This is part of an original serialized fiction project written and edited by the author. All story elements and characters are fictional.

“Destruction isn’t my goal,” Méndez said, his voice laced with condescension. “I’m here to free this place—from the limits you and your kind forced on it.”

Teodora’s voice rose sharply, her authority filling the room.

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with, Méndez. No one can control this power. That’s why it was sealed in the first place.”

He gave a dry, mocking smile. “That’s just what they told you to keep the truth buried. They’re not protecting the world—they’re protecting their grip on it. They're afraid of what this room might reveal.”

Suddenly, the pedestal emitted a narrow beam of light that shot toward the walls. The glowing symbols began linking together in an elaborate web, tracing patterns through the chamber. The hum in the air deepened, and the floor beneath them trembled faintly.

“He’s triggering the chamber!” Lucía yelled.

“We need to stop him—now!” Leo said, eyes darting to Teodora.

She nodded, already moving. “Distract him. I’ll see if I can override the system.”

Without hesitation, the siblings sprang into action. Leo rushed forward, brandishing a rusted tool he had grabbed in the basement.

“End this, Méndez!” he shouted.

Méndez took a cautious step back, but that smug grin never left his face.

“And what are you going to do? Hit me with a wrench?”

While he was focused on Leo, Lucía sprinted toward the strange device near the pedestal. She reached for it, but the moment her fingers touched its surface, a surge of energy lashed out. She staggered backward, clutching her hands.

“I can’t touch it!” she gasped, her voice shaken. “It’s like it bit me!”

Méndez let out a soft, satisfied laugh. “You thought this was just a switch? It’s never that simple.”

Meanwhile, Teodora was examining the base of the pedestal, scanning for anything she could use. Her fingers traced a barely visible inscription along the edge.

“There’s a failsafe!” she called out. “If we can align three energy points, we can reverse the activation.”

“How do we do that?!” Leo shouted, ducking under Méndez’s outstretched arm.

Teodora pointed to three glowing symbols pulsing along the chamber’s walls.

“Each of you needs to hold one. Keep your hands on it until I can bring the whole thing down.”

Lucía hesitated, eyes locked on the swirling energy flowing across the walls.

“And if it doesn’t work?”

Teodora didn’t flinch. “Then we make sure it does. We don’t have time to doubt.”

The Echo Chamber was alive now—its walls painted with shifting light, beams snaking through the air in mesmerizing, dangerous patterns. While Teodora bent over the pedestal, frantically working to break through its defenses, Leo and Lucía dashed to their positions.

Méndez stood calmly in the center, arms at his sides, watching the chaos unfold with unnerving confidence.

“You really think you can undo what this place was built to do?” he asked with a crooked smile. “This chamber amplifies the artifact’s power. It doesn’t contain it.”

Leo pressed his hands to the first symbol. A flash of brilliant blue light surged out, and his whole body buzzed as though something ancient was stirring inside him.

“It’s... intense—but I’ve got it!” he shouted through gritted teeth.

Lucía ran to the second point, heart pounding. The symbol radiated gold, and as she made contact, a wave of heat climbed her arms, pulsing like a heartbeat.

“This doesn’t feel safe, Teodora!” she cried out, glancing nervously at the older woman.