The waves lapped against the dark rocks as the tide slowly receded on the beach.
A pale light rose from the boundary between the land and the deep sea, dispersing the gloom and fog that had enveloped the earth all night.
As time passed, the mist withdrew like a living thing, slowly retracting the tendrils it had sent into the land back into the deep sea.
An ancient ruin on the cliff became visible, and although the years had eroded it, only marble pillars stood intact. Nonetheless, the site maintained a remarkable completeness—the massive statues within the great hall were still unscathed, seemingly guarding the ruins always.
Knock, knock, knock—
A slow, suppressed knock sounded.
Michael Tesla awoke from a light sleep.
The dead silence of the underground was unsettling, such that a slight noise could awaken Tesla.
He slowly climbed out of his single bed, donned a coat to fend off the cold of the underground, and walked to the door to remove the bolt.
