Home / Fantasy / STELLAR RIFT / Chapter 7: Shadows After Light
Chapter 7: Shadows After Light
Author: Kofo
last update2025-04-19 02:00:48

The Rift was gone.

Or at least, that’s what the world believed.

Three boys stood on a mountaintop under a clear blue sky. Below them, the land was healing. Trees grew back. Rivers flowed again. The twisted energy that once crawled across the ground was fading fast.

Jett, Zane, and Orin stood in silence, their faces pale and tired.

Kade was gone.

None of them had spoken about it yet. Not really. No one wanted to be the first to say it out loud. That their best friend had given up everything to seal the Rift.

They’d tried to argue, tried to take his place. But Kade had stepped forward first. And then, just like that, he had disappeared into the light.

Zane kicked a rock down the slope. “We should be happy. We won.”

Orin crossed his arms, his jaw tight. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

Jett didn’t speak. He stared out into the distance, lost in thought. The Rift’s power still pulsed in his veins—faint now, like an echo—but it hadn’t left him completely. He could still feel things. Tiny shifts in the world. Glitches in the air.

And something wasn’t right.

“Guys,” Jett said suddenly, “do you feel that?”

Orin and Zane turned to him.

Zane raised an eyebrow. “Feel what?”

“That buzzing,” Jett said. “Like… like static in your bones. I think the Rift—part of it—didn’t fully close.”

Orin frowned. “You said Kade sealed it.”

“He did,” Jett said slowly. “But maybe something stayed open. A crack. A thread. I don’t know.”

Zane looked nervous. “You think something got out?”

“No,” Jett said. “I think something is still in. And it’s calling.”

They went back to the underground spire the next day. The entrance had caved in, but Jett led them through a side tunnel—one he swore he didn’t remember being there before. As they walked, the walls changed. The deeper they went, the older things looked. Symbols none of them had seen before glowed faintly on the walls, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Zane touched one. “This place… it’s not dead.”

Orin nodded. “It feels like it’s waiting.”

They reached the chamber where it had all ended. The obelisk still stood in the center, dark now, cold. Kade was gone. But as they approached, the symbols flared to life again—and the obelisk cracked.

Jett stepped forward slowly.

And then they heard it.

A voice. Low. Echoing.

“He isn’t gone.”

All three froze.

Zane whispered, “Did you hear that?”

Jett nodded slowly. “That was Kade.”

Before they could react, the chamber split apart. The floor collapsed beneath them, dropping them into a black tunnel lined with crystal mirrors. They fell for what felt like forever—until they landed in a round room glowing with blue fire.

And standing in the center…

…was Kade.

But something was wrong.

His hair was longer. His eyes burned brighter. His face—calm, emotionless.

“Kade?” Orin stepped forward.

Kade looked up. “That’s not my name anymore.”

Jett stepped forward. “It’s us. Your friends. You—sealed the Rift. You remember, right?”

Kade tilted his head. “I remember pieces. But that life is gone. I am the Keeper now. I exist to protect the seal.”

Zane’s voice cracked. “You’re not just some guardian. You’re our friend.”

“I was,” Kade said. “But the seal changed me. It took my memories. Rebuilt me. I keep the Rift closed. Nothing more.”

Jett shook his head. “No. This isn’t right. If the Rift is sealed, then why are we here? Why is this room active?”

Kade’s expression flickered for just a second. Something behind the cold mask.

Then he said, “Because the Rift... lied.”

The fire around them dimmed.

Kade stepped toward the center and touched the floor. A wave of energy shot upward, forming an image in the air.

It showed a new crack. Smaller, but pulsing violently. In a different part of the world.

“Another one?” Orin whispered.

“No,” Kade said. “The same one. It split when I sealed it. Half here. Half… elsewhere.”

Jett felt a chill. “If the other half is loose…”

Kade nodded. “Then this world isn’t safe.”

Zane took a step forward. “Can we fix it?”

Kade hesitated.

“There is one way,” he said finally. “But I can’t do it alone.”

“What do you need?” Orin asked.

Kade looked at them. For the first time, his voice broke. “I need you. The Rift left a mark on each of you. Together, you can find the other crack. But to reach it…”

He paused, then looked directly at Jett.

“You’ll have to use the Rift’s power again.”

Jett flinched. “I barely survived it last time.”

“This time,” Kade said, “you won’t be alone.”

He walked to the edge of the chamber and touched a panel. A gateway appeared—made of blue light, humming with energy. It led to another world. A mirrored one. The Rift’s twin.

“I can’t go with you,” Kade said. “Not yet. But I’ll be watching.”

Zane nodded slowly. “Then we go.”

