Chapter 17: Awakening Of The Beast

Nathan POV

I jolted up from my sleep.

My body was drenched in cold sweat.

It was my nightmares again.

The same whispers and shadows.

I sat down in my room that night and ran my trembling hand through my hair, trying to shake off the lingering dread.

Then, I heard it, a low hum beginning to emanate from the corner of my room.

I ignored it, convincing myself it was just the wind, maybe the strange sound of a distant car, or just my mind playing tricks on me.

But then, it grew louder and appeared.

A swirling mass of deep blue light, expanding like a breathing entity, humming with electric energy.

It was a portal.

Terror gripped me, but so did curiosity.

The voices urged me forward.

My instincts screamed for me to run, but something inside me, something unrelenting, compelled me to step closer.

As soon as I crossed the threshold, the world vanished in a flash of blinding light.

When my vision cleared, I was standing in an alley.

It was raining.