Chapter 70

The Architect's Challenge

The air in the corridor was heavy with tension, the red emergency lights casting flickering shadows on the walls. The Architect loomed at the far end, his tall frame bathed in the sickly glow. His presence distorted the air around him, the shadows at his feet writhing like living creatures.

Bound and bloodied, Roman, Caleb, and Jack knelt at his feet, their heads bowed in defeat. The shadowy tendrils binding them pulsed with an unnatural rhythm, tightening their hold with every passing second.

Elias, Margot, and Lara stood at the other end of the hall, their breaths shallow and their hearts pounding.

"Well," the Architect drawled, his voice smooth and mocking. "It seems my little pawns have gathered. How convenient."

Elias stepped forward, his expression cold and resolute. His glowing green eyes locked onto the Architect, and for a moment, the hallway felt like the stage of an impending war.

"Let them go," Elias said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of steel.

The Architect chuckled, his laughter low and menacing. "Let them go? Oh, Elias. Always so noble, always so predictable. You think this is a negotiation?"

The Architect's smile widened as he took a slow step forward, his every movement exuding an air of superiority.

"You still don't get it, do you?" he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "This isn't about them. It's about you. And her."

He pointed a long, clawed finger toward Lara, his glowing eyes narrowing with malevolent glee.

Lara stiffened, her heart racing. She could feel his gaze boring into her, like he was peeling back her very soul.

"You've been playing a dangerous game, Elias," the Architect continued, his voice smooth. "Keeping her power hidden from me. But you can't hide it forever. I've felt it since she arrived. A spark, waiting to ignite the Heart."

Elias's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

"And you," the Architect said, turning his attention back to Elias. "You're an anomaly. A piece that doesn't belong on this board. I admit, you've surprised me. Surviving the Guardian, defeating my reflections... It's impressive, really. But you're a threat to my design, and threats must be eliminated."

Elias's fists clenched at his sides. "You talk too much."

The Architect's smile faded, replaced by a look of cold fury. "Then let's see if you can silence me."

The Architect raised his hand, and the shadows surged forward, twisting into monstrous forms as they lunged toward the trio.

Elias didn't hesitate. He raised his own hand, and a barrier of shimmering light sprang up in front of them. The shadows slammed against it with a deafening roar, but the barrier held firm.

"Go!" Elias shouted to Margot and Lara, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Find the Heart and destroy it!"

Margot hesitated, her eyes wide with fear. "You can't fight him alone—"

"Just go!" Elias barked, his glowing eyes burning with intensity.

Lara grabbed Margot's arm, pulling her away. The two women sprinted down the corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence.

The Architect watched them go, his expression unreadable. Then he turned his full attention to Elias.

"You're making this too easy," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Sacrificing yourself for them? How noble. How foolish."

Elias smirked, his expression defiant. "You should know by now. I don't play by your rules."

The Architect's eyes narrowed. "And yet you're still trapped in my design."

The shadows surged again, crashing against Elias's barrier with renewed force. Cracks began to form in the shimmering light, spreading like spiderwebs.

Elias gritted his teeth, his muscles tensing as he poured more of his energy into the barrier. He could feel the strain, the toll it was taking on him. But he couldn't let it fall—not yet.

"You can't keep this up forever," the Architect said, his tone mocking. "You're strong, Elias, but even you have limits. And when you break, I'll take what I need from you and her."

Elias's smirk widened, though sweat dripped down his temple. "You think you know me," he said, his voice low. "But you don't have a clue."

As Elias held the Architect at bay, Lara and Margot raced through the labyrinthine corridors of the hospital. The red lights flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own.

Lara's heart pounded as she led the way, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the Architect's words, the way he had looked at her—as if he already owned her.

Margot stumbled behind her, her breath ragged. "Where are we going?" she gasped.

"The Heart," Lara said, her voice resolute. "We have to find it and destroy it. It's the only way to stop him."

"But how?" Margot pressed, her fear evident. "We don't even know where it is!"

Lara slowed, glancing back at her. "We'll figure it out," she said firmly. "We have to."

As they turned a corner, the faint sound of whispers reached their ears. Lara froze, her hand instinctively reaching for Margot's arm.

"Do you hear that?" she whispered.

Margot nodded, her eyes wide. "It's coming from up ahead."

The two women moved cautiously, the whispers growing louder with each step. The air grew colder, and a sense of dread settled over them.

At the end of the hallway, they found a heavy steel door. The whispers seemed to emanate from behind it, growing louder and more insistent.

"This has to be it," Lara said, her voice barely audible.

Margot hesitated. "Are we ready for this?"

Lara swallowed hard. "We don't have a choice."

She reached for the door, her hand trembling.

Back in the corridor, Elias's barrier shattered with a deafening crack. The force of the shadows slammed into him, sending him crashing into the wall.

The Architect stepped forward, his expression triumphant. "It's over, Elias," he said, his voice cold.

Elias struggled to his feet, blood dripping from a wound on his forehead. But his defiant smirk remained.

"Not yet," he said, his voice steady.

The Architect tilted his head, intrigued. "You're stalling," he said. "Why?"

Elias's smirk widened. "Because I'm not the only one you should be worried about."

At that moment, the heavy steel door at the end of the hallway groaned open, and a blinding light spilled out.

The Architect's head snapped toward the source of the light, his expression darkening. "No," he growled.