CHAPTER 15 - TRUTH IN THE DEEP

The ship hovers over an endless expanse of dark, rippling ocean, the water stretching far beyond the horizon with no sign of land. A dead place. No birds, no waves, no wind—just silence.

Atharva stares at the map in Luna's hands, his unease growing. This was the place. The mark on the map pulses faintly, as if responding to their presence. But there's nothing here. No ruins. No islands.

Celestia steps forward, her silver eyes glowing softly as she closes her hands over the pendant around her neck. "It's hidden beneath the water," she murmurs. "Buried deep… only accessible during the celestial alignment."

Miss Sophia adjusts her glasses, scanning her old texts. "The alignment occurs once every century. The pull of the stars will momentarily lift the veil around the ruins. If we miss it, we won't get another chance for a hundred years."

Vikram crosses his arms. "No pressure, huh?"

Suhana sighs. "Great. So how exactly do we get down there? Because I'm not seeing a staircase."

Before anyone can answer, the ship shudders violently. The lights flicker, and the magic-infused sails groan as if caught in an invisible grip.

Azazel snaps his head toward the helm. "Something's interfering." His dark gaze sharpens, scanning the deck. "This isn't bad luck. We're being watched."

The ship's control panel sparks, and the enchantments that keep them aloft flicker in and out. The ocean darkens further below them, a massive shadow lurking just beneath the waves.

Luna steps closer to Atharva, lowering her voice. "Do you feel that?"

Atharva does. It's the same presence he's felt since the canyon, the same voice whispering at the edge of his mind. Waiting. Watching. Calling.

Miss Sophia's voice cuts through the tension. "We don't have time to hesitate. The ruins will reveal themselves soon. If we don't act now, we lose everything."

Celestia places a hand on the railing, her fingers trembling. "Then we need to go down."

Vikram groans. "I knew this day was going too well."

Suhana smirks. "Scared of a little swim, Vikram?"

"Not the swimming part," he mutters. "The drowning part."

Luna, ignoring their banter, turns to Miss Sophia. "We need a way to descend safely."

Miss Sophia nods. "There is one way."

She gestures toward the cargo hold below deck, where an ancient submersible vessel lies in storage—a relic from an old expedition, long dormant but still intact.

Azazel exhales. "That thing still works?"

Miss Sophia smirks. "Only one way to find out."

As the team prepares to board the submersible, the ship lurches again. This time, the ocean itself seems to ripple unnaturally beneath them, as if something huge is stirring below.

Atharva grips the railing, his pulse quickening. The whispers in his mind grow louder.

"You are close."

He swallows hard. Whatever lies beneath them isn't just ruins. It's something else. Something waiting for him.

And soon, he won't be able to ignore it any longer.

The ocean shifts.

Dark shapes slither beneath the waves, massive and formless, circling just below the ship like unseen predators. The water itself pulses, as if alive, responding to their presence. Watching. Waiting.

Atharva's fingers tighten around the railing. The shadows below move unnaturally—too smooth, too silent. He counts at least three, but the depths make it impossible to be sure.

Azazel narrows his eyes. "They've been waiting for us."

Miss Sophia quickly adjusts her glasses, scanning the depths. "These creatures… they're not attacking."

Vikram frowns. "Not attacking? That's supposed to make us feel better?"

"They're observing," Celestia murmurs, her voice unusually distant. Her silver eyes gleam as she watches the shifting forms below. "Waiting for something."

Luna shivers. The water feels wrong, heavy with unseen force. "We need to move."

Miss Sophia nods, turning toward the team. "The submersible is our best chance. We won't last five minutes in the water with those things."

In the cargo hold, the submersible vessel stands covered in dust and forgotten age, an ancient construct of bronze and silver metal, covered in faded runes. Miss Sophia and Azazel work to activate its mechanisms while Vikram and Suhana argue about seating arrangements.

"I call pilot," Vikram declares.

Suhana scoffs. "No way. You crashed our last vehicle."

"That was one time!"

"And it was a wall!"

Miss Sophia sighs. "Enough. We need to go. Now."

With a final, creaking groan, the submersible powers up, the runes pulsing faintly with renewed life. One by one, the team climbs inside, the hatch sealing behind them. The ship's deck vanishes from view as the vessel lowers into the dark abyss below.

