The Enchanted Playlist

Chapter 10: The Vault Awakens

The world was spinning. At least, it felt that way. My body ached, my mind was a foggy mess, and the MP3 player felt like it had left a permanent mark on my palm. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the stage, the faint glow of the Vault's symbols dancing across the ceiling.

"She's awake," Arion's voice said softly, breaking through the haze.

I blinked, trying to sit up. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest. "What... what happened?"

"You activated the Vault," Sera said, standing near the edge of the stage with her arms crossed. "It worked. The Keepers can't get in now."

I glanced around the theater, my vision still blurry. The symbols on the walls and floor pulsed gently, casting the room in a soft, golden light. The hum I'd grown used to was gone, replaced by a strange, almost soothing silence.

"And what about me?" I asked, my voice hoarse. "Why do I feel like I got hit by a truck?"

Sera shrugged, her tone indifferent. "Because the Key took more from you than you're ready to give."

Arion shot her a glare. "Not the time, Sera."

"Then when is the time, Arion?" she snapped. "She needs to know what she's dealing with."

"I'm right here," I said, cutting through their argument. "Stop talking about me like I'm not."

Sera sighed, her sharp features softening ever so slightly. "Fine. You want the truth? The Key isn't just a tool or some mystical force. It's alive, in a way. Every time you use it, it draws on your essence—your energy, your memories, your soul. That's why you feel like this."

My stomach churned. "How much does it take?"

"As much as it needs," Sera said bluntly. "And if you're not careful, it'll take everything."

I stared at her, my chest tightening. "And you knew this? You knew what it was doing to me, and you didn't tell me?"

"You weren't ready to hear it," she said, her tone unapologetic.

"That's not your call to make," I snapped, anger flaring in my chest. "You can't just decide what I can and can't handle."

"Actually, I can," she said, stepping closer. "Because if you fall apart, we're all screwed. You think I want to be here? Babysitting the Key's latest Keeper? I don't. But I'm here because I don't have a choice. Just like you."

Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I opened my mouth to argue, but Arion placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me.

"She's right about one thing," he said gently. "You don't have a choice. The Keepers won't stop until they have you. And if they get you, the world as we know it is over."

The weight of his words settled over me like a storm cloud. "So what do I do? How do I stop them?"

"You learn to fight back," Sera said, her tone softening slightly. "You learn to control the Key before it controls you."

"And how do I do that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sera exchanged a glance with Arion before answering. "By starting at the beginning."