The underground city went dark.

Not slowly.

Not gradually.

One moment, thousands of lights were glowing beneath Nocturne.

The next, everything disappeared.

Riven couldn’t see his own hands.

He couldn’t see Mira.

He couldn’t see Kael.

He couldn’t see anything.

But he could hear them.

Thousands of voices whispered from the darkness.

Some were crying.

Some were laughing.

Some were calling his name.

Riven.

Riven Ash.

Remember us.

Riven stood completely still.

His heart was beating violently.

“Kael?”

No answer.

“Mira?”

Silence.

Then someone touched his shoulder.

Riven spun around.

A pale face appeared inches from his.

Riven almost screamed.

It was an old man.

His eyes were completely black.

He stared at Riven.

“You’re late.”

Riven stepped backward.

“Who are you?”

The old man smiled.

“Someone you forgot.”

Riven felt a chill.

“What does that mean?”

The man disappeared.

Riven turned around.

The underground city was glowing again.

But everything had changed.

The people who had been standing in the streets were gone.

The buildings were empty.

The streets were covered in thick black fog.

And Kael was standing directly in front of him.

Riven stared.

“Kael.”

His brother smiled.

“Hello, little brother.”

Riven ran toward him.

Kael didn’t move.

Riven grabbed his shoulders.

“Where have you been?”

Kael looked at him.

“Here.”

“Why didn’t you come home?”

“Because I couldn’t.”

“Couldn’t?”

Kael’s smile disappeared.

“Because I don’t remember how.”

Riven froze.

“What are you talking about?”

Kael looked toward the black tower.

“I’ve been here for six days.”

“You disappeared six days ago.”

“Yes.”

“Then why can’t you leave?”

Kael looked at his hands.

Dark lines moved beneath his skin.

“Because the city won’t let me.”

Riven grabbed his arm.

“Then we’ll leave together.”

Kael shook his head.

“You don’t understand.”

“I’ll find a way.”

“There is no way.”

Riven’s anger grew.

“Stop saying that!”

Kael stared at him.

“You’ve already tried.”

Riven froze.

“What?”

Kael looked at him.

“Six years ago.”

The words echoed in Riven’s mind.

The photograph.

The underground city.

Mira.

Selene.

His twelve-year-old self.

Riven had been here before.

But he couldn’t remember.

“What happened six years ago?”

Kael’s expression became serious.

“You found the Heart.”

Riven looked toward the black tower.

“What is it?”

“The reason this city exists.”

“Who built it?”

Kael looked at him.

“You did.”

Riven’s blood ran cold.

“No.”

Kael nodded.

“Yes.”

“I was twelve.”

“Exactly.”

Riven stepped backward.

“That’s impossible.”

Kael walked closer.

“You don’t remember because you asked Mira to erase your memories.”

“Why?”

“Because you were afraid.”

“Of what?”

Kael looked toward the tower.

“Of yourself.”

Riven shook his head.

“I don’t understand.”

“You will.”

Suddenly, a bell rang.

The sound echoed through the underground city.

Kael’s face changed.

“We have to go.”

“Where?”

“Before they find us.”

“Who?”

Kael didn’t answer.

He grabbed Riven’s arm.

They ran through the empty streets.

Riven looked behind them.

Something was moving in the fog.

A tall figure.

Then another.

Then dozens.

The same masked creatures from the subway.

Riven recognized them.

“The Forgotten.”

Kael nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why are they following us?”

“Because you’re awake.”

“What does that mean?”

Kael stopped.

He looked directly into Riven’s eyes.

“The city erased your memories.”

Riven stared at him.

“But now you’re remembering.”

“Yes.”

“And that’s bad?”

Kael’s voice became quiet.

“Very.”

The fog behind them moved.

Kael pulled Riven into an abandoned building.

They hid behind a broken wall.

The creatures passed outside.

Riven whispered.

“What are they?”

Kael watched them.

“People.”

“They don’t look human.”

“They were.”

“What happened?”

Kael looked at him.

“The city took everything from them.”

“Everything?”

“Their names.”

“Their memories.”

“Their identities.”

Riven felt a cold wave pass through him.

“Why?”

Kael pointed toward the tower.

“To feed the Heart.”

Riven stared.

“What is the Heart?”

Kael shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

“You said you did.”

“I know what it does.”

“Then tell me.”

Kael looked toward the darkness.

“It remembers.”

Riven frowned.

“What?”

“The Heart remembers everything the city forgets.”

Riven thought about the names on the walls.

The erased people.

Mira.

The missing man.

His brother.

“So the Heart stores memories?”

“Not just memories.”

Kael looked at him.

“It stores lives.”

Riven felt sick.

“How?”

“Every person the city forgets becomes part of it.”

Riven stared.

“Then the people down here…”

“They’re not supposed to exist.”

“Why are they alive?”

Kael’s face became pale.

“They’re not.”

Riven looked at him.

“What?”

Kael whispered.

“The people you saw are memories.”

Riven’s breathing stopped.

“The city doesn’t contain dead people.”

