———Red———

The helicopter touches down in the field in front of the base. As the blades slow, I finally notice how nondescript the building is—no logos, no markers, just a tall chain-link fence adorned with a weathered "KEEP OUT" sign. Beyond it, a sprawling forest stretches into the distance.

I wonder if the portal had been hidden in that forest before Kylen and Claire came through. I wonder how many people might have found it before they came here. Maybe the base was built here before they crossed over, to keep the secret buried.

Stepping out of the helicopter, I brace against the wind—not just from the rotors, but from the storm brewing above. Lightning streaks across the sky, thunder rolling in its wake. Raindrops splatter on my face as I approach the building.

Kylen moves ahead, fumbling with the lock on the door. "Claire, stay back with the kids!" he shouts over the noise.

"We're not kids!" Dylan yells, his voice dripping with indignation.

Claire just shrugs and gives a thumbs-up.

I glance over at Alyse standing beside me.

"You ready?" I ask.

She nods, sparks flickering at her fingertips. "Whatever's coming, we'll handle it. Together."

Her confidence steadies me, and I nod in return. Kylen swings the door open, revealing the lab inside. Beyond shattered glass and debris, the portal looms in the next room. Its swirling colors shimmer ominously, pulsating like a heartbeat.

Kylen's ward ignites, the energy forming into a gleaming blade as it extends from his hilt. Alyse raises her hand, electricity crackling along her palm. My own flames ignite, flickering in my hands like living creatures.

The portal hums louder, the sound vibrating through the walls. Lightning arcs from its edges, illuminating the fractured frame as it seems to strain under some unseen force.

Then, with a deafening boom, the portal flares to life. Its broken structure quakes violently, almost as if resisting the energy trying to force it open. A jagged bolt of electricity suddenly lashes out, striking Alyse square in the chest.

She cries out as the force hurls her backward through the doorway.

"Alyse!" Kylen shouts, running to her side.

I glance back, my heart pounding, but before I can reach her, a figure emerges from the portal.

The gateway shudders with a final groan and abruptly goes silent, the swirling colors vanishing. The figure lands in a crouch just outside the shattered frame, fist pressed to the ground.

As it rises, I take in the details: massive icy wings unfurl from its back before collapsing inward and disappearing. The figure stands tall, its face hidden behind a pristine white mask. A cloak cascades down its back, splitting into a sharp "V" at the waist before flowing into a long coat-like design. White pants and black boots complete the look, the outfit somehow both regal and battle-worn.

With a deliberate motion, the figure pulls back its hood, revealing spiked white hair that gleams under the stormy sky.

"Where the fuck am I?" The voice is sharp, laced with irritation. "And who the fuck are you people?"

I step forward, narrowing my eyes. "I could ask you the same thing."

The figure tilts its head. "I asked first."

"And you showed up on my planet uninvited," I snap. "So I ask the questions here."

The figure groans audibly, exasperated. "Oh my fuck, I don't have time for this."

Before I can react, he leaps through the shattered window separating the lab and the portal room, landing with practiced precision. In one swift move, he kicks me square in the chest, sending me flying out the open door.

I hit the ground hard, sliding across the muddy field. Dazed but furious, I look up to see him storming toward me.

His boot slams down on my chest, pinning me to the ground. Cold ice flashes as he draws a sword and presses its tip against my throat.

"Now," he growls, his voice dripping with menace, "tell me who the fuck you are and where the fuck I am!"

I glare up at him, the heat rising in my chest. "You really don't want to do this, bitch. You have no idea who you're messing with."

His eyes narrow behind the mask. "Neither do you."

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Kylen kneeling with an unconscious Alyse in his arms. His gaze flicks to mine, and he nods—a silent signal that she was okay.

"Answer my fucking questions." His voice filled with rage.

I reach up and shove him off me with everything I've got. He stumbles backward, regaining his balance just as I get to my feet.

"So that's how you want to play?" he taunts, a grin evident behind his mask.

He swings his blade, fast and precise, but I sidestep it. My right hand transforms as the Madium Claw encases it. I meet his next strike head-on, the claw intercepting his blade with a sharp clang. The weapon shatters into jagged pieces, raining to the ground.

"Weak-ass sword," I sneer.

"Is that what you think?" he growls, his tone laced with menace.

