Chapter 7: The Threshold of Truth

Noah's eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but his expression was determined. He took a slow breath before speaking, his voice firm despite the uncertainty in his gaze. "I don’t know how I figured it out," he admitted. "I just... woke up in the middle of the forest, and suddenly, everything was clear." Ava’s arms were crossed, her fingers digging into her sides as she tried to process his words. "That's not an answer, Noah. That’s just—just ridiculous." "I know how it sounds," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But it’s the truth. I don’t remember falling asleep. I don’t remember walking there. One moment, I was in my apartment, and the next, I was standing in the woods with the knowledge that we were in danger. That we’ve been through this before." Ava swallowed hard. She wanted to dismiss it, to accuse him of making up some elaborate story, but the weight in his voice stopped her. He believed what he was saying. And worse—some deep, hidden part of her felt like it wasn’t impossible. "So what? You think we should go back there?" she asked. Noah hesitated for only a moment. "Yes." Ava exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "This is insane. I don't even know why I'm listening to you." "Because you know something is wrong," he said quietly. "You feel it too." She hated that he was right. Every instinct in her screamed that something wasn’t just wrong—it was fractured. Like a memory just out of reach, teasing her mind but never fully forming. With a reluctant sigh, she shook her head. "Fine. Lead the way." The drive to the forest was quiet, tense. Noah kept his eyes on the road, while Ava stared out the window, watching as the cityscape melted into rolling fields and dense trees. The deeper they went, the more suffocating the silence became. By the time Noah pulled onto a dirt path, night had begun to settle, draping the world in muted blues and deep purples. He cut the engine, and they sat in silence, listening to the distant sounds of rustling leaves and chirping insects. "This is where I woke up," Noah said, pointing ahead. "Somewhere past those trees." Ava hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. "And you’re sure this isn’t some messed-up dream?" "I’m sure," he said, then opened his door. She sighed, following him out. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the wind whispering through the branches. Every step felt heavier, like the forest itself was reluctant to let them pass. Noah led her deeper, his strides purposeful. Ava forced herself to keep up, trying to ignore the eerie sensation that they were being watched. Then, they reached it. A clearing. In the center, a massive stone archway stood, its surface covered in symbols that seemed to shimmer in the dim moonlight. Ava’s breath hitched. "What the hell is this?" Noah exhaled slowly. "A gateway." She turned to him, her heart pounding. "A gateway to what?" He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "To the place we were never supposed to return to." Ava’s hands trembled as she reached out to touch the archway. The stone was cold, humming with an energy that sent a shiver down her spine. Noah took a step closer. "If we go through, there's no turning back. We’ll be stepping into something bigger than us." Ava swallowed hard. "We already have." She took a deep breath—and stepped forward. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the world around her shifted. The forest vanished. The night was swallowed by blinding light. A sensation like free-falling gripped her, and she gasped, reaching blindly for something—anything—to hold onto. Then, just as suddenly as it began, it stopped. She landed on solid ground, knees buckling beneath her weight. She gasped, sucking in sharp, cold air. Noah was beside her, eyes wide as he took in their surroundings. They weren’t in the forest anymore. A vast, otherworldly city stretched before them, its towering structures made of dark stone that pulsed with faint, eerie light. The sky was a deep indigo, dotted with stars that flickered unnaturally. "Welcome back," a voice said. Ava turned sharply, her breath catching as she saw him. An old man stood before them, his robes dark, his expression grim. His eyes, a piercing silver, locked onto Noah with something between disdain and sorrow. "You shouldn’t have returned," he said. Noah stiffened. "We need your help." The man—the Keeper, Ava realized—shook his head. "No. Not this time." Ava frowned. "What do you mean, 'not this time'?" The Keeper sighed, his gaze never leaving Noah. "Because of him." Noah’s jaw clenched. "You know why I came back. You know what’s coming." The Keeper’s expression darkened. "Yes. And that is why you should have stayed away. Your presence here has sealed your fate." Ava’s stomach twisted. "What does that mean?" A sharp sound echoed through the air—like a horn, low and ominous. The Keeper’s silver eyes flickered toward the city. "They know you’re here." Noah grabbed Ava’s wrist. "We need to move. Now." Ava barely had time to protest before they were running, the ground beneath them trembling with an unnatural force. Behind them, dark figures emerged, their movements too fast, too inhuman. The chase had begun.

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