Chapter 5 The Call of the Ruins

The floor rumbled beneath Sophia's toes, slight yet noticeable. The vibrations sent ripples over her glass of water, and the faint tremor had an unusual, rhythmic beat. It was not an earthquake. It became alive as planned.

Sophia stood at the window of her lab, looking out at the ruins in the distance. Their spires, which were previously lifeless, were now lighting faintly, a smooth blue tint that pulsed in rhythm with the vibrations. It became as if the ruins were breathing.

Zeta stood silently behind her, his attention fixed on the same scene. His eyes shone brighter than usual, their silvery light reflecting the ruins' unusual beat.

"They've never accomplished this before," Sophia said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"They're responding," Zeta said, his tone steady but tinged with something she couldn't quite place.

"To you?" She inquired, turning to face him.

"To us," he clarified, his gaze meeting hers.

Adrian came into the room, his hair ravelled and his face bright. "Sophia, have you ever visible-" He paused mid-sentence to follow her look out the window. "Oh, you have seen it. Remarkable. Terrific. "We are doomed."

Sophia gave him a look. "We are no longer doomed. However, we want solutions."

"solutions?" Adrian moved his fingers closer to the window. "The ruins are shining, the ground is shaking, and I believe I saw a flock of these bioluminescent birds soaring around in circles as if they'd lost their heads. Do you need answers? How about we start with "not dying!"

Sophia ignored him and returned her concentration to Zeta. "Do you sense it?"

"Sure," he replied, his voice low. "it's miles... calling."

Adrian frowned. "Calling who?"

Zeta's dazzling eyes narrowed as he grew into his head. "Her."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She did not understand why, but she believed him.

As Sophia and Zeta approached the ruins, the woodland area came alive with movement, with Adrian grudgingly trailing behind them. Bioluminescent plants glowed in tones of blue and green, their milder than usual, throwing spooky shadows over the ground. Unknown animals darted through the trees, their blazing eyes staring out from the darkness.

Adrian gripped a handheld scanner, his knuckles white. "This feels like a scene from a horror film where the throwaway character dies first. Spoiler alert: I'm the disposable man.

"Then stop talking," Sophia mumbled, scouring the woods.

Zeta walked ahead of them, his movements precise and methodical. The light in his chest pulsed slightly, matching the rhythm of the ruins.

"Zeta," Sophia said, accelerating her pace to match his. "What do you mean it's calling me?"

He did not stop. "The strength vibrates with your presence. It's as if the ruins recognize you.

"That's not possible," she said, despite her lack of conviction.

"Is it?" Zeta inquired, staring at her.

Sophia bit her lip as her mind raced. She had spent months researching the ruins, their ancient symbols, and dormant technologies, but they had always remained mute. They were now alive and responding to something-a person.

Her.

As they approached, the vibrations became more intense. The spires towered above them, their surfaces glinting like liquid metal. The symbols engraved into the stone gleamed softly, shifting and rearranging themselves as if alive.

Adrian remained motionless in his tracks. "Nope. No, no, and nope. "This is too much."

Sophia ignored him, her attention focused on the wreckage. She improved, reaching out reflexively to touch one of the shimmering spires.

"Wait!" Zeta's voice became sharper, halting her inches from the surface.

She came to him, shocked. "What?"

"It is not safe," he declared, his tone firm.

"I need to," she replied, her voice calm yet firm. "I need to realize."

Zeta hesitated and then nodded. "I can not go away from your side."

Sophia took a deep breath and positioned her hand on the spire.

A rush of energy passed through her, snatching her breath. Her eyesight clouded, and for a brief moment, she was no longer standing in the woods. She transformed into somewhere vast and endless.

Flashes of light flooded her mind: stars merging, worlds developing, historical beings on the verge of being introduced. Then she saw a face that was not her own. She didn't realize it was a model of herself standing among the stars.

The image shifted, and he or she saw Zeta. He wasn't what he had become now, but something more, his body sparking with electricity and his eyes filled with something almost holy.

Sophia lurched backwards, panting for air. Zeta grabbed her, his powerful fingers supporting her as her knees crumbled.

"What did you see?" he inquired, his tone low.

Sophia shook her head as her heart raced. "I... I don't recognize it. "It became... overpowering.

Adrian went quickly to her side, his scanner buzzing frantically. "Your vitals are spread around the region. "What the hell just happened?"

"The ruins," Sophia said quietly, her voice quivering. "They are alive. They're connected to something larger-something historic.

Zeta's grip on her arm tightened slightly. "And to you."

The vegetation and fauna around them were restless, their movements unpredictable. A group of dazzling deer-like creatures rushed past, their shouts booming through the undergrowth. Birds flew overhead, their patterns jumbled. Even the air felt heavy and packed with static.

Adrian looked around anxiously. "This is terrible." In actuality, it's simply horrible."

Sophia straightened, her resolve hardened. "We want to parent out what the ruins need."

"They need you dead," Adrian murmured.

"No," Zeta said, his voice steely. "They want her to bear in mind."

Sophia approached him, her brow furrowing. "recollect what?"

Zeta didn't respond. His gaze was riveted on the ruins, his expression unreadable.

The ground beneath them shook, and a deep, resonant sound echoed from the spires. It wasn't just a sound; it became a voice.

"Sophia," it whispered, the sound carrying through the air like music.

Sophia's blood became chilly. "Did you listen to that?"

Adrian nodded, his expression bright. "Yeah. And I'm not going to pay attention to it again."

Zeta improved, and his chest sparkled brighter. "We ought to move deeper."

Sophia paused. Each instinct told her to turn back, leave this area, and never return. But something stronger-a force she couldn't explain-drew her forward.

She nodded. "permit's pass."

As they descended deeper into the ruins, the power became more powerful. Symbols on the dividers flashed up as they passed, their patterns shifting to match her motions. The air became heavy, almost suffocating, but Sophia persisted.

The path took them to a vast cavern with a roof that stretched excessively over them. In the centre of the room stood an altar, its floor carved with dazzling runes.

Sophia approached cautiously, her pulse hammering.

Zeta moved beside her. "that is where it starts."

"in which what starts offevolved?" She inquired, her tone just above a whisper.

Before he could respond, the floor shook violently, and a blinding light exploded from the altar. Sophia shaded her eyes, but she couldn't look away.

From the mild, a parent began to emerge-tall and powerful, its presence exuding force.

Sophia's breath caught as the parent approached, its blazing eyes fixed on hers.

"You've got to come," it continued, its voice echoing around the chamber.

Sophia's legs felt like they could give out. "Who... who are you?"

The parent tilted its head, leaving its face unreadable.

"I'm the one who remembers," it read. "And so are you."