Before I can reply, his foot slams into my chest, sending me sprawling to the ground. I roll backward over my head, using the momentum to spring to my feet.

Heat surges through my veins as I open my palm, a blast of fire roaring toward him. He raises his hands, conjuring a towering wall of ice that absorbs the flames effortlessly.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Wait a second," I mutter, narrowing my eyes. "Don't I know—"

A sharp shard of ice arcs around the barrier, hurtling toward me. I spin and kick it aside, shattering it midair. But before I can regroup, the entire ice wall shifts, hurtling toward me like a tidal wave.

I extend my clawed hand, slashing downward in a clean, decisive motion. The ice splits neatly in two, the halves crashing harmlessly past me as I stand my ground.

He's already on me, charging through the remnants of the wall. His hand clenches the hilt of his shattered blade, and the shards of ice scattered across the ground rise at his command, reforming the sword in midair as he swings it toward me.

I leap back just in time, the blade slicing through the space I occupied a moment ago. As I land, his hand shoots out and grabs my ankle.

The ground rushes up to meet me, and I slam into it with enough force to knock the wind from my lungs.

He towers over me, his icy sword glinting as he raises it high, ready to bring it down.

"Hail, wait!" I yell, holding up a hand. "It's me—Red! From Celestria! You helped us escape Muthos that night."

He freezes, his sword mid-swing, eyes narrowing as he takes a closer look at me. Slowly, he lowers his weapon and slides it back into its sheath.

"Red..." he murmurs, realization dawning on his face. Without hesitation, he extends a hand to me, his grip firm as he pulls me to my feet.

As soon as I'm steady, he drops to one knee, bowing his head. "Scarlet Phoenix," he says solemnly.

"Whoa, no. None of that," I say quickly, running a hand through my hair in embarrassment. "Seriously, don't."

"My apologies," he says as he rises to his feet, his tone filled with sincerity. "I didn't recognize you. I shouldn't have attacked."

"It's fine," I assure him, waving it off. "I didn't know it was you either at first."

"You know this guy?" Keegan asks, raising an eyebrow as he steps closer.

"Yeah," I reply, still catching my breath. "He helped my sister, a friend, and me escape when a Daem attacked the capital of our country."

Behind me, Alyse stumbles forward, leaning heavily on Kylen for support, her face pale but determined.

"Hail Magnus?" she asks, her voice tinged with surprise as she squints at him.

Hail straightens, his expression softening as he meets her gaze. He nods once, his demeanor calm but unreadable. "Lady Alyse."

"Okay, someone explain what the fuck is going on before I lose it!" Dylan shouts, his voice rising above the storm.

Hail glances at Dylan, then shifts his icy gaze to me. "Who are these people with you, Red? And where exactly are we?"

I exchange a look with Kylen. He sighs, glancing back at the building behind us, its silhouette looming in the rain. "Let's take this inside," he says. "It's freezing out here. Red and I will explain everything once we're dry."

Without waiting for a response, Kylen turns and heads for the door, ushering Alyse inside. I nod toward the others, motioning for them to follow. "Come on. You'll get your answers."

-

The lab is a sprawling, industrial space with high ceilings and exposed beams. Metallic walls glint under the flickering light of fluorescent panels, some of which hum faintly, casting long shadows. The air smells faintly of ozone and machine oil.

Rows of workstations line the walls, cluttered with half-assembled gadgets, scattered tools, and glowing monitors displaying streams of indecipherable data. In the center of the room, a large table is piled with blueprints, glowing schematics, and coffee-stained notebooks. A faint hum emanates from various pieces of equipment scattered across the lab—some emitting soft beeps, others a steady whirr.

The portal frame dominates the far side of the lab, a massive circular structure crafted from a sleek, dark metal that seems to drink in the light. Its dark, lifeless frame looms there, a silent reminder of the chaos that unfolded just moments ago. The floor beneath it is scorched and cracked from... well me.

Near the entrance, mismatched chairs and an old, scuffed table make up a makeshift seating area. A faint trail of muddy footprints leads from the door, tracing where everyone rushed inside to escape the rain. The windows are fogged, streaked with rain, blurring the view of the storm raging outside.

Kylen, Alyse, Hail, Claire, Dylan, Keegan, and I sit in the circle of miss matched chairs in the front room of the lab.

