The Crystal

The door wouldn't budge at first. Seven pushed harder, but it felt like something heavy was blocking it from the other side. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself and slammed his shoulder into it. With a groan, the door slid open halfway, revealing what lay beyond. 

A skeleton. 

Seven almost stumbled back, his breath catching in his throat. The figure was slumped against the wall, clad in rusted armor, a dagger lying near its bony fingers. His pulse pounded in his ears, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had expected something like this, it was only a matter of time. He'd seen enough horror movies to know that panicking would only make things worse. 

Swallowing hard, he took a cautious step closer.

Seven pushed the door open fully, letting the light flood into every dark corner of the room. Dust particles danced in the air, disturbed by the movement, but his eyes were locked on something else entirely.

At the center of the room, a shimmering crystal hovered in place.

It was embedded in a stand, shaped eerily like the letter "i" with a floating dot above it, except this was no ordinary symbol. The dot was truly floating, defying gravity as if held by an unseen force. The crystal pulsed faintly, casting a soft glow that reflected off the rusted armor and skeletal remains nearby.

Seven's heart raced, but he kept his breathing steady as he observed the skeletal figure. The rusted armor was a grim reminder of the past, but it looked valuable, an absolute defense in a place like this. He carefully reached out, muttering to himself, "Please don't move, don't wake up," as if fearing the skeleton would suddenly spring to life or speak.

With shaky hands, he began to strip the armor from the remains, each movement slow and deliberate, the sound of metal scraping against bone sending shivers down his spine.

He glanced over his shoulder, his senses heightened by the eerie silence. Every step felt like a fragile thread holding him together. The armor clattered as he carefully removed it piece by piece, each moment more intense than the last.

The thought of something unexpected happening, like the skeleton suddenly shifting or waking, made his anxiety spike. But he couldn't afford to waste time. He needed whatever advantage he could find.

"How heavy," he muttered under his breath. 

The armor was heavier than Seven had anticipated. He couldn't help but marvel at how anyone could endure wearing it, let alone fight aggressively. Every movement felt restricted, as though his body was trapped in a cage.

The weight of each piece made it hard to stay balanced, and he wondered how soldiers in the past could have fought with such cumbersome gear. Still, he pressed on, determined to wear it for whatever protection it might offer.

He carefully strapped each piece of armor on, feeling its cold weight settle against his skin. The helmet, the chest plate, the gauntlets, everything seemed to lock into place, but he could still feel the tightness in his movements. He wasn't used to the bulk, but he kept telling himself that this might be his best chance.

The armor creaked with every small movement he made, reminding him just how foreign and uncomfortable it felt. Yet, as he tightened the last strap, he couldn't deny the small sense of security it provided, even if it made him feel more like a statue than a person.

Seven's gaze fixed on the shimmering crystal, his hand instinctively gripping the dagger as curiosity and uncertainty pushed him toward it.

Seven hesitated, unsure whether to step closer. His gut told him this was no ordinary object.

Yet, despite the unease curling in his chest, his curiosity burned brighter. The way it hovered, the strange energy it emitted, it reminded him of magnets, of unseen forces at play.

Even so, he stepped forward, drawn in by the mystery, his mind shifting into that of a scientist rather than a survivor. He had to observe it, to understand it.

The crystal ball was unlike anything Seven had ever seen. At first glance, it seemed ancient, its surface marred with faint, rusty veins that ran like cracks through glass. Yet, despite its aged appearance, the crystal shimmered with an almost unnatural glow.

The outer layer looked corroded, as if time itself had worn it down, but beneath that rough, oxidized surface, something alive pulsed within.

Faint golden streaks flickered in the depths of the sphere, shifting like liquid metal trapped under the glassy exterior. Every so often, a faint ripple ran across its surface, as though the crystal were breathing, responding to its surroundings.

It was a paradox of decay and brilliance, of age and energy, and Seven couldn't tear his eyes away.

As if entranced by its glow, an overwhelming urge surged within Seven, compelling him to touch the crystal. His mind fought against the pull, but his body moved on its own, as if no longer under his command.

He took a slow step forward, his feet moving without thought, and before he could stop himself, his hand reached out towards the shimmering surface.

The moment his feet moved, Seven's mind screamed for control, but it was too late.

He had no say in what was happening. His body, as if it belonged to someone else, stepped closer to the crystal.

What, what's happening?

His thoughts were a frantic mess. Who's controlling my body? He could feel his hand rising, a cold, alien force pushing him forward.

Shit!

His mind raced, but his body continued, as if bound by an invisible force, moving toward the shimmering crystal with no ability to stop. The more he fought, the more helpless he felt.

The moment Seven's hand made contact with the crystal, a rush of green light shot out, wrapping around his fingers like a serpentine coil. It spiraled up his arm, sending a jolt of energy through his body, more intense than anything he had ever felt.

His heart raced, panic surging through him as he tried to break free, but the green hues tightened, pulling him further into their grasp.

His vision blurred, and his thoughts grew faint. Before he could comprehend what was happening, his legs gave way beneath him, and everything went black. Seven collapsed, his consciousness slipping away into nothingness.

****

Location: Tekol, Havabi

Rain, having just finished breakfast, muttered to herself,

"Huh, big bro's late today. Is he planning to take a holiday or something?"

She sighed, shook her head, and began picking up the dishes, walking toward the kitchen. As she made her way through the house, her brother's phone suddenly rang from another room.

She walked over and saw it was their aunt, Hannah, calling.

"Hey, Seven. How's everything going?" she answered, assuming her brother had left the phone by accident. He kinda seemed a little down this morning.

"It's me, Rain," she said,. "Aunt Hannah, what's up?"

"Hi, Rain, How's life with you two?" Hannah asked cheerfully, her voice warm.

Rain smiled, feeling the comfort of their aunt's voice.

"Everything's good, Big bro's out for the morning jog and hasn't returned yet while I just finished eating breakfast ,What about you?"

"Oh I see, I also just did the breakfast and btw we're planning to visit you guys soon, I'll be checking in with Seven later, too, oh and I'll let you know when we're on our way"

After about 15 minutes of chatting, Rain hung up, still wondering why Seven hadn't come back yet.

She returned to the dishes, glancing once more at the entrance door.

The weight of the silence making her wonder, When is he coming back?