Penelope sat in her classroom, distracted by the whispers among her classmates. The tension was palpable as they all had heard snippets of the news. Suddenly, one of her classmates stood up, shouting, "They just reported an asteroid is going to hit Evercrest!"
The teacher, Mr. Thompson, hurriedly switched on the television. The classroom fell silent as the screen flickered to life, revealing a somber newscaster detailing the grim situation. It wasn’t just one giant stone—it was many. And one of them was heading straight for Evercrest.
A wave of panic swept through the students. The school’s PA system crackled, and the principal’s voice echoed through the halls. "Attention all students and staff, classes are suspended effective immediately. Please proceed to your homes in an orderly manner."
Penelope’s heart raced. She grabbed her backpack and bolted from the classroom, joining the throng of students rushing toward the exits. The sky outside was a menacing shade of gray, and the air was thick with tension. Thunder rumbled ominously as she boarded the school bus, her thoughts racing with worry for Sol and her family.
When the bus finally pulled up at her house, Penelope didn’t wait for it to stop fully before she jumped off. She ran straight to the front door, bursting into the living room where Peter and Susan sat glued to the television.
"Mom, Peter, did you see the news?" Penelope panted, her voice shaking.
Susan nodded, her eyes filled with fear. "Yes, honey. They’ve just announced a lockdown. No one is allowed to leave their homes."
"But Sol is still with Dr. James!" Penelope exclaimed, her voice rising with panic.
Peter tried to calm her. "She’ll be okay, Penelope. Dr. James won’t let anything happen to them."
Penelope glared at him. "How do you know that? This is serious!"
Their argument was cut short by the urgent broadcast on the television. The news anchor’s voice trembled as she reported live from San Francisco, where one of the giant stones had already struck. The camera zoomed in on the impact site, showing a massive, smoking crater. But what emerged from the crater sent shockwaves through the watching world.
The stone wasn’t a stone at all—it was an egg. And it had hatched.
From the shattered remains of the egg, a monstrous creature clawed its way out. It was tall and grotesque, with long, spindly limbs ending in razor-sharp claws. Its mouth was an abyss of jagged teeth, and its eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence.
The newscaster’s voice quivered with terror. "This...this creature is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It’s—"
The broadcast cut off abruptly, replaced by a loud, jarring tone signaling an emergency broadcast. Susan clutched the armrest of the couch, her knuckles white. "What is happening, Peter?"
Peter, equally shaken, struggled to find words. "I don’t know, Mom. But we need to stay inside, just like they said."
Penelope, her eyes wide with fear, sank to the floor. "What if they come here? What if Sol...?"
Susan pulled her daughter close, her own fear giving way to maternal resolve. "We will get through this. We have to believe that Sol is safe. We just have to."
As the family huddled together, the world outside descended into chaos. The sky grew darker, the thunder louder, and the sense of impending doom hung heavy in the air. They could only hope that Sol, wherever she was, would be safe from the horrors now unleashed upon the world.
The next day dawned with an eerie stillness. Sol awoke in her sterile room, feeling the weight of an unknown destiny pressing down on her. She dressed quickly and made her way to the white room where the other children had already gathered. Clara and Tom exchanged worried glances as Dr. James and Dr. Swythe entered the room.
"Good morning, children," Dr. James said, his tone almost cheerful. "Follow us."
The children lined up and obediently trailed behind the doctors. They entered a vast room filled with strange machines, each one holding a cylindrical tank of water. Sol’s eyes widened as she took in the sight. The machines hummed with latent energy, casting a cold, sterile glow over the room.
Dr. James turned to face them, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "This is my gift to you, children. A gift that will unlock your true potential."
The children looked at each other in confusion, Clara and Tom’s faces mirroring Sol’s own apprehension. Dr. Swythe, who had been standing silently beside Dr. James, seemed as taken aback as the children.
"What gift?" Clara asked, her voice trembling.
Dr. James smiled, his expression almost fatherly. "This procedure will make you powerful. You will gain abilities beyond your imagination—control over elements, enhanced strength, telekinesis."
Dr. Swythe’s eyes widened. "William, I didn’t know about this. What are you doing?"
Ignoring her, Dr. James continued, "Each of you will be placed in one of these machines. The process will put you to sleep briefly, and when you awaken, you will be transformed."
The children were guided to their respective machines. As they were prepared for the procedure, a nurse injected each of them with a sedative. One by one, they slipped into unconsciousness and were submerged into the tanks. Sol watched with growing dread as Clara and Tom were taken away.
When it was Sol’s turn, she hesitated. "Dr. James, what about me?"
Dr. James motioned for her to follow him to another room. This chamber was dominated by a much larger machine, its complex array of tubes and wires intimidating.
Dr. Swythe, trailing behind, asked, "Why does Sol have a different machine?"
Dr. James's expression was inscrutable. "She’s different from the others. We need to see what her true potential is."
Sol swallowed hard, her fear palpable. "What are you going to do to me?"
Dr. James placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Trust me, Sol. This will make you stronger."
Sol nodded, though her heart pounded in her chest. She climbed into the machine, and the nurse prepared the sedative. As the cold liquid coursed through her veins, she felt herself slipping away. Dr. James's voice was the last thing she heard before darkness claimed her.
"Don’t worry, Sol. When you wake up, you’ll be extraordinary."
As Sol drifted into unconsciousness, Dr. Swythe looked at Dr. James, her face a mixture of disbelief and concern. "William, are you sure about this?"
Dr. James didn’t meet her gaze. "We have no choice, Tilda. They are our only hope against what’s coming."
The room fell silent, save for the hum of the machines. Outside, the world teetered on the brink of chaos, and within the lab, destinies were being irrevocably altered.
YOU ARE READING
𝑆𝐸𝐶𝑅𝐸𝑇𝑆 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑅𝐶𝑅𝐸𝑆𝑇 ( BOOK 1)
AcciónIn Evercrest, Dr. William James was a legend. His hospital, a fortress of science, held the promise of healing for children struggling with troubled minds. But whispers followed the doctor's every move, for his methods were shrouded in secrecy. O...