Rain patters steadily against the roof, filling the uneasy silence. Dylan and Keegan sit with furrowed brows, their faces a blend of confusion and disbelief. I can almost see their thoughts racing, trying to piece together everything we've just unloaded on them.

"So, what, you want us to join your... superhero team?" Dylan asks, raising an eyebrow.

"What's a superhero?" Alyse tilts her head.

"I mean, technically, we are superheroes," Claire shrugs.

Red shakes his head firmly. "No, we're not superheroes. We're knights, paladins, heirs to a throne. Sent here by our parents to reclaim the birthright that was stolen from us."

"In... heaven?" Keegan asks, clearly skeptical.

"Amerei," Hail corrects, his tone grim.

Dylan folds his arms. "Right, but what if we don't want that? I mean, I'm living a pretty decent life here, just being a normal teenager." He gestures wildly, as if to prove his point.

Kylen smirks, arms crossed. "Normal teenagers don't nearly die because their superpowers awaken."

Dylan blinks, then sighs. "Okay, fair point."

I take a seat, resting my elbows on my knees. "If we don't reclaim the throne, I fear who will."

"You should fear it," Hail mutters darkly. "I've seen the darkness on the other side. I've seen who wants the throne. If we don't stand together, we don't stand a chance."

Keegan fidgets nervously. "Okay, but can we talk about that mask? You're giving off major horror movie vibes, and it's making everything you say a lot creepier."

Hail turns his head slowly, the mask catching the dim light. "I could always take it off," he says, voice dripping with menace. "But then I'd have to kill you."

Keegan's eyes widen. "Nope. It's fine. Keep it on. Looks great. Really suits you."

Dylan stifles a laugh. "So, let me get this straight. You're saying you are the kids of gods, demon slayers from some medieval alternate dimension... but with spaceships and stuff?" He chuckles, leaning back against the wall. "You guys are definitely on drugs."

Kylen groans and throws up his hands. "We're not on fucking drugs! You literally just saw Hail come through the portal that's standing right there!" He points emphatically toward the next room, where the fractured portal hums faintly.

Keegan and Dylan exchange glances, their disbelief finally starting to crack.

Dylan rubs his temples, pacing in a small circle. "Okay, okay. So let's just pretend I'm not completely losing it. You're saying there's an actual throne that needs to be reclaimed... by you guys. And this throne is, what, the seat of power for gods? Demons? What?"

"The throne of Amerei isn't just a symbol of power," Hail explains, his voice steady. "It holds the balance between realms. Whoever sits upon it controls not only Amerei but the connection between worlds. If it falls into the wrong hands..."

"It's game over," I finish for him. "For everyone."

Keegan raises an eyebrow. "Yeah, that's great and all, but how exactly does that involve us? We're just a couple of dudes trying to get through senior year without flunking history."

Claire steps forward, holding her tablet. "Your powers aren't random, Keegan. Neither are Dylan's. Somehow the gods placed you here instead of on Naurus or Zenot, and the fact that both of you developed powers at the same time the rest of us arrived here, that's not a coincidence."

"It's fate," Alyse adds, her voice quiet but firm. "Whether you like it or not, you've been brought into this for a reason. The question is, are you willing to step up?"

Dylan laughs nervously, glancing at Keegan. "So, uh, if we say no, what happens? You just let us go back to pretending none of this is real?"

"No," Kylen replies bluntly. "If you walk away, you'll still have your powers—and without guidance, they'll destroy you. You've already seen what happens when they go out of control. Next time, you might not be so lucky."

Keegan looks down, kicking at an invisible speck on the floor. "And if we say yes?"

"You'll have a chance to learn," I say. "To control your gifts, to help protect not just this world but all worlds. To be something greater than yourself."

"Something greater, huh?" Dylan mutters, his tone unreadable. He glances at Keegan, then back at me. "Alright. Let's say we're in. What's step one?"

Kylen smiles faintly. "First, we make sure you survive the night."

Before anyone can ask what he means, a loud crash echoes from the portal room. The air hums with energy as the ground beneath our feet trembles.

"What the hell was that?" Dylan shouts, backing toward the wall.

Hail draws his sword, his icy aura flaring. "Looks like we've got company."

I stand, my flames igniting in my palms. "Welcome to the team."