The Beacon

Sarah burst into the open field, her breaths ragged and uneven. The mist clung to the ground, swallowing her feet as she stumbled forward. Each step sent a sharp jolt of pain through her ankle, but she forced herself to keep moving. Behind her, the sounds of pursuit grew louderâ€"the crunch of boots on leaves, the occasional barked order.

Her grip on the case tightened. It felt like an anchor, dragging her down with every step, yet she couldn't bring herself to let it go. The phone buzzed in her hand, the screen lighting up with another message:

Head for the light.

She squinted through the haze, her heart pounding. In the distance, a faint glow pierced the mistâ€"a single white light, steady and unwavering. It looked impossibly far away, but it was her only hope. She clenched her jaw and pressed forward, her legs trembling with exhaustion.
Behind her, the first figure emerged from the treelineâ€"a dark silhouette cutting through the mist. The man in the suit was faster than she expected, his strides long and deliberate. He carried no weapon that she could see, but his presence alone made her skin crawl. The second figure followed, moving with a predator's grace, their weapon drawn.

"Sarah!" the man in the suit called, his voice carrying over the field. "You can't run forever. Hand over the case, and this will all be over."

The light ahead flickered, pulling her focus. She ignored his words and pushed herself harder, her lungs burning. The mist grew thicker, clinging to her clothes and hair, obscuring her vision. The light seemed farther away now, like it was retreating with every step.

The phone buzzed again.

Do not stop. They cannot reach the light.

She glanced back, her heart lurching as she saw the figures gaining on her. The man in the suit moved with inhuman precision, his steps unerring despite the uneven ground. The second figure raised their weapon, aiming directly at her.

A crack split the air. Sarah dropped instinctively, her knees slamming into the wet earth. The bullet whizzed past her head, vanishing into the mist. Her chest heaved as she scrambled to her feet, clutching the case tightly against her chest.

The phone buzzed, the screen flashing another command: Left. Now.

She veered sharply, nearly losing her balance as her injured ankle buckled beneath her. The field sloped downward, leading her into a shallow ravine. The mist was thinner here, the ground slick with mud and rainwater. She slid several feet before catching herself against a rock, her fingers scraping against the rough surface.

The light was closer now, its glow cutting through the haze like a beacon. She pushed herself up, her legs shaking as she trudged forward. The sounds of pursuit faded slightly, the figures above struggling to navigate the steep descent.

Her ankle throbbed with every step, but she couldn't stop. The light seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat, drawing her closer. It wasn't just a beaconâ€"it was a destination, a promise of safety.

The phone buzzed again. You're almost there. Do not look back.

She didn't need to. She could hear them, their voices low and urgent as they closed in. The sound of the weapon cocking sent a fresh wave of fear through her. She stumbled forward, her vision swimming, her body threatening to collapse.

The light was blinding now, consuming everything around her. She reached out instinctively, her fingers grazing the edge of its brilliance. The ground beneath her shifted, and she fell forward, the case slipping from her grasp.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then she hit the ground, the impact jarring her senses. She opened her eyes, blinking against the harsh glow. The light wasn't just a beam or a lampâ€"it was a doorway, a shimmering portal that rippled like water. Beyond it, she could see only shadows, indistinct and shifting.

Her phone buzzed one last time.

Step through. Quickly.

She reached for the case, her fingers brushing its surface just as the first figure reached the edge of the light. The man in the suit stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the portal. The second figure joined him, their weapon lowered, their stance tense.

"You don't know what you're doing," the man said, his voice cold. "That light isn't salvation. It's a mistake."

Sarah's chest heaved as she clutched the case to her chest. Her legs screamed in protest as she pushed herself to her feet, the shimmering doorway pulsing inches from her face.

"You have no idea what's on the other side," the man continued, his tone calm but urgent. "You step through that, and you're part of something you can't undo. Something bigger than you."

The phone buzzed in her hand, the timer flashing: 01:42.

Her gaze flicked between the portal and the figures. The man in the suit took a cautious step forward, his movements slow and deliberate.

"You're not ready," he said. "None of us are."

Sarah gritted her teeth, her breath catching in her throat. The timer continued to tick down, each second hammering in her ears like a drumbeat.

01:21.

She took a step forward, her heart pounding. The portal seemed to hum in response, its surface rippling as if reaching out to her. The figures didn't move, their faces unreadable in the glow.

Her foot crossed the threshold.

The light consumed her.