Flashback: Alex's P.O.V.
Years ago…
The chamber smelled of burning incense and tension. Alex, barely a teenager, stood before the high priest, his heart pounding. Victor watched with a cruel smirk, his eyes glittering with anticipation.
"You understand the sacrifice required, Alex?" The high priest's voice echoed in the vast space. Alex swallowed hard. "Yes, sir." He did understand. To join the Covenant fully, to wield its power, he had to sever all ties to his past. To anyone outside.
A woman was brought forward, her eyes filled with terror. His mother. "You must prove your loyalty," the high priest continued, his voice devoid of emotion. "You must show that you are willing to put the Covenant above all else." Alex's hands trembled. He looked at his mother, her face pleading. He remembered her lullabies, her gentle touch, and her unwavering love. A tear escaped his eye.
Victor stepped closer, his voice a low hiss. "Don't be weak, Alex. This is your destiny." Destiny. The word tasted like bitter-leaf in his mouth. He looked back at the high priest, at the expectant faces of the robed figures. He knew what he had to do. He had been trained for this since he was a child. With shaking hands, he reached out and took the offered dagger. The blade was cold against his skin.
His mother's whimper pierced the silence.
He closed his eyes, his heart breaking into a million pieces. He made his choice.
---
The darkness after the jolt was absolute. I couldn't see anything, not even my hand in front of my face. The air crackled with residual energy, raising the hairs on my arms.
"Joanna?" I whispered, my voice trembling. No response. Panic began to claw at my throat. I stumbled forward, my hands outstretched, searching. The darkness seemed to be suffocating. Then, a faint light appeared, growing steadily brighter. It wasn't the warm glow of the lamps in the chamber, but a cold, eerie luminescence.
It revealed a new scene. We weren't in the room anymore. We were in a corridor, long and narrow, with walls of rough-hewn stone. The earth was damp and the air smelled of mildew. Torches flickered on the walls, casting dancing shadows that seemed to writhe and twist. Joanna stood beside me, her face pale in the torchlight. She looked disoriented, her eyes wide.
"Where are we?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Joanna shook her head. "I don't know. I've never been here before." Her hand tightened on my arm. "But we need to get out of here. Now."
She started to move down the corridor, pulling me along. I followed, my heart pounding, my senses on high alert. The corridor twisted and turned, leading us deeper into the bowels of the building. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the echo of our footsteps and the occasional drip of water. We passed several doorways, each leading into darkness. I shuddered, imagining what horrors might lurk within.
Suddenly, Joanna stopped. "Listen," she whispered. I strained my ears. A faint sound reached us, a rhythmic chanting that seemed to vibrate through the very stones of the corridor. It was coming from ahead.
Joanna's eyes hardened. "This way." She moved forward swiftly, her steps quick and determined. I followed, my fear warring with a desperate curiosity. The chanting grew louder as we approached a large, arched doorway. A dim light spilled out, casting grotesque shadows on the walls.
Joanna hesitated, then took a deep breath before stepping through the doorway. I followed close behind. The scene before us was horrifying.
We were in a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow. A fire burned in the center, casting a flickering light on the robed figures that surrounded it. They swayed and chanted, their voices rising and falling in a hypnotic rhythm. In the center of the circle, a figure lay on a stone altar. Jake.
My breath caught in my throat. He was shirtless, his body bound with ropes. The symbols on his chest glowed faintly in the firelight. The high priest stood over him, holding a silver dagger. My blood ran cold. They were going to sacrifice him.
"We have to stop them," I whispered, my voice trembling. Joanna nodded, her face grim. "But how?" Before we could come up with a plan, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
Victor stepped out of the shadows, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Joanna," he drawled. "I didn't expect to see you here. And you brought a guest." His gaze turned to me, his smile widening. "Welcome back, Jade."
My heart pounded. We were trapped.
---
Emily and Pastor Michael's P.O.Vs.
The rain continued to fall, blurring the city lights outside the library windows. Emily paced restlessly, her mind consumed with worry for Jake and Jade.
"We have to find Joanna," she said, her voice tight. "She's our only chance." Pastor Michael nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I agree. But we need to be careful. The Covenant has eyes everywhere."
Suddenly, the library door creaked open. A figure stepped inside, shaking off the rain. He was tall and lean, with a worn leather jacket and eyes that seemed to hold a lifetime of pain. Beside him stood a woman, her face fierce and determined.
"You're looking for Joanna?" The man said, his voice rough. "We can help you with that." Emily and Pastor Michael exchanged wary glances.
"Who are you?" Pastor Michael asked.
"My name is Marlon," the man said. "And this is Selina. We're fighting the Covenant too." Selina stepped forward, her gaze intense. "We've been watching you. We know about Jake and Jade. We know about Joanna."
Marlon nodded. "We have our own reasons for wanting to take down the Covenant. They took someone from us too." Emily's eyes widened. "You're rebels?" Marlon smirked. "You could say that. We prefer to think of ourselves as… freedom fighters." He stepped closer, his voice low. "We know where Joanna is. We know where they're keeping Jake and Jade."
Emily's heart leaped with hope. "Please, take us to them."
Marlon hesitated. "It's not that simple. The Covenant's stronghold is heavily guarded. We'll need a plan." Selina nodded. "And we'll need your help. You have something we need." "What is it?" Pastor Michael asked. Marlon's gaze met Emily's. "You have a connection to Jade. A bond. We can use that."
Emily frowned, confused. "What kind of bond?" Marlon's lips curved into a mysterious smile. "You'll find out soon enough."
---
Victor's words hung in the air, heavy with menace. The robed figures resumed their chanting, their voices rising with intensity. Jake stirred on the altar, his eyes fluttering open. He looked around, his gaze landing on me.
"Jade?" he whispered, his voice weak.
"I'm here, Jake," I said, my voice thick with tears. "I'm going to get you out of here."
Victor laughed. "Such touching sentiment. But it's too late for that." He raised the dagger. "No!" I screamed. But before he could strike, Joanna moved. She lunged at Victor, her movements swift and unexpected. She grabbed his arm, twisting it sharply. The dagger clattered to the floor.
Victor roared in pain and surprise. The robed figures gasped, their chanting faltering. Joanna didn't hesitate. She kicked Victor hard, sending him stumbling back. Then, she grabbed my hand.
"Run!" she yelled.
I didn't need to be told twice. I grabbed Joanna's hand, and we turned and fled, back into the darkness of the corridor. Behind us, chaos erupted. Victor's enraged shouts, the robed figures' cries, the clash of steel.
But we didn't stop running. We ran for our lives, deeper into the mazy depths of the Covenant's stronghold, with no idea where we were going or what awaited us in the shadows. And as we ran, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger and darker game.