The black car sped down the rain-slicked streets, headlights slicing through the darkness like twin daggers. Inside, Ochieng sat in the back, his fingers drumming against the leather seat. Beside him, Sienna was silent, her face unreadable.
Tielen was at the wheel, his grip steady. "Are you sure about this?"
Ochieng didn't answer immediately. The weight of the unknown pressed down on him. "We need answers. And we're running out of time."
Sienna exhaled, rubbing her temples. "If the Vault of Shadows is real, then we're walking into something we might not walk out of."
Ochieng smirked, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Then let's make sure we do."
---
The entrance to the Vault wasn't in some distant, hidden mountain. It was right under the city—beneath an old, abandoned cathedral.
As they stepped inside, the scent of aged stone and damp air surrounded them. Candles flickered on rusted sconces, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
Sienna led the way, her footsteps sure. "My father spoke of this place once. It was built centuries ago to imprison beings that were never meant to exist."
Ochieng's eyes narrowed. "Beings?"
Sienna didn't look at him. "Not humans."
A deep, resonant sound echoed through the chamber ahead. Tielen stiffened, hand going to his gun. "We're not alone."
They stepped into a vast underground hall, its ceiling disappearing into darkness. Chains dangled from above, some broken, some still holding... things.
Things that were no longer alive.
And at the center of it all was a massive iron door, covered in ancient carvings.
Ochieng ran his fingers over the symbols. "This is it."
Sienna hesitated. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Ochieng looked at her, his expression firm. "We came this far. There's no turning back now."
He placed his palm against the door.
And the Vault of Shadows began to open.
--
The door groaned as it slid open, revealing a chamber bathed in an eerie blue glow. Rows of glass-like cages lined the walls, each containing a figure frozen in time.
Some looked human. Others… didn't.
Sienna's breath hitched. "These are the Forgotten Ones."
Ochieng stepped closer to one of the cages. Inside was a man, his eyes open but lifeless, his body marked with strange runes.
A name was etched on the glass.
"Elder Corvax."
Before Ochieng could react, the air shifted. A presence filled the chamber—cold, ancient, and watching.
"You should not have come here."
The voice wasn't spoken. It echoed inside their minds.
Tielen spun, gun raised. "Show yourself!"
From the darkness, a figure emerged. Cloaked in black, its face hidden.
"The Vault was never meant to be opened. Now, you have invited death upon yourselves."
Ochieng clenched his fists. "Then let's see who dies first."
---