The hallway stretched before Professor Mackenzie, dimly lit by flickering fluorescent lights that cast eerie shadows along the cracked walls. Each pulse of illumination seemed to throb with a life of its own, revealing lifeless bodies lying on the floor, their stillness amplifying the dread that hung in the air. The faint outlines of doors lined either side, their surfaces obscured by shadows. The atmosphere was thick with foreboding, as if the very walls held their breath, waiting for something to happen.
He dashed down the corridor, his footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. He ran with all his strength, each stride fueled by urgency, yet the hallway felt endless, as if it were mocking him with its infinite length. No matter how fast he moved, the walls remained distant, stretching farther away with each step, an unyielding expanse that seemed to swallow him whole.
Suddenly, the floor beneath him began to shift and ripple, as if it were alive. In an instant, he felt the ground giving way beneath him, and before he could react, he was falling. The rush of air surrounded him, and just as he braced for impact, he landed—not on solid ground, but on the edge of a steep cliff, his heart racing.
He steadied himself, peering over the edge. Below, the abyss seemed to stretch into darkness, swallowing any light that dared to venture close. As he scanned his surroundings, his eyes caught sight of something hovering above him—a dark portal pulsating with unsettling energy. It shimmered ominously, a swirling mass of shadows and whispers that filled the air with palpable dread—a Negative Harmony.
He then heard a shout from inside the portal, a voice echoing with urgency and despair: “Dad!” The word pierced through the heavy silence, reverberating in the air like a haunting melody.
“Kenzie!” His voice resonated, reaching toward the source of the plea. But in an instant, the portal shuddered violently, as if responding to his call. Before he could grasp what was happening, it snapped shut, plunging the cliffside into an oppressive silence.
“Wake up, Mackenzie!” a voice called to him, slicing through the haze of his nightmare. The familiar tone pulled him from the abyss, and in an instant, Professor Mackenzie jolted awake. His heart raced, the remnants of terror clinging to him like a shadow. Blinking against the dim light of the room, he glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. It read 3:00 AM. His wife, Leafmir, was beside him, gently shaking him awake, concern etched on her face.
“It’s that dream again?” Leafmir asked softly. The Professor nodded, still catching his breath.
“I’m fine. Go back to sleep,” he replied, hoping to reassure her.
Professor Mackenzie lay back down, hoping for sleep to return. But the calm wouldn’t come; he lay there wide awake, his mind refusing to settle. Flashes of his dream began to creep back, vivid and haunting. The dimly lit hallway, the lifeless bodies strewn across the floor, the unending corridor—each image lingered, refusing to fade.
Then, a final image resurfaced: the cliff where he had stood, the dark portal hovering above him. As the scene replayed in his mind, something clicked. A realization sparked, sharp and undeniable.
He sat up suddenly, his pulse quickening. Glancing over, he saw that Leafmir had already drifted back to sleep, her breathing steady and peaceful.
A spark of insight lit up in Professor Mackenzie’s mind, too powerful to ignore. Moving quietly to avoid waking Leafmir, he left the bedroom and hurried to his study room. Once there, he scanned the shelves and stacks of papers until he found the annotated manuscript he’d been searching for. His hands trembled slightly as he flipped through the pages, eyes intent, until he found the section he sought.
“Mountains,” he whispered, the words filled with new meaning. The revelation washed over him, dispelling the lingering dread from his nightmare and replacing it with a fierce determination. He settled into his chair, pouring over the manuscript with a singular focus, deciphering its ancient language and symbols line by line. Hours slipped by unnoticed as he worked, lost in the unraveling mystery.
When the first light of dawn crept into the room, Professor Mackenzie was still there, surrounded by scattered notes and worn pages, exhaustion etched on his face but his eyes bright with the thrill of discovery. He looked at the pile of notes he’d created, a smile spreading across his face, feeling a deep contentment that he had finally solved the mystery.
Standing up, he reached for his phone and quickly typed, “Guys, we're going to the Hiraya Mountains.”
* * *
The SUV sat caught in traffic, inching forward only to stop again as the lively sounds of a parade drifted from the street ahead. A few days had passed since the Conductor’s message, and now they were finally in the Hiraya Mountains. Professor Mackenzie, the Conductor, rested his hands on the wheel, his eyes focused ahead as he waited for a chance to move through the crowd. Beside him, Jazz sat silently, observing the scene with quiet patience.
In the second row, the twins—Leeland and Keilee—were asleep, their heads tilted in opposite directions. Behind them, Gabe slouched in the back seat, mouth open and snoring softly, undisturbed by the noise outside.
The Conductor looked over at Jazz as the sounds of parade drums echoed from the street ahead. “Is this your first time in Hiraya?” he asked, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the noise outside.
Jazz nodded. “Yeah, it is,” he replied, rubbing his hands together. “I knew it’d be cold, but I didn’t expect it to be this cold.”
The Conductor chuckled, watching the crowd outside through the windshield. “February is the coldest month in Hiraya. You get used to it, though… eventually.” He paused, then glanced back at Jazz. “So, what did you tell your parents about coming here?”
