Chapter 208 The Message

Chapter 208 The Message
The golden lights remained in the sky. Harper stared upward. “Tell me that’s not another Gate.”.I swallowed..“I don’t know.”

Kael rushed toward us. “What happened?”.I showed him my phone. His face changed. “Where did you get this?” “It appeared a few seconds ago.”.He read the message again.

THE BRIDGE IS NOT THE END.

Then the second message appeared.

IT IS THE BEGINNING.

Kael looked toward the sky. “Everyone inside.”.“Why?” “Because we don’t know what’s coming.”

The lights suddenly moved. They formed a circle. Then another circle appeared inside it. Harper grabbed my hand. “Something’s coming through.”

The air became cold. The golden circles began spinning. A figure appeared..It was a woman. She stepped through the light and landed gently on the ground.

She looked human. Tall. Dark-haired. Her eyes glowed faintly gold. She looked directly at Harper. “The Bridge.” Harper stepped forward. “Who are you?”

The woman smiled. “My name is Seraphina.” Kael raised his weapon. “Stay where you are.” She ignored him. “I came from the First World.” I frowned. “The First World?” “The world where the original Gate was created.”

Harper looked at me. “That world still exists?” Seraphina nodded. “Parts of it.” Kael lowered his weapon slightly. “What do you want?” “To warn you.” I almost laughed. “That’s becoming a habit.”

Seraphina looked at me. “You defeated the Void.” “Yes.” “You stopped Orion.” “Yes.” “You closed the Gate.” “Yes.” She nodded. “Then you have no idea what you’ve done.”

Harper frowned. “What did we do?” “You woke the network.” Silence. Kael stepped forward. “Explain.” “The network was asleep for thousands of years.” “Why?” “Because the worlds connected to it were destroying one another.”

Seraphina looked toward the sky. “So the network shut itself down.” I stared at the golden lights. “And now?” “You restarted it.” Harper shook her head. “We didn’t mean to.” “I know.” Seraphina looked at her. “That’s why I came.”

A low vibration suddenly filled the air. Seraphina’s expression changed. “They found you.” “Who?” She looked upward. “The Collectors.”

Kael went pale. “No.” I looked at him. “You know them?” He nodded. “Everyone who studied the old Gate knows the name.” “Who are they?” “The ones who collect Bridges.”

Harper stepped backward. “Collect?” Seraphina nodded. “They travel between worlds.” “They find people who can connect frequencies.” “And take them.” My blood ran cold. “Why?” “Power.” Harper’s eyes hardened. “They’re not taking me.” Seraphina looked at her. “They won’t ask.”

The golden lights above us suddenly turned black. Seraphina looked upward. “They’re here.” A massive ship emerged. Then another. Then dozens.

The city went silent. Harper stepped beside me. “How many?” Kael stared at the sky. “Too many.” Seraphina raised her hands. “We need to move.” “Where?” “Underground.”

I frowned. “Why?” “Because they can’t detect the Bridge beneath the old Gate chamber.” Kael immediately understood. “The original chamber.” Seraphina nodded. “Exactly.” We ran.

The old chamber was beneath the city. It had been abandoned for decades. Strange symbols covered the walls. Harper looked around. “This place feels familiar.”

Seraphina nodded. “It should.” “Why?” “Because your mother brought you here.” Harper froze. “What?” “Before your father took you away.”

Harper turned toward Kael. “Did you know?” He looked uncomfortable. “Only part of it.” She shook her head. “Everyone knew except me.” I stepped closer. “Harper.”

She looked at me. “I’m tired of discovering pieces of my life.” “I know.” “I want the whole truth.” Seraphina approached. “Then you deserve it.” She placed her hand against the wall.

The symbols began glowing. A projection appeared. Harper’s mother. Young. Holding a baby. Harper. I watched Harper’s face change. Her mother looked into the projection. “If you’re seeing this, they’ve found you.”

Harper covered her mouth. Her mother’s voice continued. “You were never created.” “You were never an experiment.” “You were born.” Harper’s eyes filled with tears. “But your blood carries something ancient.” “The first Bridge.” 

The projection changed. A golden figure appeared. “The Bridge is not a power.” “It is an inheritance.” Harper whispered, “From whom?” Her mother’s image faded. Then one final sentence appeared.

FROM THE FIRST HUMAN WHO OPENED THE GATE.

The projection disappeared. Harper stared at the empty wall. “Who was that?” Seraphina answered. “Your ancestor.” I looked at Harper. “Your family has been connected to the Gate for generations.”

She shook her head. “But why didn’t my mother tell me?” “Because the Collectors were searching for your bloodline.” A loud impact shook the chamber. Dust fell from the ceiling.

Kael looked upward. “They’ve found us.” Seraphina turned to Harper. “There’s only one way out.” “Where?” She pointed toward the glowing wall. “Through the First Gate.”

Harper frowned. “Isn’t it closed?” “Not anymore.” The wall opened. Beyond it was a golden corridor. I looked at Harper. “Ready?” She nodded. “Do I have a choice?” I smiled. “Always.”

She took my hand. “Then let’s go.” We entered the corridor. Adrian, Mara, Aria, Amara, Kael, and Seraphina followed. Behind us, the chamber exploded. The Collectors had arrived. We ran deeper into the corridor.

The golden light grew brighter. Then the corridor opened into a massive world. A world unlike anything I’d ever seen. Floating cities filled the sky. Golden rivers flowed beneath them. Thousands of people moved through enormous structures.

Harper stared. “This is…” “The First World,” Seraphina said. I looked behind us. The Gate closed. We were trapped. Then a voice echoed across the city.

“WELCOME HOME, BRIDGE.”

Harper’s face went pale. I tightened my grip on her hand. Someone was watching us. And judging by the silence that followed… they had been waiting for Harper for a very long time.