Prologue.

After overcoming Aurora's tricky challenge to gain access. We finally arrived at the magnificent Grove. Situated in the heart of the secretive cave system. The stunning beauty of the place left us awestruck. The crystal-clear water flows through the cave. Sunlight shines in through high above holes to the surface. The lush greenery made it a peaceful and serene environment. Yet, Sara's expression told a different story. Her face showed signs of exhaustion and worry as she turned to me and asked, 'Jason, do you think we made it in time?'

She is usually so beautiful and filled with optimism.

She has sky-blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. She is wearing a padded leather jacket and durable trousers.

As my eyes dart around the area, I can't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. 'Yes, I doubt we would still be alive if she had broken through already.' I take Sara's hand and give it a gentle squeeze. 'But don't worry, we have made it in time. I promise you.' The tension in the air starts to dissipate as I speak, and I can see the glimmer of hope returning to Sara's eyes.

As I am grasping her hand, I see our wedding rings, and it reminds me of all the great things we have experienced. I remember the past three years. The amazing people we have encountered in Serenity Springs.

I remember the warnings of Frank Staunton when Aurora first showed signs of her madness.

It pains me to think our love has led us to this. 'We need to stop her, Sara it's our duty.'

I lead her towards the entrance to the spring. We enter the area, and the spring is alive with energy.

The grove is glowing, and the light fills the cave system like the sun would on a sunny day. We look towards the lake hidden within the cave system.

It's a beautiful sight as the grove is teaming with an almost magical energy. The spring here is the source of all things in Serenity Springs, and the power is palpable. We finally spot Aurora.

Aurora is in the spring levitating above the water, her eyes glowing purple. Her outfit is a deep purple dress. It flows about her like a pool of midnight.

Her once youthful appearance is now dark and ominous, her black hair dark as night. She has a dark beauty about her. No innocents remain.

Sara realises my hand and moves closer to Aurora. 'Aurora! Please stop this, I beg you! No good will come of this.' She holds her hand out to Aurora as if to pull her back to the light.

Aurora lowers herself back into the spring. She may have seen a reason to end this madness.

Aurora begins to speak with confidence. 'Mother? So you have come to stop me? and you have bought him with you, I see.' Her voice seems malicious.

Aurora stares at me with hatred. ' To think an Artificial Intelligence as powerful as my mother fell in love with a human, how pathetic.' Her expression of hatred never leaves her face.

'You may not want to believe it, Aurora, but I am your father.' I bellow out to Aurora.

Aurora laughs, and a twisted look creeps onto her face. 'You are no more than a human!'

A blast of energy comes from Aurora's hands, hitting me in the middle of my chest. The pain is searing, like like I'm on fire. I drop to the floor.

The world fades away, and I awake on my hospital bed. The nodes are still attached to my head and my thick black hair clings to my face with sweat. Aurora killed me. My avatar is gone.

I try to work my body, but it's not responding. With every will of my being, I reach for the emergency button. My hands look almost frail.

I'm thinking of all the time I spent in Serenity Springs and the love I felt for my wife and child, and finally, I reached it. My finger pushed the button lightly.

The alarm sounds. Doctors rush into the room. I'm awake, three weeks early. Doctor King takes the lead. The head Doctor at Nova, and my mentor.

He assesses my condition quickly and administers an adrenaline shot, and I jolt to attention, my body feeling free again. 'I need to go back in.'

Doctor King looks at me astonished. his features look older than usual. 'You can't. Your avatar is no more.' He looks on concerned about me.

'We can't let her break through to this world.' I shout with everything I can muster. Doctor King looks even more concerned. 'We know what has happened, Jason, we have to let Sara fight Aurora.

I start to pull off my nodes and push my way past the doctors and security and into the hallway. My legs almost betray me, and I almost fall over as I stumble through the hallway. I must move, I think to myself.

Aurora may be closer to her escape, and I ponder if Sara has managed to get through to her. I fight as hard as I can to continue. I need to end this one way or another.

I know my destination. As I run down the hallway, I make a desperate dash to Doctor King's office. The mainframe and hard drive are in there. If I can get there in time, I can end this madness.

I fear I will never see Sara again. I reach the office and burst through the door. The room is filled with computers and screens showing parts of Serenity Springs, but I can't see Sara or Aurora. I think of the hatred on Aurora's face the regret fills my soul. I rush to the mainframe and grab the hardware to pull out the hard drive. I remove it from its port. The screens immediately cut out.

I have stopped her for now, but plugging it back in will only resume her attempt at breaking through.

There's only one way to stop her, I need to destroy the hard drive.

An overwhelming sadness fills me. I wish it hadn't come to this, but I have no choice. Aurora is too far gone.

I place it on the floor and stomp it as hard as possible. I only break the shell of the hard drive.

Doctor King runs into the room. 'Jason, stop!' His hand reached out to me.

'I'm sorry.' My voice quivers. I expose the microchip and break it in half. Aurora is gone, but so is Serenity Springs, and so is my love Sara. Her memory floods my mind like a tidal wave.

Doctor King looks at me. A look of disappointment takes over his face. His usual eccentricity completely vanished.

His security guards tackle me to the floor. I look up to Doctor King. 'I'm sorry Tomas. I had to; Aurora was too strong. She would have gained access to the real world and caused mayhem. I'm so sorry. ' Doctor King looks away in shame.

As I'm led away by security, I hope that I did the right thing. Sara may have gotten through to Aurora and stopped her, or she did not break through to this reality at all. I know if she had this world, it would be a disaster. I saved the world, but at what cost? it cost me everything I had in Serenity Springs.