The darkness doesn't just fill the room.
It devours it.
WHOOOOOOOMMMMM…
The air collapses inward like the world itself is being sucked through a tear in reality.
I can't breathe.
"—WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!" the Tactical Officer screams.
His voice shakes with raw panic.
Somewhere behind me—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Emergency alarms erupt throughout the facility.
Red lights begin flashing weakly through the fractured glow.
The Doctor gasps. "Dimensional breach… this can't be—"
The intruder cuts them off.
"It already is."
My eyes are locked on the center of the room.
On Serafin.
Or what's left of him.
He floats in midair, body rigid, arms slightly spread like invisible chains are pulling him apart.
Darkness coils around him like living smoke.
And inside that darkness—
Something moves.
Something huge.
My throat tightens.
"Serafin!" I scream.
My voice sounds small.
Helpless.
The Tactical Officer raises his weapon again.
"TARGET IN THE AIR!"
CLICK.
BANG!
The gunshot echoes.
The bullet vanishes into the swirling darkness around Serafin.
No impact.
No reaction.
Nothing.
The Officer stares.
"…You've got to be fucking kidding me."
The room trembles violently.
KRRRRRSH!
A massive crack splits across the ceiling.
Dust and concrete rain down.
"STRUCTURAL FAILURE!" one of the security guards shouts.
Medic 2 grabs the Doctor's arm.
"We need to evacuate!"
The Doctor shakes their head frantically.
"No! If that rupture spreads—"
BOOOOOM!
The floor buckles.
Everyone stumbles.
I slam into a medical cart.
CLANG!
But I don't look away.
I can't.
Because Serafin moves.
His head slowly tilts downward.
Those glowing eyes lock onto mine again.
And for a moment—
The darkness around him hesitates.
"Caoimhe…"
His voice is strained.
Broken.
Layered with that terrifying chorus.
I step forward.
The Tactical Officer grabs my arm.
"Are you insane?!"
"Let me go!"
"That thing isn't Serafin anymore!"
My chest burns with anger.
"Shut the hell up!"
I yank my arm free.
"Serafin!" I shout again.
The darkness writhes violently.
Inside it—
Something massive shifts.
A low sound vibrates through the air.
GGRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMM…
Every bone in my body feels it.
Like standing next to a waking earthquake.
The Doctor whispers in horror.
"…Something is trying to come through."
The intruder nods slowly.
"Yes."
I turn on them.
"What the hell did you people do to him?!"
Their expression stays cold.
"We didn't create the vessel."
My stomach twists.
"Then who did?!"
Before they answer—
Serafin screams.
"AARRRRGGGHHHHH!!"
The sound tears through the room like a blade.
The darkness explodes outward.
FWWWWOOOOM!
Everyone is knocked backward.
I slam against the wall.
THUD!
Pain shoots through my spine.
Security yells.
"SHIELD YOUR EYES!"
The swirling shadows around Serafin expand across the room like a storm.
Inside it—
Shapes move.
Not human.
Not even close.
Whispers crawl through the air.
Hundreds of voices.
Thousands.
"…open…"
"…break…"
"…return…"
My heart pounds so hard it hurts.
"Serafin!"
He's shaking violently now.
Every muscle locked tight.
Light and darkness ripping across his skin.
His voice cracks.
"…I can't… hold it…"
The Doctor steps forward despite everything.
"Serafin, listen to me!"
The Tactical Officer grabs them.
"Are you suicidal?!"
The Doctor shouts back.
"If that thing fully manifests we're all dead anyway!"
They look up at him desperately.
"You have to fight it!"
Serafin's head jerks violently.
"No—"
His voice splits into two tones.
Human.
And something else.
"Yes."
The second voice is deeper.
Ancient.
Hungry.
My blood turns cold.
Serafin gasps.
"…It's inside my head…"
The intruder mutters quietly.
"Containment failure."
I stare at them.
"You knew this would happen!"
They don't deny it.
"I knew it was possible."
Rage explodes in my chest.
"You fucking monsters!"
The room shakes again.
KRRRRRRRRRSH!
A massive section of ceiling collapses.
CRASH!
Dust fills the air.
Security drags the Doctor backward.
"We're out of time!"
But I don't move.
I can't.
Because Serafin looks at me again.
And the darkness pauses.
Just for a second.
"…Caoimhe…"
Tears burn my eyes.
"Yes."
His glowing eyes flicker.
Fighting.
Struggling.
"Run."
I shake my head violently.
"No!"
"RUN!"
The second voice growls beneath his words.
"Let. Me. Out."
The shadows surge violently.
WHOOOOOM!
The floor beneath Serafin splits open.
Black light pours from the fracture like a bottomless abyss.
The Doctor screams.
"That's not a breach!"
The intruder whispers.
"…It's a door."
My stomach drops.
Serafin screams again.
"Caoimhe please!"
The darkness claws up his body like living hands.
Pulling.
Dragging.
Something enormous presses against the other side of reality.
I step toward him.
The Tactical Officer grabs me again.
"Are you fucking trying to die?!"
"He needs me!"
"He's already gone!"
Serafin's eyes widen.
"No…"
The shadows surge again.
And something inside them begins pushing through.
A shape.
Too large.
Too wrong.
A clawed silhouette emerging from the rupture behind Serafin.
The air vibrates with its first breath.
RRRRRRMMMMMMMM…
Everyone freezes.
The Doctor whispers.
"…Oh God."
Serafin's voice cracks into a final desperate whisper.
"…Caoimhe…"
And the thing behind him opens its eyes.
To be continued...