The Prototype

Chapter 19

"We have to hurry," he muttered, urgency hardening his voice. Solace and Rowan exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement, quickening their pace as they neared the place where they hoped to find the last piece.

At the site, a small but intricate series of ruins, the group spread out, each scanning the area.

But as Solace examined one corner, Rowan inspected another, and soon, their differing perspectives brought out the old tension that had simmered between them since they'd reunited.

"I'm telling you, it's buried under these stones," Solace said, pointing to a small pile near the edge.

Rowan shook his head, exasperated. "We don't have time to dig through rubble. It's probably near the central pillar. That's where everything's aligned."

Solace narrowed her eyes. "Just because you think you know best doesn't mean you're right, Rowan. I've never been here, and the last time you've claimed to even come to Norway was years ago. And believe me when I say it wouldn't be the first time you've gone years without anything."

"Oh, that again?" Rowan's voice turned cold, his gaze hardening. "We left things for a reason, Solace. And I had no choice. I never wanted to cut you off."

Solace's eyes flashed with a mixture of hurt and frustration. "Yet you did. And You're right. You didn't have to. But you just disappeared, like none of it ever mattered. Like I never even mattered to you."

"It did matter, you do matter to me Solace." Rowan whispered fiercely, unable to keep the emotion from his voice. "More than you realize. I didn't want to leave Archeology. But I thought it was the right thing to do— I wanted to be more. See more and do what I wanted to do." Rowan's says looking into Solace's eyes with a soft gaze.

"And yes I stopped talking to you, but I never... I never stopped caring for you Solace. I never stopped... loving you."

The words hung in the air, silencing them both. Solace stared at him, taken aback, her emotions too tangled to sort through.

"....what?"

Nathan's voice broke through the silence, firm but laced with impatience.

"This isn't the time, you two," he said. "Focus. We're out of options here."

Taking a shaky breath, Solace nodded, forcing her mind back to the task. Together, they finally found the final piece embedded in the base of the central pillar.

Ethan didn't hesitate; he grabbed it and slipped it into his bag.

Just as they prepared to leave, a wave of pain struck each of them like a hammer. A fierce, overwhelming headache pulsed through their skulls, forcing them to stagger and grip their heads.

The ground beneath them trembled, and a shadow cast over them, blotting out the moonlight.

As they looked up, they saw it—a terrifying spectacle in the sky. The northern lights had twisted into something unnatural, a vortex of swirling purple, black, and blue that spiraled into a massive cylindrical formation, reaching higher than the clouds.

Lightning flickered within, illuminating the storm with flashes of eerie light as it grew in size and intensity.

Winds howled around them, whipping against their clothes, and a deep, thrumming pressure filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

And then, stepping from the darkness, they saw her.

Maia stood behind them, a dangerous glint in her eyes as she gazed at the group with a chilling smile. The twisted lights reflected in her eyes, making her appear almost otherworldly, like a goddess of destruction descended from the storm itself.

Her power radiated outward, the energy crackling around her as if the very storm was an extension of her rage.

"Well," she said, her voice soft but carrying an edge sharp enough to cut through the chaos. "You've come all this way. But you're too late."

Ethan swallowed, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag where the final piece rested. The pressure was suffocating, but he forced himself to keep a level gaze on Maia.

"We're not giving up," he replied, his voice steady, even as his heart pounded. "Whatever power you think you've gained, it doesn't mean you can just take whatever you want."

Maia laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "You still don't get it, do you? This isn't about taking what I want. This is about Integrity. About showing the world what happens when it's pushed too far. When you don't take accountability." She says her gaze focusing on all four of them.

"You really think you can stop me? I am inevitable."

Rowan, his earlier doubts and frustrations forgotten, took a step forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ethan. "You're wrong, Maia. You're powerful, sure. But you're not invincible. And together, we're stronger than you know."

Nathan stepped forward too, his expression unreadable but his resolve clear. "You've underestimated us before, Maia. That's your mistake."

"My mistake? Yet I'm the one with the two other pieces you need. I wonder who's more in power here." Maia says her annoyance from Nathan becoming very obvious.

For a long, tense moment, Maia's gaze flicked over each of them, her smile fading into a steely, implacable expression.

The vortex above them continued to churn, growing ever larger, the winds intensifying as the storm began to shift, drawing them all deeper into its pull.

"This is your last chance," she said, her voice icy. "Give me the piece. Or watch the world fall."

Ethan exchanged a glance with Solace, Rowan, and Nathan. They all knew the odds were against them. But surrendering wasn't an option.

Together, they took a step forward, the storm raging around them as they faced Maia, prepared for whatever came next. The battle wasn't over—but as they stood side by side, united, they knew they had a fighting chance.

Ethan took a steadying breath, his resolve unbreakable, and looked Maia straight in the eye.

"No."