The key was cold against my palm.
I stood in the ruins of the power plant, staring at the ancient device. Elena was behind me, her face pale, her eyes fixed on the structure that dominated the room. Lena was at the entrance, her weapon ready, watching for threats. Samir was at the console, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
"Leon." Samir's voice was tense. "The energy readings are spiking. Whatever's on the other side of that portal, it knows we're here."
"Then we don't give it time to prepare." I walked toward the device. "I'm opening it now."
"Leon, wait." Elena grabbed my arm. "There's something I haven't told you."
I turned to face her. "What?"
She was silent for a long moment. Then she said, "The portal isn't just a doorway. It's a test. A trial. The people who built it wan
