The Frozen in Time

Jack, Caldwell, and Sigurd moved through the underground corridors, the metallic walls coated in a thin layer of frost. The deeper they went, the more the temperature dropped. Their breath crystallized in the air as they reached a massive steel door at the end of the tunnel.

"This leads directly to the gateway chamber," Caldwell said, typing a security code into the keypad. The lock disengaged with a sharp hiss.

Jack exchanged a glance with Sigurd. "Once we go in, there's no turning back."

Sigurd gave a firm nod. "Then let us finish this."

Caldwell pushed the door open, and the three men stepped inside. The gateway chamber was enormous, with the massive portal arch standing at its center, its surface swirling with unstable energy. Mercer was already there, working feverishly at a console.

"We're running out of time!" she shouted. "The Wraiths are already adapting to the cold steel. We need to force them through now!"

A sudden explosion rocked the room as the Frost Wraiths burst through the far wall, their spectral bodies flickering as they spread out, their glowing eyes locking onto the portal.

Jack gripped the artifact. "They want this."

"Then give it to them," Caldwell said.

Jack took a deep breath and stepped toward the portal. The artifact pulsed in his hand, growing brighter. The Wraiths shrieked, their bodies lunging toward him.

Sigurd leaped forward, meeting the first Wraith with his spear. It crackled with energy as it struck true, the creature recoiling with an inhuman scream. Caldwell fired his weapon, slowing them down as Jack sprinted for the portal.

The energy from the gateway intensified, sending out a gravitational pull. Jack felt the air twist around him as the Frost Wraiths were drawn toward it. The artifact burned in his hands, vibrating with power. He hesitated for only a second before throwing it into the swirling vortex.

The Wraiths howled as they were pulled in, one by one. The portal surged, the energy field glowing brighter until—

A final, blinding flash consumed the room. The Wraiths were gone. The artifact was gone. The portal collapsed with a deafening boom, leaving only silence.

Jack fell to his knees, breathing heavily. Caldwell slumped against the wall, his weapon still raised. Sigurd remained standing, his spear planted firmly in the ground.

Mercer approached the portal controls, her hands shaking. "It's done."

Jack exhaled. "We won."

Caldwell gave a tired chuckle. "Barely."

Sigurd clapped a hand on Jack's shoulder. "You have faced the abyss and returned."

Jack nodded, looking at the now-empty portal frame. He wasn't sure if he felt victorious or just… empty.

Mercer turned to them. "We need to seal this place for good."

Jack took one last look at the chamber before standing up. "Let's finish this."

Aftermath

They worked tirelessly to dismantle any remaining structures connected to the portal. Mercer initiated the final security lockdown, ensuring no one could reactivate the gateway. Caldwell placed explosive charges along the most sensitive areas of the chamber.

"Are you sure about this?" Jack asked as he and Caldwell stood at the detonator.

Caldwell nodded. "We can't take any chances."

Jack took a deep breath, then pressed the button. The chamber erupted in a controlled implosion, the reinforced walls collapsing inward. Dust and smoke billowed outward, and as the echoes of destruction faded, the gateway was no more.

For the first time since arriving, Jack felt the weight lift from his shoulders. The Frost Wraiths were gone. The portal was destroyed. The nightmare was finally over.

As they emerged from the facility, the first rays of sunlight broke over the frozen horizon. Jack turned to Sigurd. "What now?"

Sigurd gazed at the sky, then back at Jack. "We live."

Jack let out a slow breath, nodding. For the first time in a long while, that seemed possible.