Silence engulfs them.

The deeper they go, the more the ocean seems to shift around them. The shadows blur, stretching and twisting unnaturally. The water warps reality, bending the light and twisting their reflections in the glass.

Then come the whispers.

Soft at first. Like voices carried through a storm, distant and impossible to place.

Luna stiffens, her breath hitching. A voice from her past drifts through the silence.

"Luna... my little star..."

She turns sharply. The others don't seem to hear it. But she does. Her mother's voice—gentle, familiar, impossible.

Atharva watches her grip her pendant tightly, eyes wide with emotion.

Then, he sees his own reflection in the glass.

And freezes.

The reflection isn't him.

It's another version of him—one draped in black, wearing a crown of shadows. His own eyes meet his, filled with something unreadable.

Something inevitable.

"You know what you must become," the reflection whispers.

Atharva yanks his gaze away, his pulse pounding.

Suhana suddenly gasps.

She grips her seat as a vision floods her mind—

She stands alone in a ruined world, surrounded by nothing but ash. Her friends are gone. The sky is broken, and she is the last one standing.

She snaps back, breath heavy, eyes wide. "No. No, that wasn't real."

But the terror feels real.

Azazel clenches his jaw. "They're not attacking us," he says, eyes scanning the waters. "They're feeding off us."

Atharva forces himself to look back at the swirling creatures outside.

They aren't hunting.

They are feeding on their fears.

Azazel's eyes narrow, his usual detached demeanor cracking under the weight of suspicion. "You know what's causing this, don't you?" His voice is sharp, cutting through the tense silence inside the submersible.

Atharva clenches his fists, avoiding everyone's gaze. The eerie glow of bioluminescent creatures flickers through the thick glass around them, their silhouettes shifting like phantoms in the deep. No one speaks, but he can feel it—the weight of their stares, the silent demand for answers.

Suhana folds her arms, her frustration evident. "Atharva, just tell us the truth. No more cryptic half-answers."

Vikram, usually the first to defuse an argument with humor, doesn't crack a joke this time. His voice is firm. "We're a team. If something is haunting you, we need to know."

Atharva exhales shakily. There's no running from this anymore. No more excuses. No more hoping it will go away.

"The entity," he finally admits, his voice barely above a whisper, "has been speaking to me since the canyon."

Miss Sophia and Celestia exchange concerned glances, while Azazel's expression hardens.

Atharva continues, forcing himself to meet their gazes. "It calls me the 'Serpent of Light.' It says I'm meant to 'unlock the gate.'" He swallows. "I don't know what it means, but… I see things. Visions."

He hesitates, then forces the words out before fear can stop him. "I saw myself standing alone in a ruined world. No sky. No stars. Just darkness. And me, wearing a crown of shadows."

The submersible remains eerily silent, the hum of the engine the only sound.

Luna is the first to speak—not with anger, not with accusation, but quiet understanding. "You should have told us earlier." Her golden eyes hold no blame, only concern.

Atharva's breath hitches, but before he can respond, Vikram shakes his head with a bitter chuckle. "Damn it, Atharva. You've been carrying this alone?"

Suhana crosses her arms. "You absolute idiot," she mutters, but there's no real venom in her voice—just frustration laced with worry. "We're in this together. Whether you like it or not."

Azazel, however, remains tense. His voice is colder than before. "And you don't think that thing is using you?"

Atharva hesitates. He's wondered the same thing. "I don't know," he admits.

Azazel doesn't look convinced. "We don't even know if you can fight its influence when the time comes."

Miss Sophia interjects, her voice calm but firm. "And yet, we do know one thing—Atharva hasn't given in. He's still fighting."

Celestia, who has remained silent until now, finally speaks. "And we'll fight with him." Her voice is soft but resolute. "He won't face this alone."

Azazel exhales sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose before nodding once. "Fine. But we need a plan."

Vikram grins slightly, nudging Atharva. "You're stuck with us, buddy."

Suhana smirks. "For better or worse."

Atharva finally lets out a shaky laugh, the tension in his chest easing just a little. "I guess I don't have a choice, huh?"

