essence. But she didn't say what for."

"Well, we assumed it was for the ritual." Helen replies. She motions her hand and the grass below her blooms into a wooden chair. She sits down and Zander looks at the chair with a combination of admiration and confusion. Helen notices the glare, "Oh sorry." She waves her hand and three more chairs pop up from the ground.

"What is this? Mahogany?" Parker says while he rubs the chair handle.

"Parker, focus." Aurora retorts.

"Right. let me ask you guys something. Before you each got your powers, how strong were you?"

"I don't know about Helen, but I wasn't even strong enough to keep myself upright when walking down some stairs." Zander looks at Helen with a fond smile, remembering their first encounter.

"Yeah, I struggled to keep a lamp up." Helen adds, returning the smile.

"My point exactly," Parker says, adjusting himself in the chair, "We weren't super strong until our adrenaline kicked in. For the power couple, it was when you guys were approached by the thugs in the alley. For me, it was when I felt the rush of excitement when I touched my statue at the museum."

The group looks at Parker, waiting for him to make his point. But they notice Parker looking at Aurora who has not said a word, and is looking at the ground, lost in thought.

"Aurora, you with us?" Parker asks, moving his head closer to her. Aurora slowly looks up at them and her eyes are glowing yellow. Parker moves his head back and clinches the handle of his chair, causing the wood to splinter.

"Aurora, what's going on?" Zander asks, shooting an uneasy look at Helen.

"It is best that I show you." Aurora responds, she sticks her hand out. Everyone looks at each other with uneasiness, confused about what was about to happen. Parker exchanges a look with Aurora and turns to Zander and Helen.

"I trust her, come on." Parker places his hand on top of Aurora's, followed by Zander's and then Helen.

I'm getting a bad feeling about this. At first Zander doesn't notice anything happening, but then in the distance he notices the sun begin to be covered by darkness. It quickly spreads, covering the entire area in darkness. Zander looks over at Helen as the shadows wash over her. in an instant, Zander is left standing alone, surrounded by darkness.

"Helen? Parker?" Zander calls out into the abyss, but no one responds. He looks around, dazed and confused. He clinches his fist, trying to summon lightning but nothing happens.

That's not a great sign.

He walks around, trying to figure out what's going on. In the distance, he notices a small white sphere floating in the air, almost pushing back against the shadows. Zander cautiously walks towards the sphere, his adrenaline rising with each step. He finally reaches the floating light and examines it. Light beams out from it, similar to a glowing star. As he looks closer at the sphere, he sees Aurora walking down a street.