Chapter 4

January 8, 2012, 1:30 a.m. Sunday

The two fell asleep waiting for their parents to video call them; their worries were still lingering even in their dreams. They dreamed of their parents' smiling faces, hoping that they would be safe and healthy wherever they were.

As the night went on, their dreams became a comforting reminder that love knows no distance and that they would be reunited soon. Grey heard a notification sound that jolted him to wake up, it was another scheduled email this timer had two videos, Grey stood up to wake his sister, that was sleeping on the sofa, Grey saw that the email had a programmed time limit that 'was already running so like what her sister did he used his cell phone to record the video in a separate device and close the internet connection of his phone,

ensuring that the video would be saved without any interruptions and be untraceable. As he started watching the videos, Grey's heart swelled with joy and nostalgia; seeing his loved one's face and hearing their voice brought them closer together despite the physical distance between them. The message was more focused on telling him certain important facts that they needed to understand and accept without hesitation or question.

Grey's father told him that the Russian Government was monitoring a supernatural phenomenon that happened in the city of Derbent, ( Дербент ) located on the Caspian Sea, the southernmost city in Russia. The phenomenon involved a mysterious dimensional rift that was located in an abandoned underground railroad tunnel that used to be a weapons bunker in the Cold War and had recently been discovered by a group of urban explorers.

The Russian Government believed that this rift had the potential to unleash unimaginable chaos and destruction if left unchecked after confirming the countless death of their personnel, soon after they decide they needed all available help to investigate and contain it before it was too late.

As the unexplained occurrences that were causing concern among the local population. Grey's father explained that the government had established a task force to investigate and ensure the safety of the residents,

but details about the nature of the phenomenon remained scarce. Some residents were found dead as the six-foot-tall and two-centimeter opening gap of the dimensional rift was leaking toxic energy that killed the first Russian scientific team that came near it and was exposed for a few minutes.

The rest of the scientists, including Grey's parents, were doubting the Russians really wanted to help us, knowing this might be a significant find, but after seeing what this rift can do, the government decided to proceed with caution and established a strict quarantine zone around the dimensional rift. They enlisted the help of international experts to study the phenomenon and devise a plan to safely contain and understand its effects.

Grey knew what his father was doing was dangerous and illegal, but knowing his parents wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important, they were risking everything just to ensure somebody could have a chance of surviving if they failed to stop the rift from contaminating the land. Grey noticed that the videos were not organized in the correct time frame; the one he saw from Lailah's phone was different because the rift was already encased in a foot of shatter-proof glass and re-enforced concrete cement,

Grey's heart raced as he realized the severity of the situation. The incorrect arrangement of the videos only heightened his concern; there was no date stamp on the video, and he was just basing his information on his own rational thinking. The voices he was hearing were Russian, and they were arguing about some things, but in Grey's ears, the Russians sounded scared.

As it ended the second video just started to play by itself when Lailah finally woke up and just ran toward his brother as he was holding his phone in front of the laptop screen as the second video played and they both saw that their father and mother looked differently as if they were sick and exhausted for many days, as they finally mention the date of the second video but shat made them react negatively was the fact their parents were inside a dim place while chaos was happening behind them as soldiers were constantly shooting at something terrifying,

some were seen to be wearing lab coats and were also using service pistols and some were using Carbines the sound was so loud her Mother was screaming at the screen telling them to prepare for the worst, they will hide the truth don't be fooled the world is in danger as their mother frantically trying to respond what it seemed to be their last video,

grey father was beside his wife shooting at some that was growling, as soon as his wife finish her message she grab a 45 caliber pistol and too their father's spot and started shooting, at the background unknown huge shadows were killing the other people who were with them, the lights were fading and flickering on and off Grey as they were inside an open laboratory type area that looked like has a office cubicle set up and they were inside one of this office cubicle,

trying to defend themselves. The growling sound grew louder, echoing through the empty space. Grey's heart raced as he realized they were trapped, with no way out except to fight for their lives. he saw his father was communicating in sign language Grey never put down his phone and recorded everything until the very last moment as they gave a flying kiss to their kids and mention Grey and Lailah's name,

Tears were falling from their eyes; they were holding their emotions in and trying desperately to remain calm, but they couldn't hold back the overwhelming grief that consumed them. Their trembling hands clenched tightly, and their voices choked with sorrow as they struggled to find the right words to express their pain.

As they witnessed the gruesome death of their loving parents, whatever attack was ripping them apart as gunshots could still be heard, but the scream of their mother echoed and overwhelmed the voice of their father as the video recording captured every heartbreaking moment until something smashed the laptop.

Leaving the room enveloped in deafening silence, the siblings were left to grapple with the haunting images etched into their minds. Tears streamed down their faces as they clung to each other, seeking solace in their shared anguish.

As soon as Grey closed his video recording on his phone, he just stood up and went directly to his father's basement office and stood in front of a huge maple wood cabinet that was five feet wide and six feet tall, with a deep breath, he opened the cabinet doors, revealing rows upon rows of neatly organized journals. Under one of the folders, a flat fingerprint scanner could be seen. He place his thumb on it as it scanned it,

After a few seconds, sounds of moving machines were heard behind the heavy maple cabinet, and a hidden door slowly swung open, revealing a long but narrow secret room about five by fifteen feet. Grey stepped inside. He cautiously explored the secret room and recalled past memories of when he used to play in this very room as a child.

The walls were adorned with their family's military memorabilia, including medals, photographs, and uniforms from different generations. Each item told a story of sacrifice, bravery, and honor, creating a sense of pride and reverence within the household. triggering a flood of nostalgia within him. As he continued inside,

he was sure it was the password of the vault that he once saw as a child that was being kept hidden. and should only be seen if there was an emergency, and seeing his parents get killed was a huge reason. The memories of that tragic scheduled email reminded him of the immense responsibility he now carried to protect his family's legacy,

As soon as Grey reached the end of the room, he saw the vault, and with a heavy heart, he entered the password with trembling hands. The room fell silent as Grey held his breath, hoping that the password would grant him access to something that their parents desperately risked everything for so they could get a hold of whatever was inside it. but Grey couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The weight of their parents' sacrifice hung heavily on his shoulders, fueling his determination to uncover the secrets hidden within the vault.

It was a small 3 ml vile of liquid that seemed to be blood; something was different about it, something that Grey couldn't quite put his finger on. The liquid inside the vial seemed to pulsate with energy, sending shivers down his spine. As he examined it closer, he noticed faint symbols etched onto the glass, hinting at a deeper significance. This discovery only intensified Grey's curiosity and heightened his resolve to unravel the mysteries surrounding the vial and its contents, and beside the vile was a piece of paper with the name Wyatt written on it, mentioning that this is the last remaining chance for mankind'.

adding another layer of intrigue to an already enigmatic situation. Grey's mind raced with questions: - Who was R. Wyatt? What connection did they have to the vial? Determined to find answers, Grey vowed to uncover the truth behind this mysterious artefact and its enigmatic owner.

January 8, 2012, 6:10 a.m. Sunday