Luna shakes her head with an exasperated smile. "No, you really don't."

As the moment of honesty settles between them, the submersible suddenly jerks violently. Warning runes flare across the controls.

Miss Sophia's eyes widen. "Something's coming."

Atharva takes a deep breath, feeling lighter than he has in days. The weight of secrecy is gone. The fear remains, but at least now, he isn't carrying it alone.

For the first time since the whispers began, he believes—just maybe—they can face what's ahead together.

As the weight of Atharva's confession settles between them, a deep rumble shakes the submersible. The glowing runes on the control panel flicker erratically, and the entire vessel vibrates as if caught in an unseen current.

Celestia's eyes snap upward, her breath hitching. "It's starting."

Outside, the pitch-black abyss pulses with an unnatural light. The water trembles as if alive, rippling outward in concentric waves. Then, without warning, a jagged fissure splits open in the ocean floor below. A deep, crimson glow seeps from the widening chasm, illuminating the massive stone ruins buried beneath centuries of sediment.

Everyone leans toward the reinforced glass, staring in awe as the ruins come into view. Towering spires, carved with intricate celestial patterns, rise from the depths like the skeletal remains of a forgotten civilization. Enormous stone archways, covered in glowing glyphs, twist and shift as if responding to the celestial alignment. At the very center, a colossal doorway emerges, adorned with a swirling symbol eerily similar to the one Atharva saw in his visions.

Miss Sophia's voice is hushed with reverence. "This place… It shouldn't exist."

Vikram lets out a low whistle. "I don't know if we're about to discover the secrets of the universe or wake up something that wants to eat us."

Suhana crosses her arms. "Knowing our luck? Probably both."

Atharva, however, barely hears them. His eyes remain locked on the glowing gateway at the heart of the ruins. A cold shiver crawls down his spine as the whisper returns, softer this time.

"You have come home."

Atharva clenches his fists, shaking his head. No. Not now.

Luna watches him closely, her brows furrowing. "Atharva?"

Before he can answer, the submersible's sensors blare a warning. Red runes flash across the interface.

Miss Sophia quickly scans the readings, her expression darkening. "We have company."

Outside, the abyss begins to move. The shadowy shapes that had lurked just beyond their sightline are now fully visible. Dozens of them. No—hundreds.

The creatures are monstrous, their forms constantly shifting between nightmarish silhouettes. Some resemble elongated eels with too many eyes, others have the appearance of giant, skeletal fish with rows of serrated teeth. Their bodies shimmer, flickering between reality and illusion, as if they are not entirely bound to this plane.

One of the largest creatures, its body covered in glowing runes similar to those on the ruins, glides past the submersible, its lidless gaze locking onto them.

Azazel curses under his breath. "They know we're here."

Miss Sophia grips the controls. "We need to move. Now."

The submersible hums as she steers it toward the ruins, hoping to use the structures as cover. The abyssal creatures follow, their movements eerily synchronized.

"They're not attacking," Suhana notes warily. "They're watching us."

Luna grips her pendant, her fingers tightening around the cold metal. "They're waiting for something."

As if on cue, the ruins shudder. The massive stone doors at the heart of the structure begin to shift, grinding against the seafloor as they start to open. A deep, echoing sound reverberates through the ocean, a low-frequency hum that vibrates in their bones.

The abyssal creatures suddenly change their behavior. Their slow, ominous circling turns into frantic movement, their forms distorting wildly. Some flee into the darkness, while others twist and convulse, their bodies unraveling into wisps of shadow.

Azazel tightens his grip on his sword, even though it's useless inside the submersible. "That's never a good sign."

The doorway finishes opening, revealing a swirling vortex of darkness at its center.

Atharva stares at it, his pulse hammering in his ears. The whisper returns, stronger now.

"Enter the gate, and all will be revealed."

He exhales shakily.

This is what they came for.

But some doors, once opened, can never be closed.

The team has no time to dwell on fear. The abyssal creatures, once content to watch, now turn hostile, their luminous eyes narrowing as the ancient ruins fully awaken. The ocean trembles around them, and the massive vortex within the open gateway pulses, as if drawing in the very essence of the abyss. 

