Chapter 38: The Burning Gate

The facility feels different today—as if it knows what we’re planning. The air is heavier, the shadows deeper, and every sound echoes like a warning. But I can’t let the fear get to me. Not now. The notebook Elyon gave me is hidden beneath my cot, its pages burned into my memory. It’s a map, a plan, and a promise that freedom is within reach if we’re willing to fight for it.

Caleb meets me in the corridor outside the common area, his expression grim but determined. He carries himself with a confidence that bolsters my own, though I can see the tension in his jaw.

“It’s time,” he says, his voice low.

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Do the others know?”

“Only the ones who need to,” he replies. “The fewer people who know, the safer we all are.”

We move through the labyrinthine corridors with purpose, careful to avoid the guards’ watchful eyes. The plan is simple in theory: reach The Burning Gate, the first of the barriers protecting Lucian’s core. Elyon’s notebook detailed its location and the traps that guard it. If we can get through, we’ll be one step closer to cutting off Lucian’s power.

But nothing about this is simple in practice.

The gate stands before us, a massive construct of glowing red metal that pulses with an eerie light. The heat radiating from it is intense, making the air shimmer and my skin prickle. It’s as if the gate itself is alive, warning us to stay away.

“This is it,” Caleb murmurs, his eyes scanning the area. “The first barrier.”

Elyon steps forward, his presence commanding as he examines the gate. “The mechanism is ancient,” he says, running his hand along the symbols etched into the metal. “It responds to fear. The more you hesitate, the stronger it becomes.”

I glance at Caleb, whose jaw tightens. Fear is unavoidable in this place, but we can’t let it control us.

“How do we disable it?” I ask, my voice steady despite the unease curling in my stomach.

Elyon pulls a small vial from his pocket, the liquid inside glowing faintly. “This will weaken it temporarily,” he explains. “But someone needs to cross while it’s vulnerable. Once you’re on the other side, you can deactivate it from within.”

The implications are clear. Whoever crosses first will be exposed, vulnerable to whatever traps or defenses lie beyond.

“I’ll go,” I say, the words leaving my mouth before I fully process them.

Caleb’s eyes widen, and he steps forward. “Nerina, no. It should be me.”

“You’re more valuable on this side,” I counter, meeting his gaze. “If something goes wrong, you’re the one who can lead them.”

For a moment, he looks like he might argue, but then he nods, his expression hardening. “Be careful.”

Elyon hands me the vial, his gaze steady. “Pour this on the symbols. It will disrupt the gate for long enough to get through. Once you’re inside, look for the control panel. It will be hidden, but it’s there.”

I take the vial, my hands trembling slightly. The heat from the gate feels oppressive, and the whispers of doubt in my mind grow louder with every passing second. But I push them aside. I have to.

Pouring the liquid onto the symbols is like igniting a fuse. The gate shudders, the glowing symbols dimming as the metal groans. I take a deep breath and step forward, the heat intensifying as I approach. My skin burns, sweat dripping down my face, but I force myself to keep moving.

The moment I cross the threshold, the air changes. The oppressive heat gives way to a chilling cold that seeps into my bones. The room beyond the gate is vast and dark, the only light coming from faint, flickering torches along the walls. Shadows dance across the floor, their movements unsettling and unnatural.

I move carefully, my senses on high alert. The control panel Elyon mentioned has to be here, but the room’s size and the shifting shadows make it nearly impossible to see clearly.

A sudden sound—a low growl—freezes me in place. My heart pounds as I scan the darkness, my eyes straining to see. The shadows shift again, and this time, they take shape. Creatures emerge from the darkness, their forms twisted and monstrous. Their eyes glow with an unnatural light, and their movements are predatory.

“Great,” I mutter under my breath.

One of the creatures lunges, and I barely manage to dodge, stumbling over the uneven ground. My hands scrape against the cold stone, but I push myself up, adrenaline surging through me. I can’t fight them—not here, not now. My only option is to find the control panel and shut the gate down.

I run, the creatures close behind. Their growls echo around me, making it impossible to tell how many there are. My breath comes in ragged gasps, my body screaming for me to stop, but I can’t. Not yet.

Then I see it—a faint glimmer of light in the distance. The control panel. It’s embedded in the wall, partially hidden behind a cluster of jagged rocks. Relief surges through me, but it’s short-lived. The creatures are closing in, their growls louder, more aggressive.

I reach the panel and frantically search for a way to activate it. The controls are unfamiliar, covered in symbols and dials that make no sense to me. Panic sets in as the creatures draw closer, their footsteps echoing like a countdown.

“Come on,” I whisper, my hands shaking as I press buttons and turn dials. “Come on!”

Finally, the panel hums to life, the symbols glowing faintly. The creatures halt, their growls turning into pained shrieks as the gate behind me pulses with energy. A wave of heat surges through the room, and the creatures dissolve into shadows, their forms disintegrating before my eyes.

The gate’s glow fades, and the oppressive heat returns. The control panel goes dark, leaving me in silence. My knees give out, and I collapse to the ground, my body trembling with exhaustion.

When I stumble back through the gate, Caleb is there to catch me, his face a mix of relief and worry.

“You did it,” he says, his voice filled with awe.

I nod weakly, too drained to speak. Elyon steps forward, his expression unreadable as he studies me.

“The first step is always the hardest,” he says. “But you’ve proven yourself. Now we move to the next gate.”

The thought of facing another challenge so soon fills me with dread, but I push it aside. There’s no turning back now. We’re one step closer to the core, one step closer to ending Lucian’s reign.

The fight isn’t over, but for the first time, I feel like we might actually stand a chance.