AVA's EDGE

twelve

Victor’s voice deepened as he ran his fingers along the ancient symbols, his words barely more than a murmur. The room felt darker, as if the light itself was retreating in anticipation. "The Scroll of the Veil," he repeated, his eyes never leaving the parchment. "This scroll is more than a mere artifact. It holds the balance of worlds. It was written to protect, to conceal… but now, it calls to us."

Ava’s breath hitched as she glanced at Liam, who was staring at the scroll, transfixed. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, but he didn’t seem to notice. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the pull—the one that had kept her rooted to the spot despite her fear—grew stronger.

Victor’s whispering continued, his words unintelligible now, as though he were speaking directly to the scroll, to whatever ancient force had crafted it. Ava strained to hear, but her mind seemed to fuzz over, the room spinning as if reality itself was unraveling at the edges.

Suddenly, Victor's voice cut through the haze, clear and sharp. "Ava, Liam, we need to focus. This ritual will take all of us, and it won’t forgive hesitation."

Ava’s heart pounded in her chest. "What exactly are we doing, Victor? What’s the purpose of this ritual?"

Victor's eyes met hers, dark and gleaming. "We are opening the Veil. Tearing it just enough to access the power beyond. But make no mistake—if we go too far, we’ll break it, and everything will come through. We have to be precise."

Liam’s voice was shaky. "You’re talking about other worlds… dimensions we were never meant to touch. You can’t seriously think we’re capable of controlling that kind of power."

Victor’s gaze flicked to Liam. "We don’t have a choice. You’ve both seen too much. Touched too much. The scroll is bound to you now. If we don’t finish this, it will destroy us."

Ava clenched her fists, her mind reeling. "Then why didn’t you tell us everything from the beginning?"

Victor sighed, looking almost weary for a moment. "Because you weren’t ready. And because I needed you to come to this conclusion yourselves. There’s no room for doubt where we’re going, Ava. If you hesitate, even for a second, you’ll condemn us all."

His words weighed heavily on her, pressing down like an invisible force. Ava felt the pull of the scroll in her mind now, like it was whispering to her, promising secrets and power in exchange for obedience. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog. "What do we need to do?"

Victor stepped closer, pointing to three distinct symbols at the base of the scroll. They glowed faintly, pulsing with an energy that made her skin crawl. "These symbols represent the three of us. The ritual is a triad—it can only be completed by three who are bound to the scroll. And to open the book we have to play the roles and find the key and enter in the world. You, me, and Liam. We each have a role to play."

Liam’s voice was hoarse. "What roles?"

Victor’s gaze flickered with something unreadable. "I am the Seer. I interpret the symbols, guide the process. Liam, you are the Conduit. The scroll will channel its power through you, connecting you to the Veil."

Ava's stomach twisted. "And me?"

Victor’s eyes lingered on her, and the weight of his stare sent a shiver down her spine. "You are the Anchor. You will hold the Veil in place, preventing it from collapsing entirely. Without you, the ritual fails, and the Veil tears wide open."

Ava swallowed hard. "And if I can’t hold it?"

Victor’s expression darkened. "If you falter, the Veil will fall. And the creatures, the forces beyond, will flood this world. There will be no stopping them."

The gravity of the situation settled over her like a heavy blanket, suffocating. Ava looked at Liam, who was pale but determined. He gave her a small nod, as if to say they would see this through together, no matter the cost.

Victor unrolled the scroll further, revealing more symbols. "We begin now."

The room seemed to close in on itself, the walls pressing inward as if the space around them was shrinking. Victor began chanting in a language that felt wrong in Ava’s ears, like the words themselves were foreign to reality. His voice was low at first, but it rose in intensity, filling the space with an eerie cadence.

Liam stood next to Ava, his hands trembling slightly as he placed them on the scroll. The symbols began to glow brighter, responding to his touch. A pulse of energy shot through the air, making Ava’s skin tingle.

Victor’s chant grew louder, more insistent, and Ava felt a shift in the air, like the world itself was holding its breath. The pull on her mind became unbearable, a gravitational force she couldn’t resist. She knew what she had to do.

She stepped forward, placing her hand on the glowing symbol that represented her. The moment her fingers made contact, a surge of power shot through her, electrifying her veins. She gasped, but didn’t pull away. She couldn’t. The force that had been pulling her was now pushing against her, trying to tear her away, to unseat her from her role as the Anchor.

But she held firm.

The room darkened further, and for a moment, she saw beyond the Veil. A swirling mass of shadow and light, creatures with forms that defied understanding, writhing just beyond the fabric of their world, eager to break through. The pressure intensified, and Ava felt her strength waning.

"I can’t…," she gasped, her voice strained.

Victor’s voice cut through the chaos. "Hold on, Ava! You’re the only thing standing between us!"

Liam was trembling beside her, his eyes wide with fear as the power surged through him. "Ava, you have to hold on. Please."

She gritted her teeth, digging deep into reserves of strength she didn’t know she had. The force pushing against her was relentless, a tidal wave of raw energy trying to rip her away from her place in the ritual. But she held. She had to.

With a final, desperate push, Victor shouted the last words of the chant. The scroll flared with blinding light, and the pressure that had been crushing Ava suddenly vanished. The room snapped back into place, the air still and quiet once more.

Ava collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Liam stumbled back, his hands shaking uncontrollably. Victor stood over them, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"It’s done," he said softly.

Ava looked up at him, her body trembling with exhaustion. "What now?"

Victor smiled—a cold, triumphant smile. "Now, Ava, the real power begins."