Orin stepped beside him. “Together.”

Jett took a breath, then stepped forward too. “Let’s finish what we started.”

They walked into the light.

The new world was nothing like Earth.

The sky was purple. The ground was black stone. Mountains floated in the air like balloons tied by invisible strings. Giant machines lay half-buried in the ground, forgotten and rusted. And in the distance—a tower rose into the sky, cracked open like a broken tooth.

Zane spoke first. “Where are we?”

Orin looked around. “This must be the other half. The place the Rift sent the rest of itself.”

“Feels wrong,” Jett muttered.

They moved fast, staying low, traveling through broken cities and fields of frozen lightning. The deeper they went, the worse the air felt. Like breathing static.

Then they found it.

A town. Or what used to be one. All the buildings were black, smooth, and silent. No lights. No movement.

Until they heard a voice.

“Help… please… help me…”

They ran toward the sound and found a boy—about their age—trapped in a crystal pod.

He looked human. His eyes were wide with fear.

“Get me out,” he begged. “Please!”

Orin raised a hand to blast the pod open.

Jett grabbed his arm. “Wait.”

“What?” Orin said.

“This feels like a trap.”

“I’m not a trap!” the boy cried. “My name’s Kael. I’ve been stuck here for months. The Rift took me from my world!”

Jett narrowed his eyes. “Your world?”

Kael nodded. “There are others. Like yours. Some were pulled in. Some escaped. I was caught between.”

Orin finally blasted the pod open.

Kael stumbled out, weak and shaking. “Thank you.”

But the moment he touched the ground, everything changed.

The buildings groaned.

The sky flashed red.

Kael looked up. And smiled.

“I forgot how good it feels… to lie.”

Before any of them could react, his skin cracked—and energy poured from him.

He was part of the Rift. A piece sent to lure them in.

The fight was instant.

Kael unleashed a wave of sound that sent Orin flying. Zane leapt at him with a shock-blade, but Kael blocked it with a ripple of power.

Only Jett stood his ground.

He closed his eyes. And let the Rift touch him.

It burned.

His skin glowed blue. His thoughts twisted. But he held on—because this time, he wasn’t alone.

He reached out—and felt Kade.

Their minds touched for a moment.

And Jett saw what to do.

He blasted Kael with a pulse of energy—not to destroy him, but to pull the rest of him out. Piece by piece, the Rift poured out of Kael, until the boy collapsed—empty and real again.

He opened his eyes, weak. “I didn’t… want to hurt anyone.”

“You didn’t,” Jett said. “Not really.”

The tower in the distance cracked.

The final piece of the Rift was waking.

And the boys had one last battle .

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Related Chapters

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 8: The Tower of Echoes

    The wind howled across the alien world as the boys stood at the edge of a cliff, staring at the broken tower in the distance.“That’s where it ends,” Jett said quietly.The tower stretched into the sky, tilted like it had been hit by a giant. Chunks of its walls floated in the air around it, held up by the same strange energy that powered this whole world. From its top, black smoke spiraled into the purple clouds above.“That place is alive,” Kael whispered, rubbing his arms. “I can feel it watching.”Zane flexed his fingers, energy dancing over his skin. “Then let’s go say hello.”They made their way through a forest of shattered glass trees. The air crackled. The deeper they went, the stranger the world became. Plants shimmered and disappeared when touched. The ground changed color with every step. Somewhere in the distance, something howled—a sound that didn’t belong in any world.“I have a bad feeling,” Orin said.“You always do,” Zane replied.“No, I mean it. This place is wrong.

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 9: The Shadow of Peace

    The sky was bright and peaceful. Birds flew in circles, and the grass danced in the wind.It felt like a dream.Jett sat under a tree with his hands behind his head, staring up at the clouds.Kael lay nearby, finally sleeping peacefully.Zane and Orin were throwing rocks into a stream that sparkled like diamonds.Everything was calm. Too calm.“You ever wonder if this is real?” Orin asked.Zane paused. “Yeah. Every second.”Jett stood. “Let’s find Kade.”They walked through the peaceful land. Everything was green and glowing. Butterflies flitted through the air. The sun was warm on their backs.But the peace started to feel strange.The trees were too perfect.The birds chirped in patterns.Even the grass felt fake—like it repeated itself.“This is weird,” Zane said.They found Kade standing at the top of a hill, staring at the sky.“What are you looking at?” Jett asked.Kade didn’t move.“Kade?” Orin touched his shoulder.Kade turned slowly, his eyes wide. “I can’t feel the Rift anym

