The distortion didn't feel like resistance.
It felt like interference
Adrian pushed forward, every step heavier than the last—as if the space itself was trying to decide whether to let him pass.
Keep moving," Kai said, his voice tighter now.
Veyr was already ahead, eyes sharp, calculating. Don't let it lock in."
Behind them—
Another pulse hit.
Stronger.
Closer.
The dead zone shuddered again.
But this time—
It didn't settle.
Adrian clenched his jaw. It's not just knocking anymore."
Kai didn't look back. No."
A beat.
It's forcing entry."
The air warped.
A ripple spread across the space like cracked glass under pressure.
Then—
Something split.
Not wide.
Not fully.
But enough.
A thin fracture opened behind them—
Not in the floor.
Not in the walls.
In the space itself.
Adrian felt it instantly.
Not through the mark.
Not through the connection.
But directly.
That's not the link," he said.
Veyr's voice dropped. No."
A pause.
That's something else entirely.
From the fracture—
Darkness bled through.
Not like shadows.
Not like anything Adrian had controlled before.
This was heavier.
Denser.
Wrong.
Kai stepped beside him. We don't engage that."
Adrian didn't argue.
Yeah. That's a hard no."
The fracture widened slightly.
And something moved behind it.
Not clearly.
Not fully formed.
But enough to feel.
Watching.
Adrian's instincts screamed—not to fight.
Not to reach.
But to leave.
Go," he said.
They moved.
Each step forward fought the distortion.
The space resisted harder now.
Like it was trying to keep them inside.
Behind them—
The fracture pulsed again.
And this time—
Something pushed through.
A shape.
Incomplete.
Flickering.
Adrian felt his breath catch.
It's coming through."
Kai's voice sharpened. Faster.
Veyr reached the threshold first.
Now!
He stepped through—
And vanished beyond the dead zone.
Kai followed immediately.
Then Adrian—
The moment he crossed—
Everything snapped back.
The distortion vanished.
The pressure disappeared.
The air normalized.
But—
Adrian staggered slightly.
His hand shot to his wrist.
The mark flared.
Not a pulse.
Not a call.
A surge.
No—"
The connection slammed back into place.
Harder than before.
Adrian gasped as the thread snapped tight
Stronger.
Sharper.
Alive.
Kai grabbed his shoulder. Adrian!"
Adrian gritted his teeth. It's back—
Veyr turned sharply.
His expression darkened immediately.
It didn't just reconnect," he said.
A pause.
It anchored.
Adrian froze slightly.
Anchored?"
Another pulse hit his wrist.
Not pulling.
Not inviting.
Locking.
Veyr stepped closer. When you entered the dead zone, it lost you.
His gaze hardened.
Now it's making sure it won't again."
Adrian let out a strained breath.
So I made it worse.
Kai shook his head. No."
A beat.
You forced it to change.
Adrian laughed weakly. Yeah. That's not sounding better.
The mark pulsed again.
Stronger.
Faster.
But something was different.
Adrian narrowed his eyes slightly.
It's not pulling me like before.
Veyr nodded slowly. Because it doesn't need to anymore.
Silence.
Kai's voice dropped. Explain."
Veyr didn't look away from the mark.
Before, it reached for him."
A pause.
Now it knows where he is."
That hit harder than anything else.
Adrian's expression darkened.
So I gave it a target.
Veyr didn't deny it.
The air around them felt heavier now.
Not like the dead zone.
Not empty.
But watched
Adrian flexed his hand slowly.
It feels tighter."
Kai frowned. Like what?"
Adrian exhaled. Like it's closer.
Veyr nodded once.
Because it is."
A pause.
Then—
A faint ripple passed through the shadows nearby.
Not from Adrian.
Not from the environment.
From something else.
Kai turned sharply. Did you see that?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed. Yeah.
Another ripple.
Closer this time.
Veyr's voice dropped. It followed you.
Adrian's jaw tightened. Through the breach."
Silence.
Then Kai said what none of them wanted to admit.
So the dead zone didn't stop it.
Veyr corrected quietly.
It forced it to find another way.
The shadows shifted again.
Not responding to Adrian.
Not obeying.
Moving on their own.
Adrian's expression hardened completely now.
Alright."
A pause.
Then we stop reacting."
Kai looked at him. Now?"
Adrian nodded once.
Now.
The mark pulsed.
Hard.
The pull came—
Stronger than before.
But Adrian didn't move.
Didn't reach.
Didn't respond.
He held it.
The pressure built immediately.
Kai watched closely. It's different this time.
Veyr nodded. Because it's closer."
Adrian's voice tightened slightly.
I can feel that."
The pull didn't feel like an invitation anymore.
It felt like a grip.
But Adrian held the line.
Seconds passed.
The tension climbed—
Then
It stopped.
Not completely.
But enough.
Adrian exhaled sharply.
Still works.
Veyr studied him carefully.
For now.
Kai glanced at the shifting shadows around them.
But we're not dealing with just the connection anymore.
Another ripple moved through the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
Adrian lowered his hand slowly.
His eyes sharpened.
Good."
Kai frowned. Good?"
Adrian's voice dropped slightly.
Now we know what's really hunting me."
The mark pulsed once more.
Quiet.
But steady.
And somewhere beyond the fracture that should have never opened—
Something had crossed over.
Not fully.
Not yet.
But enough to follow.