"I see you all are still alive," came Maya's voice, smooth and silken, though it held an unmistakable venom. She materialized from the shadows, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "But for how much longer? You should be careful who you trust."
The team immediately tensed. Ryder moved instinctively to the front, his eyes scanning the room, but Maya was everywhere.
"Genesis," Maya cooed, her voice a soft, enticing melody. She stepped toward her, her eyes glowing faintly. "You feel it, don't you? The power inside you—ready to break free. You don't have to fight it. You can join me. Together, we could change everything."
Genesis's breath hitched, but she quickly squared her shoulders, shaking off the allure of Maya's words. "I won't join you. You're wrong about me. "Maya's smile deepened, predatory. "Am I? You're afraid. You've always been afraid of your own power, but I can help you. I can show you how to control it—how to use it to its fullest potential. You'll never be alone again."
"No," Genesis said again, this time more firmly, her resolve hardening. "I'm not like you. "For a moment, Maya's eyes narrowed, her smile fading slightly. But she recovered quickly, her expression becoming one of mild amusement.
"Very well. But remember this, Genesis: all the power in the world won't save you from yourself. The darkness always finds its way in. "And with that, she disappeared back into the shadows, leaving the team in a moment of uneasy silence.
Ryder didn't flinch. "She's dangerous, but so are you." His eyes locked with Genesis's for a moment, before he added, "You'll have to fight harder than that if you want to survive this." Genesis's mind raced. She had felt the pull—the seductive nature of Maya's voice, the temptation to take control. But she had resisted.
She had to.
But something lingered in the air, a feeling of uncertainty. They had faced enemies before, but nothing like this. Nothing that had come this close to breaking them. "We're going to need more than plans," Ryder said, breaking the silence. "We need to get into the forge—training, strategy, and power. Only then can we beat them. "Lucas nodded, his eyes steely with determination. "Let's do it. We'll fight for this world. But we'll do it on our terms.
YOU ARE READING
Dark Wave Force: The Beam
ActionAfter barely surviving a brutal confrontation with Maya and the returning Elizabeth, the young heroes of the Dark Wave Force find themselves tested like never before. The stakes have only grown higher, as new threats emerge and shadows of an even gr...