Dark Wave Force: The Beam

Chapter 6: Hold On Genesis!

The road to the Beam was no less arduous than they had imagined.

The further they traveled, the more the environment seemed to grow dense, almost alive with energy. Thick, swirling fog surrounded them, making the path ahead appear uncertain. But the real danger wasn't in the shifting landscape—it was in the air itself, laden with the feeling that something was watching them. Something... waiting.

Despite the unease gnawing at them, the Dark Wave Force pressed on, their movements synchronized, but their eyes were all on Lucas. He hadn't spoken much since Jake and Mike had left them. His earlier outburst had created a palpable rift. Each member of the Force understood that Lucas was going through something—they all were—but none of them could understand how it was affecting him so deeply.

"Do you think he'll come around?" Genesis asked, her voice quiet, unsure whether she was addressing Amai or herself.

Amai glanced over at Genesis, seeing the concern on her face. "He has to. We're all in this together." But even she wasn't sure of her words.

"I just hope he knows what he's doing," Genesis murmured, her gaze drifting toward Lucas's back as he led the way.

Jessica, ever the optimist, tried to add some levity to the situation. "Well, at least there's no more Maya trying to tear us apart for now. That's something, right?" She forced a small, weary smile, but it didn't seem to do much to ease the tension.

Skyler gave a tight nod, her fingers idly swirling water in a small, calming spiral in front of her. "Yeah, no more shadows for now. We can focus on the Beam."

The ground under their feet started to vibrate slightly, the earth humming with an unsettling energy. Lucas didn't break stride, though. He was a man on a mission now, his eyes fixed forward as if nothing else existed.

Genesis couldn't shake the unease growing inside her. Her powers felt off—stretched thin by all the battles they had been through. She looked to Jessica for reassurance."Do you think the Beam will give us the strength we need to stop whatever's coming?" Genesis asked, her voice tinged with hope.

Jessica shrugged, the weight of her own uncertainty reflected in her eyes. "I don't know. But we have to try. It's the only thing that might have the power to stop Maya... and whoever else is after it."

The silence hung between them as they walked deeper into the unknown, the landscape growing more ominous by the minute.

Finally, after what felt like hours of pushing forward, the group stopped before a massive cavern entrance—a deep, dark fissure in the ground, the mouth of which was pulsating with dark energy. The ground rumbled beneath them, and the very air felt dense, like they were standing on the edge of something far greater than themselves.

"We're here," Lucas said, though his voice was devoid of emotion. He didn't look at the team, but his clenched fists and rigid posture told them everything—they had reached the final stretch.But just as the group was about to step forward, a familiar, menacing voice echoed out from the shadows.

"Well, well. Look what we have here."The Force turned sharply, the hairs on the back of their necks rising. Emerging from the shadows with malicious elegance, Maya appeared, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight."You thought you could escape me, didn't you?" she purred, her voice smooth like silk but carrying a venomous edge. "I always find my way to the most powerful things."

The Force immediately braced themselves for another attack, their powers surging.Before anyone could react, a dark tendril shot out, moving at incredible speed, and whipped straight for Genesis. She barely had time to react before the shadowy arm wrapped around her neck, squeezing tightly. Her feet lifted from the ground as the dark energy choked the life from her.

"No!" Lucas shouted, the fury in his voice unmistakable. He turned to make a move, but Maya was too fast. She flicked her wrist, and another wave of energy slammed into Lucas, sending him crashing back against the cavern wall.

"Lucas!" Genesis screamed, the pressure tightening around her neck. She gasped for air, struggling against the suffocating grip, but the more she fought, the stronger it seemed to get."Genesis!" Amai cried, her eyes wide with panic.

Maya laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. "She's already mine. The question is—how long can you all last before I take each of you?"

Genesis's vision began to fade as the shadow wrapped tighter, her body becoming limp in the air. She couldn't fight it anymore, and the darkness crept in on her.

"Help me..." she whispered, her voice desperate.

And then, just as the darkness began to close in around her, something unexpected happened. A pulse of pure energy ripped through the air, shaking the cavern as though an earthquake had hit. Maya's grip faltered for a moment, and Genesis fell to the ground with a thud, gasping for air.

The Force scrambled to their feet, but before they could react, a new figure appeared at the edge of the cavern, stepping into view with the light of an ethereal presence around him.

"Ryder." Lucas muttered under his breath, his voice full of mixed emotions.

Ryder stood at the entrance, his eyes sharp, full of purpose. He didn't say a word, but the sheer force of his presence filled the cavern, and in that instant, it was clear that he was the force the team needed.

Maya snarled, her expression twisting with disgust. "You again. Why are you always in the way?"Ryder's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "I'm here to finish this."

But as Ryder began to step forward, something shifted. Genesis gasped in horror as she felt an icy grip inside her mind—a darkness that wasn't Maya's doing.

She struggled to maintain control, but it was as if something was invading her thoughts, trying to force her to obey.

Maya's voice was sharp, her eyes glowing with dark power as she focused on Genesis. "She's mine now,"

Maya whispered, her hands raised as she sent another wave of shadow energy toward Genesis's head.

"No!" Genesis screamed, her body trembling under the strain.

And then, at the very last second, just as her body began to convulse in resistance, Maya's dark power engulfed her mind completely.

In one terrifying instant, Genesis felt her consciousness slipping, the last thing she could manage was a desperate cry—"Help me!"

And with that, the world around her went dark.