"WHAT?"
Before Maya could process what happened, suddenly her phone buzzed snapping her mind back to reality. "Maya, we have got a problem" it was kael's voice mixed with urgency "I know it's been a while but we need you back at the HQ, now!". Damon's eyes snapped to hers, his jaw clenching.
Maya's eyes flicked to her phone, her mind racing to place the name "Kael" and the "HQ" he mentioned. She hadn't told Damon about her life before they met—about the secretive organization that had been tracking her because of her sigil. Kael was one of the few people she trusted, but she hadn't expected him to be reaching out now.
Damon's gaze narrowed, picking up on her tension. "Who's Kael?" he asked, his tone guarded.
Maya hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Someone I used to work with," she said finally, trying to keep her voice neutral. "What's happening Kael?" she asked into her phone.
Kael replied, his voice tight with worry. "We're detecting anomalies in the energy field. If it destabilizes completely, it could level the city."
Maya's grip on the device tightened. She knew firsthand what the Sphere was capable of. "I'm on my way," she said, already moving toward the exit.
Damon fell into step beside her, his eyes flashing with determination. "I'm coming with you."
"Kael, what's the situation at HQ?" Maya asked, her mind racing with possibilities.
"It's not safe, Maya. Meet me at the old clock tower instead. And be careful. There's something else going on here. I think—"
The comms cut out abruptly, leaving Maya staring at the device in her hand.
"What's happening?" Damon demanded, his voice low and urgent.
Maya looked up at him, her heart pounding. "We need to get to the clock tower. Now."
The clock tower, a place she hadn't been to in years, held secrets and danger.
~
Dark voices echoes "I have them exactly where I want them". Dark laughter echoes all around
~
As they approached the tower, Maya's senses tingled. Something felt off. The air was thick with an electric charge, and the sigil on her hand pulsed in response.
They reached the tower's entrance and Maya pushed crooked door open, her eyes scanning the dimly lit interior.
"Kael?" she called out, her voice echoing through the tower.
There was no response. The silence was deafening.
Damon's hand brushed against hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a reassuring gesture. "Let's move," he whispered, his eyes locked on the shadows.
They crept deeper into the tower, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Maya's heart pounded in her chest, her senses on high alert.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, its features illuminated by a faint moonbeam.
"Kael?" Maya's voice was laced with relief.
But as the figure stepped closer, Maya's eyes widened in horror. Kael's eyes were black as coal, and his smile was twisted into a grotesque grin.
"Welcome, Maya," Kael said, his voice not his own. "I've been waiting for you."