Chapter 1: The Whispers
Beneath the Ground
A low,
rhythmic hum echoed through the cavern as 16-year-old Rhea knelt beside a
narrow fissure in the rocky floor of her hometown’s ancient cave system. Her
hands trembled with both excitement and fear as she examined the strange
pattern of glowing symbols that had appeared there overnight. The symbols
pulsated with a soft, green light, casting eerie shadows on the jagged walls.
It had
started as a simple exploration with her two closest friends, Kiran and Mira. The
three had grown up in the quiet village of Obsidia, nestled in the shadow of a
dormant volcano. The caves beneath their home were both a mystery and a
playground—a place where legends of buried wonders and forgotten civilizations
stirred the imagination.
But no
legend spoke of this.
“Do
you see how it’s… moving?” Mira whispered, her voice laced with awe. She
reached out a cautious hand toward the largest glyph, shaped like a spiraling
sun.
“Don’t
touch it!” Kiran warned, pulling her back. His usual bravado faltered as
he added, “We don’t know what it is. It could be… dangerous.”
Rhea’s
curiosity outweighed her fear. “It’s not dangerous,” she said firmly, though
her heart pounded like a drum. “It’s calling us. Can’t you feel it?”
The hum
grew louder, resonating deep in their chests. Before any of them could stop
her, Rhea placed her palm flat on the glowing spiral. Instantly, the ground
shuddered, and the fissure widened.
They
tumbled downward, screams swallowed by the blinding green light.
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