Chapter 5: The Road to the Unknown

The hum of the vehicle was the only sound in the silence between Elara and Darius as they drove away from the facility. The darkness of the night stretched endlessly ahead, interrupted only by the glow of the artifact resting in Elara’s lap. Its pulsing light cast eerie shadows across the car's interior, and every thrum of energy felt like a heartbeat.

Neither of them spoke for a long time. The enormity of what they had just done hung between them like a storm cloud. Elara stared out the window, her mind racing. They had escaped the facility, but what came next? The Lost City of Sorrows wasn’t just a destination—it was a legend, a place most people believed didn’t exist.

And yet, the Entity’s images were burned into her mind.

She finally broke the silence. “We need a plan.”

Darius glanced at her, his face illuminated by the artifact’s glow. “Agreed. But first, we need to get off the grid. Langston will have alerted every authority by now. They’ll be looking for us.”

Elara nodded. “We can’t afford to stay in one place for too long. But we also need resources—maps, supplies, transportation that isn’t traceable.”

Darius tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully. “I know a place. It’s not far, and the owner owes me a favor. We’ll lay low there and figure out our next move.”

The Hideout

A couple of hours later, they arrived at an old mechanic’s shop on the outskirts of a sleepy town. The building was run-down, its faded sign barely legible in the dim light. Darius parked behind the shop, and they exited the car cautiously, scanning their surroundings for any signs of pursuit.

The door creaked loudly as Darius pushed it open. Inside, the air smelled of oil and metal. Tools and car parts were strewn across the workbenches, and a single overhead light flickered weakly.

“Darius?” a gruff voice called from the back of the shop.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he replied.

A man in his late forties emerged from the shadows, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. His sharp eyes flicked to Elara and then to the artifact she carried.

“This what I think it is?” he asked, his tone cautious.

Darius nodded. “We need your help, Ethan. Just for a few days.”

Ethan sighed, tossing the rag onto a nearby bench. “You’re dragging me into something big, aren’t you?”

“It’s complicated,” Darius admitted. “But it’s important. Lives are at stake.”

Ethan stared at him for a moment before jerking his head toward a door in the back. “You can stay in the storage room. Keep a low profile. And for the love of God, don’t bring any trouble my way.”

Deciphering the Vision

Once they were settled in the cramped storage room, Elara spread out the maps and notes she had hastily grabbed from the facility before their escape. The Entity’s vision replayed in her mind like a fragmented dream.

“I saw a map,” she said, tracing her fingers over the paper. “It led to a dense forest, somewhere in the northern mountains. The Lost City of Sorrows is hidden there.”

Darius leaned over the maps, his brow furrowed. “The northern mountains are vast. Even with a map, finding a specific location won’t be easy.”

“The Entity showed me symbols,” Elara said. “Markers that will guide us. But we have to be careful. The path is treacherous.”

Darius studied her, his expression serious. “Elara, this isn’t just about finding the city, is it? The Entity… what does it really want?”

She hesitated. “It wants freedom. It says it’s bound by chains tied to the city. If we can release it, we’ll uncover truths that have been buried for centuries.”

“And you trust it?”

Elara met his gaze. “I don’t know if I trust it completely. But I trust that it chose me for a reason. And I trust that what we’re doing matters.”

Darius nodded slowly. “Then we’ll see it through. Together.”

A Dangerous Connection

As they worked late into the night, the artifact’s glow grew brighter. Elara felt its pull stronger than ever, as if it were calling to her.

Elara… come closer.

The voice echoed in her mind, soft and persuasive. Without realizing it, she reached out to touch the artifact.

“Elara!” Darius’s voice snapped her out of the trance.

She pulled her hand back, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. It’s… it’s hard to resist.”

Darius frowned. “We need to be careful. The Entity might be helping us, but it’s still powerful—and unpredictable. We can’t let it control you.”

Elara nodded, though the whispers lingered in her mind, like a melody she couldn’t forget.

The Pursuit

The next morning, Ethan burst into the storage room, his face pale.

“You two need to leave. Now,” he said urgently.

“What’s going on?” Darius asked, already packing up their things.

“Langston’s people,” Ethan replied. “They’re here. I saw them talking to the sheriff in town. It’s only a matter of time before they come this way.”

Elara’s heart raced. “We’re not ready. We don’t have everything we need.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Ethan said. “Take my truck. It’s old, but it’s untraceable. Get out of here before they box you in.”

Grateful but tense, Elara and Darius loaded their supplies into the truck and sped away, the mechanic’s shop disappearing in the rearview mirror.

The First Marker

As they drove deeper into the wilderness, Elara’s sense of urgency grew. The map guided them to the edge of a sprawling forest, its towering trees casting long shadows in the afternoon light.

“This is it,” Elara said, clutching the artifact tightly.

Darius parked the truck, and they began their trek into the forest. The air was thick with the scent of pine and moss, and the only sounds were the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional call of distant birds.

The first marker appeared a few hours later—a stone pillar covered in ancient runes. Elara recognized the symbols from the Entity’s vision.

“It’s a warning,” she said, tracing the carvings.

“What does it say?” Darius asked.

“Only the worthy may pass,” she read aloud. “The unworthy will face the wrath of the ancients.”

Darius exhaled sharply. “Well, that’s ominous.”

Elara glanced at the artifact, its glow brighter than ever. “We have to keep going. The Entity will guide us.”

Shadows in the Trees

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew heavier. The trees seemed to close in around them, their gnarled branches like skeletal fingers.

“Elara,” Darius said quietly, his voice tense.

She turned to see him staring into the shadows. For a moment, she thought she saw movement—something darting between the trees.

“We’re not alone,” he said.

Elara’s grip on the artifact tightened. The Entity’s whispers grew louder, urging her forward.

Do not fear the shadows. They are remnants of the past.

But as the shadows grew closer, their forms becoming more distinct, Elara realized they weren’t just remnants. They were something far more dangerous.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***