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 10: Echoes Beyond the Rift

    One month later.The town had returned to normal—at least, on the outside.Jett sat at the edge of the school rooftop, his feet dangling over the edge. The wind blew gently, rustling his hoodie. He watched the sunset paint the sky in orange and purple.It should’ve felt like peace.But part of him still felt empty.Zane joined him, carrying two sodas. “You keep sneaking up here like a moody superhero.”Jett chuckled softly. “Just thinking.”Zane handed him a drink. “About Kael?”Jett nodded. “I keep hoping… maybe he’s still out there. Somewhere.”Orin climbed up next, holding a bag of chips. “The world almost ended, and you’re still emotional.”“I’m allowed to miss someone,” Jett said.“Yeah,” Orin said. “I miss him too.”Kade showed up a few minutes later, quieter than the others. He had been different since the Rift collapsed. Calmer, wiser. He said he remembered lifetimes of echoes—shards of lost worlds that lived in his head now.“Something strange is happening,” Kade said, sittin

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 1: The Crash

    Late afternoon light burned across the red rocks of Velora’s frontier. Kade stood on a small ridge, watching the empty mining camp below. He’d learned long ago that it was best to stay alone—but tonight, something in the sky made him stay.A sudden flash ripped through the clouds—bright blue, like pure electricity. Kade’s heart pounded. He gripped the metal spear in his hand and leaned forward. The light crashed into the valley with a thunderous boom that shook his bones.Dust and smoke rose from the ground. Kade dropped his spear and raced downhill, adrenaline pushing him faster than he’d ever run. When he reached the crater, he froze. In the center lay a strange black shard, glowing with blue energy. Above it hovered a crack in the sky—a glowing tear that pulsed like a heartbeat.Jett skidded to a stop on his hover‑bike. He jumped off, tools clattering at his belt. His wristpad lit up with odd readings. He checked the time—twenty seconds since impact.“Better be worth it,” he mutter

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 2: Into the Rift

    The night fell quickly on Velora, as it always did, with the sky deepening into an endless curtain of violet dotted with stars. The wind had died down, leaving the desert unnaturally still. The four boys sat in silence around the glowing shard, their minds buzzing with the strange, unexplainable events that had just unfolded.Kade kept his eyes fixed on the shard. It pulsed faintly, a slow and steady rhythm, like a heartbeat from a distant world. The blue light was no longer blinding, but it still carried an eerie energy that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He could feel it in his bones—the rift in the sky above them, the crack in the fabric of their reality. It felt wrong, but also... inevitable.“We can’t leave it like this,” Kade said quietly, breaking the silence. He glanced at his companions.Jett, who had been pacing around the crater, his mind whirring with ideas, stopped and nodded. “I agree,” he said, rubbing his chin as he considered the situation. “This

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 3: The Bioluminescent Forest

    The air tasted strange—sweet and tangy like unknown fruit. Soft light glowed from every leaf and petal. The four boys stepped carefully into the forest. The ground felt springy under their boots, as if they walked on a giant sponge.Kade led the way. His eyes narrowed at the glowing plants. “Stay close,” he whispered. “I don’t know what lives here.”Jett followed, clutching his wristpad. “My sensors say the air has high levels of unknown particles,” he said. “These lights might be natural, or they might be part of some magnetic field.”Orin walked beside them, breathing in slowly. He felt a quiet hum in the air. “I can feel it,” he said. “It’s like the whole forest is alive. It’s almost… talking to me.”Zane brought up the rear, rifle held ready. He scanned every shadow, every flicker of light. “Keep your eyes open,” he said. “If something jumps out, be ready.”They moved between tall stalks that glowed in blues and greens. The stalks bent as if they sensed movement. Leaves trembled i

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 4: The Crystal Spire’s Secret

    The tunnel spat them out into a vast cavern. The walls arched high above, slick with dripping water and veins of glowing crystal. Faint echoes of their breathing and footsteps filled the space. In the center stood the spire—taller than any building on Velora, forged of clear crystal and shining with shifting hues of purple and gold. Ribbons of dark mist coiled around its base like living ropes.Kade’s heart thundered in his chest. He stepped forward, boots crunching on gravel. “This… this is the heart of the Rift,” he said, voice low. Every instinct told him danger lay ahead. The air pulsed with energy—a hum so deep it felt like music in his bones.Jett knelt by the crystal shards that littered the ground. He attached a small probe to one fragment. The device buzzed and spluttered. “These readings are off the charts,” he whispered, eyes wide. “High levels of exotic energy. I’ve never seen anything like this.”Orin stood a few paces back, arms wrapped around himself. His eyes were clos

