Prologue - If Only We Knew

"Experts are still baffled by the six white pyramids that have appeared around the globe. Today, we have Dr Ashran as a special guest. Doctor. Can you tell us about your theory regarding these strange events?"

"Gladly! You see-"

Click!

"I was watching that!" Callen whined from the couch as he turned to glare at his mother. However, the hurt expressions on his parents' faces and the cake in his sister's hands reminded him what day it was.

"Happy Birthday, Cal!" Sophie squealed as her body trembled while eagerly holding out the cake.

Cal watched as his father quickly adjusted the tray in Sophie's hands before the cake could find its way to the floor. Cal's expression softened as his family awkwardly smiled at him. 'I'm such an idiot.' He sighed as he returned an apologetic grin.

"Thanks, Sophie."

His hand reached out to pat his younger sister on the head as he glanced at the lopsided chocolate treat. 'Mum and sis must have made this together.' Cal cursed himself and his stupidity as he quietly apologised to his family before joining them at the dining table.

'This year's presents are pretty bad.' Cal groaned as he opened one present after another in a parade of clothes he wouldn't be caught dead in. "Thanks, they're great."

'Would it kill them to get me a game or a book?' His smile became strained as he opened his last present, which turned out to be another bright t-shirt. 'Is there something wrong with my clothes?'

Cal cast a critical glance down at his jeans and a black t-shirt. Sure, they were a bit dull, but he liked it that way. They kept kids from his class from approaching him as he didn't seem too friendly.

"Can I put the TV back on now? Please?"

"Go on." His mum sighed as she waved her hand. "Though, I don't know why you find it so interesting."

She grumbled as she cleared the wrapping paper before glaring at her husband. "I blame your brother for this. Every time Ryan visits, he fills Cal's head with nonsense. He's only twelve. He should be out playing with others his age."

"Where's Uncle Ryan now?" Cal asked eagerly from the couch as he pressed the power button on the TV remote. "What's he doing?"

"He's in China, walking the Great Wall or something." Declan, Cal's father, replied as he rubbed the back of his head. "He's always on the move."

Cal grinned as he thought about his uncle and what he was up to. 'He's been everywhere! I want to be just like that! Doing what I want while travelling the world!' Cal shivered at the thought before he realised something.

"What does Uncle Ryan do?" His brows furrowed as he asked this question.

"Well-"

Suddenly, all eyes in the Shaw household focused on the TV.

"As you can see from the live feeds, all six pyramids have markings that appear to be a form of language inside. The amazing thing is all six locations have identical markings! Which means they were all built by the same civilisation!" Dr Ashran exclaimed excitedly.

"Furthermore, the phenomena that have been happening over the past seven days have all happened at seven in the afternoon each day! We are witnessing something incredible here. Something that was planned long ago by a civilisation we know nothing about!"

"Doctor," The reporter swallowed as she tugged at the collar of her shirt. "Earlier, you said these events have been occurring at the world's natural wonders. Such as the water around the Great Barrier Reef sinking into the earth before cracking open to reveal the pyramid and the pinnacle of Mount Everest falling away to reveal its hidden pyramid. Are you saying another event will occur at the Northern Lights today?"

"Precisely!" The doctor smiled as he nodded his head. "There's no other way to explain this. Everything that's been happening is a carefully planned and timed event. However, what this event signifies, nobody knows."

"Thank you, doctor." The reporter nervously smiled as she turned to the camera. "And now we go to our live crew filming at the scene of the Northern Lights. Where in a few moments, if Dr Ashran is right, another event will occur. Over to you, Rachael."

Cal clicked his tongue as he realised he was sitting on the edge of the couch. A grin appeared on his face as he spotted the enraptured expressions of his family. 'They're just as interested as I am.' He chuckled, which snapped his parents out of it.

"Oh, that's right." Declan smiled sheepishly at his son. "Ryan sent you something. It arrived yesterday."

"Dad! Why didn't you say so!" Cal quickly complained at his air-headed father as he held his hands out. "What is it?"

"Give me two minutes. I stashed it in the kitchen."

The sounds of his dad rummaging around the kitchen drowned out the sound of the reporter on the TV as Cal's anticipation grew. 'Uncle Ryan always sends me cool stuff. I wonder what he got me this time?'

"Found it!" Declan's cheery voice called from the kitchen as he slowly returned to the living room with a small package. "Your uncle sent a letter with it saying to give it to you right away. But I thought it best to hold onto it until your birthday."

Cal carefully took the small brown parcel from his dad and ripped into the packaging. Inside the unassuming package were a small wooden box and a white envelope. Cal could barely contain himself as he opened the box first. However, what he found inside caused him to frown.

'What the heck is this?' Cal removed the leather necklace and stared at the small, smooth white cube the leather went through. He had never seen anything like it and was confused about why his uncle had chosen it. 'Maybe his letter will contain a hint.'

Cal shrugged as he opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter within.

Dearest Cal,

If all goes well, this should reach you at least a day or two before your birthday. That should give you time to prepare. I'm sure you've been watching the events going on around the world. The necklace I sent you contains a piece of what these pyramids are made of. You must wear it at once. Your life may depend on it!

I pray I'm wrong. If I'm right in what I think will happen, do your best to stay alive until I can come to get all of you. On the next page, you'll find a list of items. Pack them all in a backpack and keep it on you at all times on your birthday. No matter what happens, don't panic. Don't be afraid. Don't scream. Stay alive.

With Love,

Uncle Ryan

Cal chuckled at his uncle's prank letter before carefully studying the necklace again with a gleam in his eyes. 'This is so cool! How'd he get a piece of one of the pyramids?' His eyes went wide as he rubbed the cube, which was chilly to the touch. 'Is it even legal for me to have this?'

"We will now display the final countdown on screen as the time for the seventh event approaches." The reporter chirped. "5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."

Cal's eyes snapped to the TV in time to see the Northern Lights suddenly vanish from the sky! The reporter gaped at the sky as the camera panned around, looking for the event that would signal the location of the seventh pyramid.

Suddenly, Cal shivered. 'Why can I see my breath?'

The house shook, startling his family as his sister screamed! 'There are no earthquakes in Scotland!' Cal thought as photos fell from the walls and the windows shattered. Sophie's screams grew louder as the wall behind the couch cracked. Cal's eyes went wide as he glanced at it.

Instead of insulation, wood, and wiring, he discovered an unfathomable darkness seemingly staring back at him! Every hair on the back of his neck stood on end as a jolt of electricity ran through his body. Before he knew what he was doing, he slipped the necklace his uncle had sent over his head!

"Bring them all." A feminine voice whispered from beyond the crack!

Cal yelped as he bolted off the couch! His parents remained frozen in place as they stared at the small grey hands pulling at the edge of the crack. It widened under their efforts as a suffocating presence washed over the Shaw family.

"Mum! Dad!" Cal yelled as a figure the size of a toddler fell through from the darkness. "Sophie! Come here!"

Tears fell freely from Cal's eyes as the toddler sat up. Its bulging grey eyes on its head that were far too large for its body swivelled this way and that. He froze as those otherwordly eyes scanned over him without a care.

The toddler grinned sickeningly as its squashed nose sniffed at the air. Cal could only watch as its mouth opened wide, and its green tongue shot toward his dad! It was only for a moment, but Cal saw the cracks on the tongue oozing puss as the fingers at the end of it wrapped around his dad's throat!

Declan groaned as the nails sunk into his skin before the tongue-hand lifted him bodily from the couch! The creepy toddler grinned as it whipped its tongue around and threw Declan through the crack!

Cal sunk into a protective crouch as two more toddlers fell through the crack and grinned.