Chapter 69

The Architect's Challenge

The silence in the memory vault was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the portal. Margot leaned heavily against the wall, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her breathing was uneven, and her gaze was distant, lost in the flood of memories she wished she could forget.

"I shouldn't have gone in," Margot murmured, her voice trembling. "I was better off not knowing."

Elias knelt beside her, his expression calm but his eyes sharp with focus. He placed a steady hand on her shoulder, anchoring her in the present. "Margot, you had to see it," he said softly. "We need every piece of this puzzle if we're going to win. I know it hurts, but you're stronger than this."

Margot shook her head, tears streaking her face. "You don't understand. I wasn't strong enough then, and I'm not strong enough now. My mother… what she did to those people, to me—it's too much."

Elias tightened his grip, his voice firm. "You're not your mother, Margot. Whatever she did, it doesn't define you. Right now, we need the version of you who doesn't break under pressure. Can you give me that?"

Margot met his gaze, her lips trembling. Slowly, she nodded, though the doubt in her eyes remained.

Elias stood and glanced toward the portal. The swirling light reflected in his green eyes, which began to glow faintly. Swirls of light vapor emanated from him, seeping into the portal like tendrils of smoke.

He clenched his fists, his heart pounding. Lara was still inside, lost in her memories. And while he had encouraged Margot to confront her past, he couldn't let Lara see the full truth—not yet.

The memories she was encountering were only fragments, carefully chosen by him. He hated the deception, hated himself for keeping secrets, but he couldn't risk her knowing everything. Not while they were still fighting to survive.

"If she finds out," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, "it'll destroy everything."

The glow in his eyes faded as he stepped back, his expression hardening into its usual mask of resolve.

Margot had calmed somewhat, though her hands still shook. Elias turned to her, his voice even. "Tell me about the memories. What did your mother do with them?"

Margot hesitated, her brow furrowing as she searched for the right words. "The memories… they weren't just fuel," she began, her voice quiet. "They were power. My mother used them to feed the Heart, to strengthen it. The stronger the memories—the more core they were to someone's identity—the stronger the Heart became."

Elias nodded, absorbing the information. "And if the memories are returned to their owners?"

Margot's gaze flickered with understanding. "The Heart weakens. That's why the alarm went off earlier. When I remembered… and when Lara started unlocking her memories, the Heart must have been punctured. It's vulnerable now."

Elias's mind raced. He saw the opportunity, the glimmer of a plan forming. If they could gather the rest of the group and help them reclaim their memories, the Heart could be damaged enough to give them an edge.

"But where are the others?" he asked.

Margot shook her head. "I don't know. The Architect wouldn't make it easy to find them."

Their conversation was cut short by a scream—a sharp, piercing sound that echoed through the corridor outside. Lara flinched, pressing her hands to her ears.

"What was that?" Margot whispered, her voice trembling.

Elias moved to the window, his every muscle tensed. He peered into the corridor and felt his stomach drop.

There, standing tall and imposing, was the Architect. His presence seemed to distort the very air around him, shadows writhing at his feet like living things. In front of him, bound and bloodied, were Roman, Caleb, and Jack, their heads bowed like sacrificial lambs.

Elias's jaw tightened. He stepped back from the window and turned to the others.

"It's him," he said grimly.

Margot's face went pale. Her breathing quickened as she clutched the edge of the table for support. "No," she whispered. "Not him."

Elias's expression darkened. "You saw him in your memories, didn't you?"

Margot nodded, her voice trembling. "He… he's the Architect. He designed the City. My mother… she sacrificed so many people to give him power. He feeds on blood and memories. He's unstoppable, Elias. We're all going to die."

Elias's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger flashing across his face. "Stop that," he snapped. "You don't get to give up now."

Margot flinched at his tone, but she said nothing.

Lara, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Elias… what do we do?"

Elias hesitated for only a moment. He knew what had to be done, even if it meant risking everything.

"When the battle starts," he said, his voice steady, "you two are going to take the others and find the Heart. The Architect will focus on me. That'll give you time to do what needs to be done."

Margot's eyes widened. "You can't face him alone. He'll kill you."

Elias's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "He's already tried. It didn't work."

Margot didn't look convinced, but she didn't argue further.

Elias turned to Lara, his expression softening. "This is our only chance. If we don't destroy the Heart, none of us are getting out of here."

Lara nodded, though her fear was evident. "We'll do it. Just… be careful."

Elias didn't respond. He couldn't make promises he wasn't sure he could keep.

He knew why the Architect was after him and Lara he wanted their powers to complete the cycle of immortality so that he could live forever and become the creator. It took him time to understand why the architect was so desperate but from Margot's past memories everything became clear.

The trio stepped out of the room, the heavy door creaking shut behind them. The corridor was bathed in a dim, sickly red light, and the oppressive air made it difficult to breathe.

At the end of the hall, the Architect waited. His tall, imposing figure was shrouded in shadows, his face obscured but his piercing eyes glowing faintly.

"You've made quite the mess," the Architect said, his voice smooth and venomous. "Reclaiming your memories? How quaint."

Elias stepped forward, positioning himself between the Architect and the others. "Let them go," he said, his tone cold. "This is between you and me."

The Architect chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Oh, Elias," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You think you're the hero of this story? You're nothing more than a pawn."

Margot and Lara exchanged a glance, fear etched into their faces.

The Architect's gaze shifted to them, his smile widening. "And you two," he said. "So fragile. So easily broken. I wonder… will you shatter like the rest?"

Elias's fists clenched, his eyes glowing faintly. "You talk too much," he said, his voice low.

The Architect's smile faded, replaced by a look of cold fury. "Then let's see what you're made of."

The shadows at the Architect's feet surged forward, twisting into monstrous shapes that lunged toward the trio. Elias raised his hand, a barrier of light springing up to shield them.

"Go!" he shouted to Lara and Margot. "Find the Heart!"

Margot hesitated, but Lara grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the opposite corridor.

As the shadows clashed against Elias's barrier, the Architect's voice echoed through the hall:

"You can't save them, Elias. And you can't save yourself."