  • STELLAR RIFT   Chapter 5: The Prophecy Unraveled

    The journey through the cavern stretched on, but no one spoke. The tension hung thick between the four boys like an invisible fog. Their every step echoed against the cold, smooth walls, and the rhythmic pulse of the spire behind them faded into the distance. Orin’s vision still weighed heavily on Kade’s mind, the cryptic words of the Keeper echoing in his thoughts.One must fall, and all await.What did it mean? Who would have to die? Or was there a way to escape the sacrifice altogether?The deeper they moved, the more the air seemed to thrum with energy. It wasn’t the gentle hum they had felt near the spire, but something darker, more foreboding. The walls of the cavern were slick with moisture, and the faint glimmer of crystals seemed to flicker as they passed, like dying stars. Kade’s skin prickled.“I don’t like this,” Zane muttered, glancing around. “It feels wrong down here. Like we’re being watched.”“We are being watched,” Jett said quietly, adjusting the settings on his wri

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 10: Echoes Beyond the Rift

    One month later.The town had returned to normal—at least, on the outside.Jett sat at the edge of the school rooftop, his feet dangling over the edge. The wind blew gently, rustling his hoodie. He watched the sunset paint the sky in orange and purple.It should’ve felt like peace.But part of him still felt empty.Zane joined him, carrying two sodas. “You keep sneaking up here like a moody superhero.”Jett chuckled softly. “Just thinking.”Zane handed him a drink. “About Kael?”Jett nodded. “I keep hoping… maybe he’s still out there. Somewhere.”Orin climbed up next, holding a bag of chips. “The world almost ended, and you’re still emotional.”“I’m allowed to miss someone,” Jett said.“Yeah,” Orin said. “I miss him too.”Kade showed up a few minutes later, quieter than the others. He had been different since the Rift collapsed. Calmer, wiser. He said he remembered lifetimes of echoes—shards of lost worlds that lived in his head now.“Something strange is happening,” Kade said, sittin

  • Chapter 9: The Shadow of Peace

    The sky was bright and peaceful. Birds flew in circles, and the grass danced in the wind.It felt like a dream.Jett sat under a tree with his hands behind his head, staring up at the clouds.Kael lay nearby, finally sleeping peacefully.Zane and Orin were throwing rocks into a stream that sparkled like diamonds.Everything was calm. Too calm.“You ever wonder if this is real?” Orin asked.Zane paused. “Yeah. Every second.”Jett stood. “Let’s find Kade.”They walked through the peaceful land. Everything was green and glowing. Butterflies flitted through the air. The sun was warm on their backs.But the peace started to feel strange.The trees were too perfect.The birds chirped in patterns.Even the grass felt fake—like it repeated itself.“This is weird,” Zane said.They found Kade standing at the top of a hill, staring at the sky.“What are you looking at?” Jett asked.Kade didn’t move.“Kade?” Orin touched his shoulder.Kade turned slowly, his eyes wide. “I can’t feel the Rift anym

  • Chapter 8: The Tower of Echoes

    The wind howled across the alien world as the boys stood at the edge of a cliff, staring at the broken tower in the distance.“That’s where it ends,” Jett said quietly.The tower stretched into the sky, tilted like it had been hit by a giant. Chunks of its walls floated in the air around it, held up by the same strange energy that powered this whole world. From its top, black smoke spiraled into the purple clouds above.“That place is alive,” Kael whispered, rubbing his arms. “I can feel it watching.”Zane flexed his fingers, energy dancing over his skin. “Then let’s go say hello.”They made their way through a forest of shattered glass trees. The air crackled. The deeper they went, the stranger the world became. Plants shimmered and disappeared when touched. The ground changed color with every step. Somewhere in the distance, something howled—a sound that didn’t belong in any world.“I have a bad feeling,” Orin said.“You always do,” Zane replied.“No, I mean it. This place is wrong.

  • Chapter 7: Shadows After Light

    The Rift was gone.Or at least, that’s what the world believed.Three boys stood on a mountaintop under a clear blue sky. Below them, the land was healing. Trees grew back. Rivers flowed again. The twisted energy that once crawled across the ground was fading fast.Jett, Zane, and Orin stood in silence, their faces pale and tired.Kade was gone.None of them had spoken about it yet. Not really. No one wanted to be the first to say it out loud. That their best friend had given up everything to seal the Rift.They’d tried to argue, tried to take his place. But Kade had stepped forward first. And then, just like that, he had disappeared into the light.Zane kicked a rock down the slope. “We should be happy. We won.”Orin crossed his arms, his jaw tight. “Doesn’t feel like it.”Jett didn’t speak. He stared out into the distance, lost in thought. The Rift’s power still pulsed in his veins—faint now, like an echo—but it hadn’t left him completely. He could still feel things. Tiny shifts in

