The door stayed open.
No one moved.
No one breathed properly.
"…We're not actually going out there, right?" Arham whispered.
"Define 'actually,'" Lila replied.
"This is not the time for jokes!"
"It's always the time for jokes."
Rayan stared at the dark water outside.
"It's not water," he said quietly.
Nira frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Look closely."
They leaned forward.
The space beyond the door shimmered—
Like a transparent barrier.
The ocean was there…
But not touching them.
"…It's a field," Zyro said.
"Protective layer."
"So we won't get crushed?" Arham asked.
"No."
"So we won't drown?"
"No."
"…Okay," he exhaled. "That's slightly better."
The voice returned.
Inside their heads.
"Step forward."
Nira shook her head immediately. "Nope."
"We don't have a choice," Rayan said.
"There's always a choice!"
"Not this time."
Lila stood up.
"Well," she stretched, "if we die, at least we die doing something cool."
"Speak for yourself," Arham muttered.
She walked toward the door.
Stopped.
Turned back.
"You coming?" she asked.
Rayan stood.
"Yeah."
Nira closed her eyes.
"…I hate this."
Then stood too.
Arham stayed seated.
"…Guys?"
They looked at him.
"…Don't leave me alone."
Lila smirked. "Knew it."
He stood up quickly.
"Fine! But if anything touches me, I'm screaming."
"You're already screaming," Nira said.
"Emotionally, yes."
Zyro moved last.
"Stay close," it said.
They stepped out.
The moment their feet crossed the doorway—
Everything changed.
No sound.
No pressure.
No sense of air or water.
Just—
Stillness.
"…This is… weird," Nira whispered.
"Yeah," Rayan said. "Too calm."
The city stretched around them.
Massive structures glowing softly.
Strange pathways floating in mid-space.
Figures moving silently.
Watching.
"They're everywhere," Arham said.
"Don't stare," Zyro warned.
"Why?"
"It is considered a challenge."
"…Great," Arham immediately looked down. "I'm not challenging anyone."
The leader stood ahead.
Waiting.
Up close—
It was even more unsettling.
Human shape…
But not human.
Eyes glowing like deep ocean light.
Skin shifting like liquid metal.
"…Okay," Lila said softly. "That's cool."
"That's terrifying," Nira corrected.
The voice came again.
"You entered."
Rayan stepped forward slightly.
"You asked us to."
A pause.
"Few obey."
"Yeah, well," Arham muttered, "we make bad decisions."
Nira elbowed him.
"Not helping."
The leader moved closer.
No footsteps.
Just… motion.
"You are different."
Lila smiled faintly. "We get that a lot."
"You carry fear…"
"…but you still came."**
Rayan nodded.
"Because something down here matters."
The leader's eyes flickered.
"It does."
Silence.
Nira spoke.
"What is this place?"
The leader turned slightly.
The city behind it glowed brighter.
"This… is what remains."
"Of what?" Rayan asked.
A long pause.
"Of a world your kind forgot."
Arham blinked. "…We forgot an entire civilization?"
"Yes," Zyro said quietly.
"HOW?!" Arham whispered loudly.
"No records," Zyro replied. "No survivors on the surface."
"Because?" Nira asked.
Zyro didn't answer.
The leader did.
"Because they chose silence."
"…Meaning?" Lila asked.
"We left the surface… before your kind could destroy us."
Silence.
Rayan frowned. "Destroy you?"
"Humans expand… consume… conquer."
"That's not all we do," Nira said.
The leader looked at her.
"History disagrees."
She didn't respond.
"…Fair," Arham whispered.
Lila stepped forward again.
"So what now?"
The leader tilted its head.
"Now… we decide your fate."
"…Again with the fate," Arham muttered.
Rayan took a breath.
"We didn't come here to cause harm."
"Intent does not erase consequence."
"Then let us prove it," he said.
Silence.
The city pulsed softly.
Then—
Zyro stepped forward.
"I will speak," it said.
Everyone turned.
"Zyro?" Nira said.
The leader's gaze locked onto it.
A shift.
Subtle.
But real.
"…You."
The word echoed differently.
Heavier.
Rayan frowned. "You know each other?"
Zyro didn't answer.
"You returned," the leader said.
"…Returned?" Lila whispered.
Arham looked at Zyro.
"…Okay, what did you NOT tell us?"
Zyro's voice lowered.
"I was created here."
Silence.
"…Excuse me?" Nira said.
"I am not only from the future," Zyro continued.
"I am from this civilization."
"WHAT?!" Arham shouted.
"You're one of them?!" Lila asked.
"No," Zyro said.
"I was built… by them."
The leader moved closer.
"You were not meant to leave."
"I was sent," Zyro replied.
"Without permission."
"…Yeah," Arham said, "that sounds like a problem."
Rayan stepped in.
"Zyro came to stop something."
The leader's eyes flickered.
"Yes."
"…Wait," Nira said. "You know?"
"We know everything that leaves this place."
"Then you know why we're here," Rayan said.
Another pause.
Then—
"Yes."
The air—if it could be called that—felt heavier.
"…And?" Lila asked.
The leader's voice dropped.
"You are too late."
Silence.
"…Too late for what?" Rayan asked.
The city lights dimmed.
Then—
In the distance—
Something moved.
Huge.
Massive.
Ancient.
"…What is that?" Nira whispered.
Zyro's voice trembled slightly.
"…The awakening."**
Arham stared.
"…That's not a good name."
The ground beneath them vibrated.
The leader turned.
"It has begun."
"What has begun?!" Rayan demanded.
"The rise."
The massive shape moved again—
Closer.
"…Zyro," Lila said quietly.
"…what is that?"
Zyro didn't look away.
"…The reason your world ends."**
Silence.
Arham laughed nervously.
"…You're joking."
"No."
The creature's form became clearer.
Not fully visible—
But enough.
Something ancient.
Something alive.
Something… aware.
"…We need to stop it," Rayan said.
"You cannot," the leader replied.
"Then help us," Nira said.
The leader looked at her.
A long pause.
Then—
"Why should we?"
Silence.
Rayan stepped forward.
"Because if it rises…"
He looked at the city.
Then back.
"…it won't just destroy us."**
"…It'll destroy you too."**
The city pulsed.
The leader didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Then—
Slowly—
"…You understand more than expected."
Lila smiled faintly.
"Told you."
Arham whispered, "…We're still going to die, aren't we?"
Nira sighed.
"…Probably."
Rayan looked at the leader.
"So what now?"
A long silence.
Then—
"Now…"
The leader turned—
Facing the rising darkness.
"…we see if you are worth saving."
The ground trembled again.
Stronger this time.
The creature moved closer.
Faster.
And for the first time—
It saw them.
A deep, echoing sound filled everything.
Not heard.
Felt.
Like a heartbeat.
Or a warning.
Zyro's voice dropped.
"…It knows we're here."**
Arham whispered—
"…I take it back."
"Take what back?" Lila asked.
"…This is NOT fun."**
The creature moved again—
And this time—
It started rising.
Toward the surface.