Chapter 2: Return to Reality_1

Amira's eyes snapped open, the dim glow of artificial lights casting a faint, sterile hue across the ceiling. Her heart raced, the rapid pounding echoing in the suffocating silence of the room.

She sat up abruptly, her head throbbing as she clutched it with both hands, her face contorted in pain. The sudden influx of memories was overwhelming, a storm of past events colliding with her present consciousness.

She had done it.

Alex's abilities had worked, and she was back in a time she had thought was lost forever.

Her breathing was ragged as she struggled to absorb the rush of foreign memories that merged with her own. For a few moments, she felt nauseous, her senses swirling as if she were in free fall.

She glanced around, disoriented but alert.

The room was a curious mix of luxury and confinement. The bed she had been lying on was plush, draped with high-quality linens, its wooden frame sleek and modern.

Soft beige walls surrounded her, designed to be calming, but they felt like a cage's cold, sterile grip.

A large desk, scattered with books and a laptop, occupied one corner, while a small bathroom and kitchenette stood in another. Every comfort seemed available, yet an overwhelming sense of entrapment hung in the air.

This facility was not like any other; it was a private detention center where the government housed individuals deemed too powerful for regular prisons.

It was built to ensure maximum secrecy, catering to high-profile individuals whose presence was best kept under wraps.

There was no communication with the outside world; the only interactions allowed were with guards and assigned personnel.

The floors above her were rumored to house corrupt politicians, fallen tycoons, and rogue military officers people who were too valuable to be discarded but too dangerous to be left free.

She was confined to the lower levels, a place reserved for the most dangerous detainees.

Her reputation as an elite operative of the Black Phoenix Team, once one of the Federation's most formidable covert units had earned her this isolation.

It wasn't just her skill that made her a threat; it was the secrets she knew and the power she wielded.

The facility had everything she needed to survive—nutrition-packed meals, a small gym, and even access to books, like all electronic devices in the facility, her laptop was configured to provide access only to a heavily restricted intranet, its contents monitored and scrubbed of any sensitive information.

She had no way of contacting anyone beyond these walls, and the facility's guards, though courteous, were trained to maintain strict protocols.

But the reinforced doors and constant surveillance made one thing clear: she could never leave.

Ignoring the pain, she walked to the desk. Her fingers hovered over the laptop's keypad, the cold metal sending a chill up her spine.

She pressed a button, the screen flickering to life.

Her eyes narrowed as she saw the date: June 2, 2023.

Nearly two months had passed since the meteor fell—the same event that had marked the beginning of humanity's descent into chaos.

"So, Alex's plan worked," she muttered to herself, her voice low but filled with a new determination.

She leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes briefly as she mentally sifted through the vital information Alex and Aiden had drilled into her mind.

The meteor event was now a pivotal point in history, marking the start of the mutations that would alter the world.

Knowing the importance of staying ahead of the coming chaos. She grabbed a yellowed and rough notepad from the table and began writing down important moments.

"April 28 - The first sighting of a mutated animal occurs near Willowmist, sparking rumors of unnatural events."

"May 1 - More sightings of mutant plants and animals are reported with increasing frequency."

"May 14 - The Willowmist village suffered a massacre that killed nearly 10,000 people. The news was suppressed by the Federation to prevent mass panic."

"May 25 - The public witnessed elemental and supernatural abilities for the first time, creating widespread fear and confusion."

The pen paused, hovering above the page.

Her memories were vivid, sharper than ever before—knowing that the worst was yet to come, but she had to remind herself of the next steps:

"June 5: An electromagnetic pulse would disrupt global communications, followed by the first wave of beasts emerging from Aurelia and Wintershade Forest."

"June 7: A second wave of beasts would strike from the Silvermount Ranges toward Valdara's western borders."

"June 10: Most of the region in Therndale and Borealis provinces would fall, abandoned by the federation due to communication breakdowns."

"June 12: Several cities and towns across four provinces would declare independence, driven by the federation's lack of response and the rise of powerful individuals."

Her eyes narrowed as she absorbed the reality of her situation. The timeline was clear, but her path was not.

Her direct priority is to collect information and check if the event is going on as expected.

She spent hours on the laptop, sifting through news reports and data archives.

Her heart pounded as she scrolled through the headlines, everything seemed to be happening exactly as Alex and Aiden had described.

The reports were sparse, and edited to maintain public calm, but the signs were unmistakable.

Frustration gnawed at her. She needed to act quickly, but her current confinement was a significant obstacle.

She lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind raced as she mapped out a plan.

According to Alex's information, he was currently located in Ithurion Fortress City, a stronghold of awakened individuals and heavily guarded laboratories.

It was almost impossible to contact him directly, but she soon had to find a way.

Aiden, on the other hand, was still at the central military headquarters, fulfilling his duties for the federation.

He would soon break away, disillusioned by the government's poor decisions during the first beast wave.

By June 9, he would be near the Icelorn Basin, making it feasible for her to meet him then.

She rolled over, her eyes closed as she visualized the coming days.

She'd need to gather her unit and their families at a safe and secure location. But first, she needed to break out of this facility.

Her body was still sore from the sudden awakening, and her mind was still trying to catch up with the reality of her return to the past.

The details of her mission weighed heavily on her thoughts, but she couldn't afford to dwell on them. The primary objective now was clear: to grow stronger, fast.

Her body, still adjusting to the reawakening of her ice elemental abilities, felt raw and untested. She reached inward, focusing on the surge of spiritual energy she felt within. It was volatile and powerful and hard to control, unlike the slow awakening she had experienced in her original timeline.

She sat cross-legged on the bare floor of her room. The dim light from a flickering bulb cast long shadows across the walls, creating an eerie, ghostly atmosphere.

Her breath was slow and deliberate, each exhalation forming a thin mist in the frigid air.

She was trying to focus on the spiritual energy pulsing within her, newly awakened and potent but still untamed.

"Calm your mind," she whispered to herself, a mantra she had used countless times in the past.

She closed her eyes, feeling the faint energy in the air around her. In this timeline, she was at the most basic level of spiritual cultivation - the Awakened stage.

There was no spiritual core in her body yet, just a vast emptiness that needed to be filled with raw energy.

Her thoughts shifted to Alex's words about spiritual cultivation techniques developed through years of struggle in her past memories.

The concept of cultivating energy to form a "spiritual core" felt foreign yet strangely familiar.

She knew she was only at the Awakened stage, nowhere near the higher levels she had attained before. But she needed more energy, urgently, to strengthen her body and prepare for her escape.