The bridge beyond

I stayed awake for what felt like hours, staring at the blank walls of the room. My mind churned with fragmented thoughts: the cryptic symbols, Colonel Jackson's cold announcements, and most of all, the strange connection I now felt to Varek.

Who was he? Why did his voice feel so powerful, so insistent, as if it wasn’t just in my head but threaded into my very being? And what did he mean by calling me "the link"?

The door hissed open, startling me from my thoughts. Theresa stood there, her expression unreadable as usual.

“Get up,” she said.

“Why?” I asked, though my body moved on its own. I wasn’t sure if it was fear or the invisible force driving me to comply.

“Phase Three,” she replied curtly.

I followed her down the corridor, the metallic hum of the walls growing louder. The further we went, the colder it became, until I could see faint puffs of my breath in the dim light.

“Why are you doing this?” I blurted out, unable to contain the question any longer.

Theresa didn’t answer right away. For a moment, I thought she’d ignore me entirely, but then she glanced back.

“I have my reasons,” she said, her tone softer than I expected.

Her response left me unsatisfied, but there wasn’t time to press further. We arrived at a large, circular room filled with towering machines and glowing screens. Dozens of others were already there, including Kat and Melanie. Their eyes met mine, a silent exchange of fear and determination passing between us.

Colonel Jackson stood at the center of the room, flanked by a team of uniformed officers. His presence was as commanding as ever, his gray eyes scanning the group with detached efficiency.

“This is Phase Three,” he announced, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. “You will now be introduced to the second party in this mission.”

Second party?

Before I could process his words, the machines around us began to hum louder, their lights flickering. The air grew heavier, charged with an energy that made the hair on my arms stand on end.

Then, a portal—yes, a portal—began to form in the center of the room. It was a swirling mass of light and shadow, shifting in ways that defied logic. The sight was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once.

“What the hell is that?” Kat whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise.

The portal stabilized, and from its depths, figures began to emerge. They were humanoid but distinctly otherworldly. Their skin had a faint, iridescent sheen, and their eyes glowed with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. They wore intricate armor that seemed to pulse with its own life, and their presence filled the room with an almost tangible weight.

One of them stepped forward, taller than the rest, his gaze sweeping over us like a predator assessing its prey. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized him.

Varek.

It was him. The man from my vision, the voice in my mind. He was real.

His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The noise, the lights, the fear—they all melted into the background as his presence filled my senses.

“Carmem,” he said, his voice resonating both aloud and in my mind.

I couldn’t speak. My throat felt dry, my body frozen under his piercing gaze.

Colonel Jackson stepped forward, breaking the spell. “This is Varek,” he announced, gesturing toward him. “He is the leader of the second party, the liaison between their people and ours. You will work directly with him to fulfill the mission.”

“What mission?” I finally managed to ask, my voice shaking.

Jackson’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was annoyed by the question. “All will be revealed in time,” he said.

“That’s not good enough,” Kat snapped, stepping forward. “We deserve to know why we’re here!”

Before Jackson could respond, Varek raised a hand, silencing the room. His gaze shifted to Kat, his expression unreadable.

“You are here because your world depends on it,” he said, his voice calm yet commanding. “The mission is not one of choice, but of necessity.”

“And what if we refuse?” Kat challenged, her fists clenched.

Varek’s gaze didn’t waver. “Refusal is not an option. The consequences would be catastrophic—for both our worlds.”

The weight of his words settled over us like a shroud. I wanted to believe he was exaggerating, that this was all some elaborate ploy, but the intensity in his voice told me otherwise.

“Why us?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Varek’s eyes returned to mine, softer now. “Because you are the link,” he said. “Without you, the mission cannot succeed.”

The room fell silent, all eyes on me. I felt the weight of their gazes, the unspoken questions and doubts.

“What does that mean?” I demanded, my fear giving way to frustration. “What do you want from me?”

Varek stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You will understand in time,” he said. “For now, trust that this is bigger than you, bigger than all of us.”

I wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the intensity in his eyes silenced me. There was something in his gaze—something that felt like both a promise and a warning.

Before I could say anything else, the portal behind him flared, and more figures began to emerge. They were similar to Varek but smaller, less imposing. Each carried strange devices that hummed with energy, their purpose unclear.

Colonel Jackson turned back to us. “Your training begins now,” he said. “You will be paired with members of the second party to prepare for the mission. Follow their instructions without question.”

The room erupted into chaos as the pairings began. Guards moved among us, directing each woman to a member of Varek’s group. When it was my turn, there was no hesitation.

“You will work with Varek,” Jackson said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Varek extended a hand toward me, his expression unreadable. “Come,” he said.

I hesitated for a moment before placing my hand in his. His touch was warm, grounding me in a way I didn’t understand.

As he led me toward the portal, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my life had just changed forever—and that whatever lay ahead would be more dangerous than anything I could imagine.