They reached the heart of the Wound hours later, the journey leaving them both weary. The landscape had grown more chaotic, the crystalline structures giving way to jagged voids that seemed to lead into nothingness. Kael stopped in front of a massive, swirling vortex that pulsed with the same energy as the Node.

“This is it,” he said. “The core of the Wound. If there’s anything left of Blackthorn’s experiments, it’ll be here.”

Clara hesitated. The vortex was mesmerizing but terrifying, its pull almost tangible. “What do we do?”

Kael reached into his pack and pulled out a small device, placing it on the ground. It activated with a low hum, projecting a field of light that stabilized the area around them.

“Stay close,” he said. “The vortex will try to draw you in. Don’t let it.”

They stepped closer, the energy of the vortex thrumming in Clara’s ears. As they approached, fragments of light and sound began to coalesce around them, forming ghostly images. Clara’s breath caught as she saw Jonathan Blackthorn himself, standing in the laboratory from her visions.

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“Is this real?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Kael shook his head. “Echoes. The Wound holds onto the past, but it’s fragmented, incomplete. Don’t trust everything you see.”

The image of Blackthorn began to move, his hands manipulating a glowing sphere that looked strikingly similar to the Node. His voice echoed through the space, distorted but intelligible.

“The Node is the key,” he said. “A bridge between worlds. But it must be controlled, or it will consume everything.”

Clara’s heart raced as she stepped closer to the vision. “What does he mean?” she asked.

The image flickered, shifting to a scene of destruction. The laboratory was in ruins, and the Node lay at the center, its glow pulsing erratically. Blackthorn’s voice returned, filled with desperation.

“If you’re hearing this, the Node has chosen you. You must finish what I started. Stabilize the bridge, or everything will be lost.”

The vision shattered, leaving Clara staring into the vortex. Her mind reeled with the weight of what she’d seen.

Kael placed a hand on her shoulder. “Now you understand. The Node isn’t just a tool or a weapon. It’s a connection to something far greater.”

“And far more dangerous,” Clara said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael nodded. “That’s why you need to decide what you’re willing to sacrifice. Because the Node’s power won’t come without a price.”

Clara stared at the swirling vortex, the Node pulsing faintly in her bag. The truth about her heritage, the Wound, and the Node’s purpose was becoming clearer. But with every answer came more questions—and a growing sense of dread about what lay ahead.

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