“It contains their memories.”

“Walking.”

“Talking.”

“Living.”

“But the real people are gone.”

Riven remembered the old man.

Someone you forgot.

He felt dizzy.

“Then what is Mira?”

Kael didn’t answer.

Riven looked at him.

“Kael.”

His brother remained silent.

“Is Mira dead?”

Kael finally nodded.

“Yes.”

Riven’s heart sank.

“But I saw her.”

“That’s the problem.”

Riven stepped backward.

“Then who did I see?”

Kael looked at him.

“The memory of Mira.”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.

“Not exactly.”

Riven turned.

Mira stood in the doorway.

Riven froze.

“You…”

Mira stepped inside.

Kael immediately moved in front of Riven.

Mira looked at him.

“Move.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

Mira’s eyes became cold.

“You don’t understand what you’re protecting.”

Riven looked between them.

“What is going on?”

Mira looked at him.

“Your brother is infected.”

Riven’s heart stopped.

“With what?”

Mira pointed at Kael.

“The Heart.”

Riven looked at Kael.

Dark lines were spreading across his neck.

Kael covered them.

“Don’t listen to her.”

Mira shook her head.

“He’s already connected.”

Riven looked at his brother.

“Is that true?”

Kael remained silent.

Riven stepped closer.

“Kael.”

His brother finally nodded.

“Yes.”

Riven felt his stomach tighten.

“How long?”

“Since I arrived.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you’d try to save me.”

“I will save you.”

Kael laughed bitterly.

“You can’t.”

“Stop saying that!”

Riven grabbed him.

“I am not leaving you here.”

Kael stared at him.

“Riven.”

“You’re my brother.”

“That’s exactly why you have to leave.”

“No.”

“Listen to me.”

Kael’s voice became desperate.

“You don’t belong here.”

Riven shook his head.

“Neither do you.”

Kael smiled sadly.

“I’ve been here before.”

Riven froze.

“What?”

“Six years ago.”

Kael looked at Mira.

“She brought us here.”

Riven turned toward Mira.

“You knew my brother?”

Mira nodded.

“I knew both of you.”

“Why?”

“Because your parents sent you.”

Riven’s heart stopped.

“My parents?”

Mira nodded.

“They discovered the city.”

Riven remembered what Selene had told him.

People disappearing.

Memories being erased.

The city hiding its secrets.

“Why would my parents send us here?”

Mira looked toward the tower.

“Because they wanted to destroy the Heart.”

Riven stared.

“Then why didn’t they?”

Mira’s expression changed.

“Because you stopped them.”

Riven froze.

“I did what?”

Mira stepped closer.

“You saved the Heart.”

“No.”

“You were twelve years old.”

“I couldn’t.”

“You could.”

Mira pointed toward the tower.

“You stood in front of it.”

“You touched it.”

“And it recognized you.”

Riven felt something inside his mind crack.

A memory.

A dark room.

A giant black tower.

His mother screaming.

His father holding a weapon.

Kael crying.

And Riven.

Standing before the Heart.

His hand touching the black surface.

A voice speaking inside his head.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Young Riven answering.

I WANT MY FAMILY TO BE SAFE.

The memory disappeared.

Riven fell to his knees.

Mira caught him.

“What did you see?”

Riven looked up.

“I remember.”

Mira’s expression changed.

“What?”

“The Heart asked me what I wanted.”

Kael stepped closer.

“What did you say?”

Riven looked at him.

“I asked it to protect our family.”

Kael’s face became pale.

Mira whispered.

“That’s why.”

Riven frowned.

“Why what?”

Mira looked at Kael.

“The Heart has been protecting you ever since.”

Riven stared.

“Protecting me from what?”

Mira’s voice became quiet.

“Everyone.”

Suddenly, the entire building shook.

A deep sound came from beneath the city.

The black tower began glowing.

Kael screamed.

Riven grabbed him.

“Kael!”

His brother fell to his knees.

The dark lines spread across his face.

Mira stepped backward.

“It’s awake.”

Riven looked toward the tower.

“What is?”

“The Heart.”

A massive pulse traveled through the underground city.

Every dead memory woke up.

Thousands of people appeared in the streets.

They all turned toward Riven.

Then they began walking.

Riven looked terrified.

“What are they doing?”

Mira whispered.

“They’re coming for you.”

“Why?”

“Because the Heart remembers you.”

Riven stepped backward.

“What does it want?”

Mira looked at him.

“The same thing it wanted six years ago.”

“What?”

“Your memories.”

Riven looked at Kael.

His brother was standing again.

But his eyes had turned completely black.

“Kael?”

Kael looked at him.

His voice wasn’t his own.

“Riven.”

Riven stepped backward.

“Kael?”

His brother smiled.

“The Heart remembers.”

Riven raised his knife.

“Let him go.”

Kael laughed.

“You still don’t understand.”

The black lines spread across his entire body.

“He isn’t trapped inside the Heart.”

Riven froze.

Kael pointed toward him.

“The Heart is inside him.”

Mira screamed.

“Run!”