“I told them it was a vacation with new friends. They’re fine with it, as long as it’s all expenses paid.” Jazz chuckled softly. After a pause, he added more quietly, “Did I ever mention that I’m adopted, Professor?”
The Conductor glanced at Jazz thoughtfully and shook his head. “Do you know anything about your real parents?” he asked gently.
Jazz spoke softly, “What I do know is that my parents lost their daughter, Melody, when she was only three. About a month later, my mom was coming home from work and heard a baby crying on a street near our house. That baby was me. They took me in and named me Jazz… kind of keeping with the music theme, I guess.”
The Conductor’s gaze drifted to the windshield, his eyes fixed ahead as if lost in thought. “Kenzie,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Our only son… he would be the same age as you if he were still alive.”
He paused, his face clouding with a deep sadness. “Do you remember when I told you that I used to get so engrossed in deciphering the manuscript?” he asked, his voice heavy. “Kenzie reached out to me, but I was… too wrapped up in my work.”
Jazz listened intently, sensing the weight of each word.
“One day, Kenzie went missing. We searched everywhere.” The Conductor’s voice tightened. “After almost a month, I found his journal. That’s when I learned he’d secretly been reading my annotated copy of the manuscript and he discovered something on his own.” He swallowed, his voice thick with grief. “Kenzie had even managed to wield his Echo.”
The Conductor took a shaky breath. “His journal said he’d found his Echo in one of the storage room of Maplewood University’s School of Music, where he was studying at the time.”
He paused, gathering himself. “I rushed to that storage room, hoping to find him there. But all I found was a portal—a Negative Harmony, no bigger than a fist.” His voice dropped. “I tried to reach through it, desperate. But as soon as I touched it, this… dark power flooded into me. I collapsed, and when I woke up, the portal was gone.”
His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. “Later, I learned that many students at the university had fallen ill. And on that same day… they all died.”
The Conductor’s voice softened as he continued, “When I touched that portal… it felt like something from it was imparted to me, a presence or… an awareness. That’s how I know when a Negative Harmony appears.” His gaze grew distant, haunted. “After what happened to Kenzie, I made it my purpose to help those with the same gift—those like us, who find themselves caught up in this mysterious power.”
He paused, a faint smile breaking through his sadness. “Gabe was the first Resonant I managed to help.”
Suddenly, a blaring car horn jolted them both back to the present. The parade had passed, and the road ahead was finally clear, yet their SUV remained motionless. Startled by the impatient horns behind them, the Conductor quickly refocused, realizing he was still at the wheel. He eased the car back into gear.
* * *
From a concealed spot a hundred feet away, he raised his binoculars, focusing intently on the group inside the hotel lobby. They stood together, exchanging words with expressions that were unreadable from this distance. His breathing slowed, steadying himself as he adjusted the binoculars to capture every detail. Shadows from the lobby lights cast silhouettes that flickered across his view, but his gaze remained unwavering, tracking each of their subtle movements.
As the group started to head toward the doors, he shifted, careful to stay hidden, repositioning to keep them in sight. They emerged outside, walking purposefully toward the parking lot. He watched closely, noting their postures, their interactions, as if gathering puzzle pieces to complete a picture only he could see. His hand tightened on the binoculars, his attention fixed on them until they reached their vehicle, never once letting them slip from his watchful view.
He lowered the binoculars just enough to reach for his radio, pressing it close to his mouth. “The group is leaving the hotel,” he murmured into it, his voice barely audible as he watched them make their way toward the SUV. “They’re heading out.”
But as he spoke, the tallest figure among them, the one about to climb into the driver’s seat, paused and turned, eyes scanning the area. The watcher’s pulse quickened. He ducked down quickly, moving with practiced ease to a hidden vantage point, blending deeper into the shadows. From his new position, he cautiously raised the binoculars again, peering through a thin gap, watching as the tall one’s gaze swept past, lingering only a moment before he turned away.
From his concealed vantage point, he adjusted the binoculars, keenly observing the group as they entered the SUV. Just then, the crackle of the radio broke through the tension.
“Stay sharp, Kellan. Don’t let them out of your sight,” a voice instructed from the other end, urgency lacing each word.
“Roger,” he replied, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. With a swift motion, he moved from his hiding spot, launching himself into action.
He leaped gracefully from the edge of one building, landing lightly on the roof of a nearby structure. Using the momentum, he bounded across rooftops, his movements fluid and precise as he navigated the terrain effortlessly. Each jump was calculated, allowing him to evade detection as he raced toward a secluded area where his motorbike was hidden.
He quickly pulled on his helmet, securing it tightly before he mounted the bike. With a flick of his wrist, he started the engine, the low growl echoing in the stillness of the alley.
He revved the throttle and sped off, navigating the narrow streets with deft turns and quick maneuvers. Each corner was approached with precision, allowing him to weave through the tight spaces effortlessly. Soon, he burst onto the main road, he looked at his watch as he calculated the timing perfectly. He knew the group he was watching would soon emerge onto this very road, and he was determined to stay right on their tail.