Miss Sophia grips the submersible's controls tightly, her voice strained. "We have to move—now!" 

The vessel lurches forward, but before they can reach the gateway, the largest of the abyssal creatures blocks their path. Its body, an ever-shifting amalgamation of darkness and bioluminescent markings, stretches across their vision like a living nightmare. Its many eyes gleam with intelligence, its movements deliberate. This is no mindless beast—it's a guardian. 

Azazel presses his hands against the window, his jaw tight. "We're not getting through unless we deal with that thing." 

Suhana scowls. "Oh great, a final boss fight. Who called this one?" 

Vikram raises a hand. "In my defense, I was hoping to be wrong." 

Atharva doesn't laugh. His gaze remains locked on the guardian, his mind racing. The entity's voice lingers in his thoughts, whispering temptations, offering him power. He grits his teeth, pushing it away. 

Luna watches him, her expression unreadable. She can sense his internal battle, the weight of his guilt. 

"You don't have to prove anything to us," she says quietly. 

Atharva flinches, surprised. "After everything I've kept from you?" 

She nods. "Trust isn't given—it's earned. And I think you know how to start." 

The guardian lets out an inhuman roar, the vibrations rattling the submersible. 

"Less talking, more escaping!" Vikram shouts as the creature lunges. 

Miss Sophia yanks the controls, narrowly dodging the guardian's massive jaws. The vessel sways violently as currents shift, pulling them dangerously close to the vortex. 

"We can't fight it directly," Celestia says, her voice steady despite the chaos. "But maybe we don't have to." 

Atharva's eyes widen as he realizes what she means. The ruins themselves are a weapon. The celestial energy still pulses through the structures, remnants of whatever power once sealed this place away. 

"We need to lure it closer to the ruins," he says. "The magic here is reacting to the celestial alignment—if we trigger it, we might be able to trap the creature inside." 

Azazel nods, already understanding. "Then let's make it chase us." 

Miss Sophia doesn't hesitate. She throws the submersible into a tight spin, weaving through the ruins, barely avoiding the collapsing stonework. The guardian roars, following closely, its movements faster than anything that large should be capable of. 

Suhana lets out a nervous laugh. "This is the worst game of tag I've ever played!" 

Vikram grins, despite the danger. "You're just mad because we're losing." 

The guardian lunges again, but this time, Miss Sophia tilts the submersible sharply, sending it spiraling toward the largest of the ancient spires. At the last second, she pulls up, narrowly avoiding impact. The guardian, however, is too large to change course in time. It collides with the structure, and a massive surge of celestial energy erupts from the ruins. 

Light engulfs the creature, and for the first time, it lets out a sound not of rage, but of fear. The energy constricts around it, pulling it toward the vortex, sealing it within the gate's threshold. 

Atharva watches in awe as the ruins respond, their glyphs flaring one last time before the vortex begins to collapse inward. The guardian thrashes, but it is already too late. 

With a final, ear-splitting roar, the abyssal guardian vanishes into the void. 

Silence falls. The ocean stills. The ruins, once alive with energy, begin to darken. 

Miss Sophia exhales, hands still gripping the controls. "Did we just… win?" 

Azazel watches the vortex seal itself. "For now." 

Atharva looks at each of them—Luna, Celestia, Suhana, Vikram, Azazel, Miss Sophia. He knows that trust is fragile, that words alone won't be enough to fix what he's broken. 

But actions? 

He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry." 

They turn to him, surprised. 

"For keeping secrets," he continues. "For letting fear control me." His gaze meets Luna's. "You were right. Trust isn't given—it's earned." 

A beat of silence. 

Then Suhana sighs dramatically. "Ugh. You had to go and get all emotional, didn't you?" 

Vikram grins. "I think that means she forgives you." 

Luna smirks. "Mostly." 

Azazel rolls his eyes but claps Atharva on the shoulder. "Just don't make me have to drag the truth out of you next time." 

Atharva smiles, feeling lighter than he has in days. "Deal." 

The submersible ascends, heading back toward the surface. The ruins disappear beneath them, but something lingers in the depths, unseen. Watching. 

The team realizes and braces for what comes next—not just as allies, but as something more. As a family.