Chapter 12

ILLUSIONS OF DANGER

MystTech Creations, West Hollywood, California, United States

As Gen stepped into the lobby of MystTech Creations, she was immediately struck by the stark, clinical atmosphere that greeted her. The white walls, devoid of any warmth or character, seemed to pulse with an eerie, almost sterile energy. The space was vast and empty… The only sounds were the soft hum of the air conditioning and the echo of her own footsteps on the polished concrete floor.

Despite the cleanliness of the surroundings, Gen couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that crept up her spine as she ventured deeper into the empty lobby. The air seemed to grow thicker with each step. There was a palpable sense of danger lurking just beneath the surface of this seemingly innocuous space. But Gen couldn’t put her finger on exactly what was so unsettling about this place. She reasoned it was simply Emperor’s warning having her on edge.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and the walls began to shift and morph before Gen’s eyes. She froze, every muscle in her body tensing. Her vision scanning, taking in every detail as they changed before her eyes.

The sterile white walls suddenly gave way to a lush, verdant green, creating an instant forest of trees surrounding Gen. She could hardly believe it as the sounds of the jungle filled the air. If it didn’t already feel real enough, the scent of damp earth and exotic flowers assaulted her nostrils.

It was all so vivid and real that she could almost feel the humidity on her skin. Gen blinked, her mind struggling to process the sudden transformation. But there was no denying the fact that she was now standing in the middle of a dense, tropical rainforest.

What is going on? She asked Emperor in her head. Is this the danger you sensed?

Sadly, no, he answered at once. This is something different. Something I didn’t pick up on. For some reason, I don’t sense danger here.

Right, Gen said, spinning around, looking for her exit. It was gone…

The door she had just come through had vanished, replaced by an impenetrable wall of foliage. Gen’s heart raced, her palms slick with sweat as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She knew this couldn’t be real, but every one of her senses told her otherwise. What had just magically appeared before her had to be a trick, but she didn’t know how since it all felt so authentic—the smells, sounds and feel of her surroundings.

The leaves rustled, and she swore she could hear the distant cries of birds and the chattering of monkeys in the canopy above. A movement in the bushes ahead caught her eye. Gen froze, her breath catching in her throat.

She watched, transfixed, as a creature emerged from the undergrowth. She couldn’t tell what it was, only that it was large and moved fast. Her every instinct told her to freeze—to make like a tree and blend into her surroundings.

Gen had taken cover just in time, hiding behind what appeared to be a branch of thick leaves, although it hadn’t existed moments prior, so she doubted if it were actually real. Just then, from the shadows, a monster of sorts emerged. Its scaly skin glistened in the dappled light that filtered through the trees.

Although Gen had never seen these beasts in person or known about them in her time, she did now. She’d read about the legendary dinosaurs—the relatives of dragons, apparently. They were extinct now, and that was for a very important reason. Whereas dragons were large and powerful, they were intelligent and complex. However, dinosaurs were primal and all aggressive survival instinct.

What stood before Gen was apparently one of the most dangerous dinosaurs, according to what she’d read. It wasn’t overly large, but it was fast and cunning. And it would slit a man’s throat before he even knew what was happening.

Standing before Gen, having climbed through the thick bush, was a velociraptor. Its razor-sharp claws and teeth bared in a snarl that sent shivers down Gen’s spine. It looked strangely human with the way it moved its short arms, and its eyes glinted with hungry malice.

Are you sure about there not being danger here? Gen questioned Emperor in her head.

Something isn’t right about that dinosaur, her dragon replied. I don’t sense danger.

The monster lunged forward, opening its teeth-lined jaws, and roared loudly. A soul-crushing screech pierced the air, making Gen nearly clutch her hands to her ears. However, she stayed still, hoping she was still hidden from the predator.

She had seen pictures of these prehistoric predators in books, but nothing could have prepared Gen for the reality of facing one in the flesh. Her mind reeled, trying to reconcile the impossibility of this moment with the fact that these creatures had been extinct for millions of years. It simply didn’t make sense. Strange magic had to be at play.

The dinosaur, like hunting a hiding prey, sniffed the air. The sounds of a cooing growl low in its throat seemed to say, “I know you’re out there.” Gen didn’t know what would happen if this monster found her hiding spot. Something told her that she might not survive.

As the velociraptor stalked closer, Gen’s hand instinctively reached for Bellumferrum. The small cube warmed in her hand, a comforting weight in her grasp. However, the fear and anticipation of what it might become in this situation was more than intimidating. What would the Weapon of War become to fight a dinosaur? She didn’t know and knew that she’d be given little time to figure out what to do when Bellumferrum transformed.

But before she could draw out the cube, the jungle vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The velociraptor was gone, and Gen found herself once again standing in the empty, sterile lobby of MystTech Creations. She blinked around in utter confusion. Her heart was still pounding hard in her chest. Her breath was ragged in her throat as she tried to process what had just happened.

What the hell? she asked Emperor in her head.

I’m not sure, he stated. But like I said, I never sensed you in real danger.

Yeah, I guess, she said. But what was that?

Had it been a hallucination? A trick of the mind? Or was this some kind of advanced strange technology that she hadn’t heard of before? That was definitely possible, since her gap in knowledge of the modern world was so vast. But this just demonstrated how much Gen didn’t know about the world.

Her mind raced with questions, but one thing was certain—MystTech Creations was far more than just a simple special effects studio. There was something deeper, something more unsettling at play here. Gen had to find out what dangers lay within this place. Then she had to uncover the truth behind this strange and intriguing place.