The ground exploded.

A massive black hand burst through the street.

Riven was thrown into the air.

He crashed against a wall.

“Riven!”

Mira ran toward him.

But the black hand grabbed her.

Riven watched in horror.

“Mira!”

The hand pulled her into the darkness.

Riven reached for her.

“NO!”

Mira disappeared.

Riven stood.

The underground city was collapsing.

People screamed.

Buildings fell.

The Heart was awakening.

And Kael stood in the center of the destruction.

His body was glowing black.

Riven looked at him.

“Kael.”

His brother looked back.

“Forgive me.”

Riven shook his head.

“No.”

Kael raised his hand.

The entire city stopped.

Every person.

Every memory.

Every creature.

Everything froze.

Only Riven could move.

Kael looked at him.

“You wanted to uncover the secret.”

Riven stared.

“Yes.”

“Then come.”

Kael turned toward the black tower.

Riven followed.

The tower opened.

Inside was a staircase descending deeper underground.

Riven looked down.

He had a terrible feeling.

“Where does this lead?”

Kael smiled.

“To the beginning.”

Riven followed him.

The deeper they went, the more memories appeared.

Riven saw his childhood.

His parents.

Kael.

Mira.

Selene.

The old city.

The first disappearance.

The first forgotten person.

Then he saw something impossible.

A woman standing beside the Heart.

Riven stopped.

“Who is that?”

Kael didn’t answer.

Riven stepped closer.

The woman turned.

Riven’s heart stopped.

It was his mother.

She was alive.

But she wasn’t alone.

Standing beside her was his father.

And between them…

was a twelve-year-old Riven.

The memory was still happening.

His mother was crying.

His father was holding a sword.

And young Riven was standing before the Heart.

Then his mother said something.

Riven could hear her voice clearly.

“One day, he will come back.”

His father answered:

“And when he does?”

His mother looked at the Heart.

“Then he’ll have to choose.”

The memory ended.

Riven turned toward Kael.

“What choice?”

Kael looked at him.

“Whether to save the city…”

He pointed toward the Heart.

“Or destroy it.”

Riven stared.

Then a voice came from the darkness.

A voice he knew.

A voice he had heard six years ago.

WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE THIS TIME?

Riven looked toward the Heart.

The black tower opened completely.

Inside was a giant eye.

The eye looked exactly like the symbol from the comic book.

Riven stepped forward.

The Heart spoke again.

YOU ASKED ME TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.

Riven’s heart was pounding.

“What did you do?”

I OBEYED.

“Where are my parents?”

PROTECTED.

“Where?”

The Heart showed him a vision.

A room.

His parents.

Alive.

Riven’s breath stopped.

“That’s impossible.”

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE IN A CITY THAT REMEMBERS THE DEAD.

Riven looked at Kael.

“Can we save them?”

Kael’s expression was filled with fear.

“Riven…”

The Heart spoke.

YES.

Riven turned.

The giant eye stared at him.

BUT YOU MUST GIVE ME SOMETHING IN RETURN.

Riven whispered.

“What?”

The Heart answered:

YOUR NAME.

Riven froze.

Kael screamed.

“NO!”

The Heart continued.

GIVE ME YOUR NAME, AND THE CITY WILL REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY.

Riven looked at the vision of his parents.

Then at Kael.

Then at the darkness behind him.

He finally understood.

The secret wasn’t that the city forgot the dead.

The secret was that the city needed someone to remember.

And every memory had a price.

Riven stepped toward the Heart.

Kael grabbed his arm.

“Don’t do it.”

Riven looked at him.

“Why?”

Kael’s eyes filled with tears.

“Because if you give it your name…”

He pointed toward the city.

“Everyone will forget you.”

Riven stared at the Heart.

His parents were alive.

His brother was infected.

Mira was gone.

Selene was missing.

And the entire underground city was waiting for his decision.

The Heart spoke one final time.

CHOOSE.

Riven closed his eyes.

Then he remembered his brother’s words.

Don’t trust the city.

Riven opened his eyes.

He smiled.

“No.”

The Heart became silent.

Riven stepped backward.

“I’m not giving you my name.”

Kael stared.

“Then what are you going to do?”

Riven looked at the black tower.

“I’m going to find another way.”

The Heart began to shake.

The entire city screamed.

And somewhere deep inside the darkness…

Mira opened her eyes.

She was alive.

But someone was standing behind her.

A woman with silver hair.

Selene.

Mira stared at her.

“You’re supposed to be dead.”

Selene smiled.

“I was.”

Mira stepped backward.

“Then who are you?”

Selene’s eyes turned black.

“The person who started all of this.”

Far above them, Riven heard a voice.

His mother’s voice.

“Riven…”

He turned toward the darkness.

“Mom?”

The voice whispered:

“Don’t trust Kael.”

Riven froze.

Kael looked at him.

“What did you hear?”

Riven stared at his brother.

He didn’t answer.

Because behind Kael…

something was standing.

Something wearing Kael’s face.

And it was smiling.

TO BE CONTINUED…