Chapter 3: Crossing the
Threshold
Rhea
turned to her friends, her heart racing. The melodic voice had faded, but its
words hung heavy in the air. Mira’s eyes darted nervously between the glowing
archway and the jagged walls of the cavern. Kiran, as usual, looked like he
wanted to argue.
“We can’t
just… go in there,” he said, folding his arms. “For all we know, that voice
belongs to something dangerous.”
Rhea
clenched her fists. “And staying here is safer? We fell through a hole in the
ground, Kiran! This isn’t normal. We need answers, and that”—she gestured to
the shimmering gateway—“is the only lead we have.”
Mira
sighed, brushing her dark curls out of her face. “She’s right, Kiran. If
there’s any chance of getting out of here, it’s through that arch.”
Kiran
muttered something under his breath but relented. “Fine. But if we get eaten,
I’m haunting both of you.”
Together,
they stepped toward the gateway. As they passed through, the air seemed to
ripple around them, thick with energy. The temperature dropped slightly, and an
otherworldly glow surrounded them. On the other side, they emerged into a vast
underground world that defied comprehension.
