Resonant Echoes

Chapter 2: The First Glimpse

The woods behind Chandra's neighborhood were like a second home. She and RJ had been exploring them since they were kids, racing each other down the narrow trails, climbing over fallen trees, and pretending they were on grand adventures. Even now, with the sun hanging low in the sky and the humidity thickening, the woods felt familiar and safe.

She followed the worn path deeper into the trees, her sneakers crunching softly on the dirt and leaves. The air was cooler here, shaded by the thick canopy above. The smell of damp earth filled her nose, mixed with the faint scent of pine.

Ahead, she saw RJ leaning against a tree, his arms crossed casually as if he'd been waiting for hours. He was tall and athletic, with an easy smile that always made it seem like he was up to something.

"Thought you'd never get here," he said, pushing off the tree as she approached.

Chandra raised an eyebrow. "You texted me ten minutes ago. Where's the fire?"

RJ grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "No fire. Just something you gotta see. Trust me."

"Why do I feel like this is going to end with us getting in trouble?" Chandra asked, though she followed him without hesitation.

RJ led her off the main trail, weaving through the underbrush like he'd been here a hundred times before. The trees closed in around them, and the path became less clear, but RJ moved with purpose. Chandra had to duck under low-hanging branches, her feet catching on roots and rocks.

Finally, they reached a small clearing—a space hidden deep within the woods that Chandra had never seen before. In the center of the clearing was something strange—something that didn't belong.

It was a metal object, half-buried in the dirt, its surface covered in intricate patterns and strange symbols. It wasn't like anything Chandra had ever seen. It looked old, ancient even, but there was something about it that felt... alive.

"What is that?" Chandra breathed, her eyes wide.

"No idea," RJ said, stepping closer. "Found it a few days ago. Thought you'd want to check it out."

Chandra's heart raced as she moved toward the object, drawn to it despite the unease creeping up her spine. The closer she got, the more she felt a strange energy humming in the air around it. It wasn't just a piece of metal. It was something more—something powerful.

Without thinking, she reached out and touched it.

The world around her shifted.

In an instant, the woods disappeared, and she was somewhere else—somewhere ancient. The air was dry and hot, and the ground beneath her feet was made of rough stone. She was standing on the edge of a vast city, its buildings towering and made of stone, adorned with the same intricate patterns as the object. People moved through the streets below, dressed in robes, their faces focused and serious.

In the center of the city stood a massive structure—tall, imposing, and unmistakably the source of power. The air around it crackled with energy, and as Chandra stared at it, she felt the same hum she had felt in the clearing.

Her heart pounded in her chest. This wasn't just a vision. This was real.

And then, just as quickly as it had come, the vision faded, and Chandra was back in the woods, her hand still resting on the metal object.

She gasped, pulling her hand away as if it had burned her.

"Chandra?" RJ's voice cut through the silence, full of concern. "What just happened? You okay?"

Chandra blinked, her mind racing. "I... I saw something. A city. An ancient city."

RJ frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Chandra shook her head, trying to make sense of it. "I don't know. But whatever this thing is... it's not just some old relic. It's something powerful."

RJ stared at her, his face a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Okay. So what do we do now?"

Chandra took a deep breath, her heart still pounding. "We figure out what this is."

Authors Note:

Thanks for reading. I welcome constructive feedback, and please vote if you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks again!

Sincerely,

A. I. Dukes