Elena ran, her lungs burning, the heavy Eclipse Codex book clutched tightly to her chest. The piercing alarms from the Neo-Eclipse base still screamed behind her, a raw sound of anger and warning. She could hear the shouts of guards, the distant sounds of the fight Kiran was putting up to give her time. Guilt twisted in her gut, a sharp pain mixed with fear. He was fighting alone, sacrificing himself so she could escape with this mysterious book. She didn't know if he was alive, if he had made it out.
The desert wind whipped around her, sharp and cold. She pushed through the rocky terrain, following the escape route Echo had marked on the blueprints. Her mind raced. Dr. Koval's words about Liam, about "prime candidates" and "ascension," echoed in her head. It was all real. The Eldritch, the Veil, the Great Eclipse—it wasn't just a conspiracy, it was a terrifying plan set in motion by people who believed in it.
After what felt like forever, she reached a small, hidden cave, a temporary safe spot she and Kiran had marked. She collapsed inside, gasping for breath, her muscles shaking. The cave was dark and quiet, a welcome break from the chaos. She pulled out her small, tough laptop, its screen glowing in the dimness. She stared at the Eclipse Codex book. It looked so plain, so old, yet it held untold power. She tried to open it again, to find a latch or a secret lock, but it remained solid, unyielding. Its pages seemed to be fused shut, an unbreakable block of ancient knowledge. She ran her fingers over its smooth, dark leather, feeling the faint, deep thrum she remembered from the chamber. It was a closed door, but she knew it held the answers they desperately needed. Outside, the night was silent, but Elena felt the world had just shifted. The fight was bigger than she could have imagined.