  • Chapter 6: Mirror of the Rift

    Kade hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him. The world around him spun in fragments—colors twisted into shapes he couldn’t name, and time seemed to drip like melting wax. He groaned and pushed himself up.He wasn’t in the void anymore.He stood on a rocky cliff under a black sky filled with red stars. Strange floating islands drifted overhead, and a giant crack in the sky pulsed like a heartbeat. Below him, the land burned. Rivers of glowing energy snaked across scorched earth, and shadows moved like they were alive.He was alone.“Orin? Zane? Jett?” he called out, his voice echoing strangely, as if the world was listening. “Where are you guys?”A voice answered, but it wasn’t one he expected.“You’ve finally arrived.”Kade turned. Standing a few feet away was… himself. But not quite. The other Kade was older, taller, and wore a suit made of crystal and steel, glowing with the same energy that bled from the Rift.“You’re me,” Kade said, confused.“No,” the double said calm

  • Chapter 5: The Prophecy Unraveled

    The journey through the cavern stretched on, but no one spoke. The tension hung thick between the four boys like an invisible fog. Their every step echoed against the cold, smooth walls, and the rhythmic pulse of the spire behind them faded into the distance. Orin’s vision still weighed heavily on Kade’s mind, the cryptic words of the Keeper echoing in his thoughts.One must fall, and all await.What did it mean? Who would have to die? Or was there a way to escape the sacrifice altogether?The deeper they moved, the more the air seemed to thrum with energy. It wasn’t the gentle hum they had felt near the spire, but something darker, more foreboding. The walls of the cavern were slick with moisture, and the faint glimmer of crystals seemed to flicker as they passed, like dying stars. Kade’s skin prickled.“I don’t like this,” Zane muttered, glancing around. “It feels wrong down here. Like we’re being watched.”“We are being watched,” Jett said quietly, adjusting the settings on his wri

  • Chapter 4: The Crystal Spire’s Secret

    The tunnel spat them out into a vast cavern. The walls arched high above, slick with dripping water and veins of glowing crystal. Faint echoes of their breathing and footsteps filled the space. In the center stood the spire—taller than any building on Velora, forged of clear crystal and shining with shifting hues of purple and gold. Ribbons of dark mist coiled around its base like living ropes.Kade’s heart thundered in his chest. He stepped forward, boots crunching on gravel. “This… this is the heart of the Rift,” he said, voice low. Every instinct told him danger lay ahead. The air pulsed with energy—a hum so deep it felt like music in his bones.Jett knelt by the crystal shards that littered the ground. He attached a small probe to one fragment. The device buzzed and spluttered. “These readings are off the charts,” he whispered, eyes wide. “High levels of exotic energy. I’ve never seen anything like this.”Orin stood a few paces back, arms wrapped around himself. His eyes were clos

  • Chapter 3: The Bioluminescent Forest

    The air tasted strange—sweet and tangy like unknown fruit. Soft light glowed from every leaf and petal. The four boys stepped carefully into the forest. The ground felt springy under their boots, as if they walked on a giant sponge.Kade led the way. His eyes narrowed at the glowing plants. “Stay close,” he whispered. “I don’t know what lives here.”Jett followed, clutching his wristpad. “My sensors say the air has high levels of unknown particles,” he said. “These lights might be natural, or they might be part of some magnetic field.”Orin walked beside them, breathing in slowly. He felt a quiet hum in the air. “I can feel it,” he said. “It’s like the whole forest is alive. It’s almost… talking to me.”Zane brought up the rear, rifle held ready. He scanned every shadow, every flicker of light. “Keep your eyes open,” he said. “If something jumps out, be ready.”They moved between tall stalks that glowed in blues and greens. The stalks bent as if they sensed movement. Leaves trembled i

  • Chapter 2: Into the Rift

    The night fell quickly on Velora, as it always did, with the sky deepening into an endless curtain of violet dotted with stars. The wind had died down, leaving the desert unnaturally still. The four boys sat in silence around the glowing shard, their minds buzzing with the strange, unexplainable events that had just unfolded.Kade kept his eyes fixed on the shard. It pulsed faintly, a slow and steady rhythm, like a heartbeat from a distant world. The blue light was no longer blinding, but it still carried an eerie energy that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He could feel it in his bones—the rift in the sky above them, the crack in the fabric of their reality. It felt wrong, but also... inevitable.“We can’t leave it like this,” Kade said quietly, breaking the silence. He glanced at his companions.Jett, who had been pacing around the crater, his mind whirring with ideas, stopped and nodded. “I agree,” he said, rubbing his chin as he considered the situation. “This

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App