Elara crashed onto a floating stone platform.
Pain shot through her shoulder, but she forced herself upright.
The little girl stood beside the wooden door.
"Who are you?" Elara demanded.
"Someone you abandoned."
"I've never seen you before!"
The girl smiled sadly.
"That's what they wanted you to believe."
A roar erupted from the darkness.
Three enormous creatures crawled through the floating doorways, their bodies covered in glowing letters.
Julian's voice echoed from above.
"ELARA! KEEP MOVING!"
She sprinted across the platform.
The creatures followed, smashing through floating stones. One leaped toward her.
Elara slid beneath its claws and thrust the Codex into its chest.
The creature exploded into a storm of letters.
She jumped onto another platform as the remaining monsters closed in.
The little girl pointed toward a narrow bridge.
"Cross it! Quickly!"
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I know what happens if you don't!"
The bridge began disintegrating behind them.
Elara raced across it as stones dropped into the void. A creature lunged and caught her coat.
She tore free, leaving the fabric in its claws.
At the far end, the girl pressed her hand against a stone arch.
A doorway appeared.
Elara stumbled through.
They emerged inside a forgotten classroom.
Julian lay unconscious beside the teacher's desk.
Elara rushed to him.
"Julian! Wake up!"
His eyes opened.
He stared at the little girl.
Then his face turned white.
"No," he whispered. "You cannot be here."
The girl tilted her head.
"Hello, Professor."
Julian scrambled backward.
"That's impossible. We erased you."
The girl turned to Elara.
"Ask him what happened to your sister."
Elara stopped breathing.
"I don't have a sister."
The girl stepped closer.
"You did."
Then the classroom lights went out.
🔥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Read ahed! 🔥
If you're loving the story,you can unlock ADVANCE CHAPTERS right now for just $4/month on my Patreon! Not only do you get a massive backlog to binge-read, but you also directly support my daily work. ♥️
👇 Grab your early access here:
🔗 Patreon.com/PIYUSHSRIVASTAV
(Or simply search for - PHANOMINK on Patreon!)