The Frozen in Time

Jack's breath came in ragged gasps as they ran through the dimly lit tunnels beneath the facility. The emergency lighting flickered, casting long, shifting shadows against the steel walls. Behind them, the distant howls of the Frost Wraiths reverberated through the vents like a death song. The air was growing colder, their breath fogging with each exhale.

"How much farther?" Jack asked, gripping the artifact tightly as its pulsing light guided their way.

"Not far," Caldwell responded, tapping a keypad on the wall. A hidden door slid open, revealing a reinforced chamber. "This is the gateway control room. If Mercer's right, we can open a portal big enough to force them back in."

Sigurd strode inside, his spear clutched tightly. "Then let us make our stand."

The room was filled with high-tech monitors and a central console that controlled the gateway system. The massive portal archway stood at the far end, inactive but looming like the mouth of a great beast. Mercer's voice crackled over the radio.

"I'm rerouting power to your location. You have five minutes before the system is fully operational."

Jack's stomach twisted. "And if they get here before then?"

"Then you improvise."

A loud, grinding noise echoed from the tunnel behind them, followed by the sound of ice shattering. The Frost Wraiths had found them.

Caldwell swore under his breath. "They're here."

The first Wraith slithered into view, its semi-transparent body shifting like mist and ice combined. Its glowing blue eyes fixed on Jack, drawn to the artifact like a predator to fresh blood. More followed, their ethereal forms crowding the passage.

Jack swallowed hard. "We need to hold them off until the portal opens."

Sigurd didn't wait for further instructions. With a battle cry, he lunged forward, spear thrusting through the closest Wraith. The creature let out an ear-splitting shriek, recoiling as cracks of ice spread across its form. But it wasn't enough to stop it.

Caldwell opened fire, bullets passing through the Wraiths but slowing them down. Jack could feel the artifact vibrating violently in his grasp. It was reacting to their presence—calling them.

The gateway arch hummed to life. Static energy crackled through the air as blue light flickered within the frame.

Mercer's voice came through, urgent. "The portal is stabilizing! You need to get them inside!"

Jack turned to Caldwell. "How do we force them through?"

Caldwell's jaw tightened. "We make them want to follow."

Without hesitation, Jack stepped forward, raising the artifact high. It pulsed brighter than ever before, sending waves of energy through the room. The Frost Wraiths immediately shrieked, their eyes locking onto him.

"That's it," Jack muttered. "Come and get me."

He turned and sprinted toward the portal. The creatures lunged after him, their icy tendrils reaching out. Sigurd and Caldwell flanked him, keeping them at bay as Jack neared the swirling vortex.

The energy surged, pulling at everything nearby. Jack could feel the weight of time itself shifting around him.

At the last possible second, he hurled the artifact into the gateway. The moment it crossed the threshold, the Frost Wraiths shrieked in agony, their forms being drawn into the portal like smoke caught in the wind. One by one, they were pulled back into the void, disappearing into the unknown.

The last Wraith let out a furious cry before being sucked in, and with a final flash of energy, the portal collapsed.

Silence.

Jack stood frozen, his heart pounding. The room was still, the air returning to its normal temperature. He exhaled slowly, turning to Sigurd and Caldwell.

"We did it," Caldwell breathed.

Jack nodded, though a lingering unease settled in his chest. The artifact was gone, the portal was closed… but something told him this wasn't the end.

Sigurd placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have won this battle. But war has a way of finding those who defy time."

Jack forced a small smile. "Let's hope we don't have to do it again."

But deep down, he wasn't sure they had a choice.