A few seconds ticked by, and the SUV finally passed him, its presence a brief blip in his periphery. He watched it roll away, allowing it to gain a comfortable distance before he decided to follow. He waited for a couple of minutes, letting the SUV blend into the flow of traffic, ensuring he wouldn’t raise any suspicion.
With a determined twist of the throttle, he eased back onto the road, keeping the SUV within his sight. He stayed alert, weaving smoothly through the other vehicles while maintaining a safe distance, every instinct heightened as he tracked the group’s journey.
Soon, the SUV took a right turn, heading onto the highway. He could see it gaining speed, the vehicle becoming a distant figure against the horizon. He revved the engine of his motorbike, propelling himself forward with urgency. He leaned low against the handlebars, slicing through the air as he maneuvered swiftly, determined to close the gap.
He took his radio again, his voice steady despite the rush of wind around him. "I'm following the SUV. We're on Aspiras Highway," he reported, his gaze fixed on the vehicle ahead. He could see it weaving through the road, the driver unaware of the shadow tailing them.
Soon, there were very few vehicles on the highway, and he feared that the SUV he was following might become suspicious. He twisted the throttle, feeling the surge of power as the motorbike roared to life beneath him. As he approached, he calculated his move, timing it perfectly. With a final burst of acceleration, he surged past the SUV, glancing over to see the driver’s head turn slightly. A rush of adrenaline coursed through him as he sped by, the wind whipping against him, but he remained focused.
Once he had safely overtaken the SUV, he continued down the road for a few more moments, ensuring he maintained a considerable distance ahead. After confirming that the SUV was out of sight in his rearview mirror, he swiftly pulled over to the side of the road. Finding a secluded spot behind some dense brush, he switched off the lights and cut the engine, plunging into sudden silence. He kept his eyes peeled, keenly anticipating the moment the SUV would reappear in the distance.
He removed his helmet, letting the cool air brush against his face. With his right arm straight at his side, he gestured as if grabbing something from the air. In an instant, a magical flute materialized in his grasp, its surface gleaming dark purple under the sunlight. He held it tightly, feeling its familiar weight and energy. Bringing it to his lips, he blew gently, producing a haunting melody that echoed softly in the stillness.
As the final note faded, the flute magically vanished, morphing into a swirling purplish light that enveloped him. The radiant glow shimmered around him, coalescing into a cloak of invisibility, rendering him undetectable to anyone nearby.
He crept closer to the roadside, positioning himself just out of sight, eyes fixed on the horizon where the SUV would soon emerge. The anticipation crackled in the air as he readied himself, his muscles tense and coiled like a spring. Soon, the glow of headlights pierced the distance, cutting through the fading twilight.
As the SUV drew nearer, he crouched low, his heart racing in sync with the approaching vehicle. Timing his movements with precision, he prepared to execute his plan. When the SUV was just a few feet away, he launched himself into the air, flipping acrobatically as he soared across the pavement. In that one fluid motion, he skillfully attached a small device to the roof of the SUV. His feet landed gracefully on the other side of the road, just as the vehicle passed, leaving no trace of his presence behind.
He walked back toward his bike as his invisibility gradually faded, the magical purplish light dissipating until he was fully visible again. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his mobile phone and attached it securely to the front of his motorbike.
With a few swift taps, he opened an application displaying a digital map. A small blinking dot pulsed rhythmically, indicating his current location, while another signal beeped intermittently, marking the SUV's position as it continued its journey.
He started his motorbike once more, the engine roaring to life with a satisfying growl as he eased onto the road, keeping his focus on the tracking application on his mobile phone. The blinking dot representing the SUV pulsed steadily on the screen, guiding him through the winding roads. Maintaining a steady speed, he skillfully blended in with the sparse traffic, ensuring he remained inconspicuous to those he was following. Each twist and turn of the road felt deliberate, his instincts sharp as he monitored the app, ready to adjust his pace as needed.
As he navigated the winding roads, the incline began to steepen, transforming the terrain into an uphill climb. The engine of his motorbike purred steadily beneath him, but he soon noticed that the blinking dot representing the SUV had come to a sudden halt on the tracking application. A sense of urgency gripped him as he pulled over and dismounted the bike, carefully stowing his phone in one hand while scanning the area.
He moved stealthily, pausing behind trees and rocks, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot barely audible in the stillness. His heart raced as he continued to monitor the app, the glowing screen illuminating his focused expression. Suspicion surged within him, prompting him to quicken his pace, his instincts urging him closer to the blinking dot.
As he approached the location indicated on his phone, his suspicions were confirmed: there, nestled in the brush by the side of the road, lay the device he had attached to the SUV. The road ahead forked into two directions, creating a moment of uncertainty as he considered which way the SUV might have gone.
Frustrated, he took out his radio, his voice steady despite the disappointment. “I’m sorry; I think I lost them,” he said, the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air.
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