The laugh didn’t belong in Moonridge.
It didn’t belong in any living place.
It wasn’t loud at first.
Just a sound beneath the mountain.
Soft.
Distant.
Almost… amused.
Then the second tremor hit.
The archive room shook violently.
Stone dust rained from the ceiling.
The glowing words on the wall—THE FIRST CHAIN HAS BROKEN—pulsed once.
Like a heartbeat.
Then again.
Rylan grabbed my arm instantly.
“Move.”
We didn’t argue.
We ran.
Behind us, the wall cracked further.
The silver writing split right through the center like something was pushing from the other side.
Something wanting out.
Guards flooded the corridor ahead of us.
Kell appeared from the opposite hall, breathless.
“What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” Rylan snapped. “Get everyone out of the eastern wing. Now.”
K
