"Tell me again," Rayan said, leaning back in his chair, "why we are not saying no to this?"
"Because," Lila replied instantly, "no normal person sends a message like that."
"No normal person also goes," Arham muttered.
"Exactly," Lila smirked. "Which is why we're going."
"You're insane," Nira said calmly, sipping her iced coffee. "All of you."
"Hey," Rayan pointed at her, "you're coming too."
"I never said that."
"You didn't say no either."
Nira paused.
"…That's not the same thing."
"It is," Arham grinned. "In our group, silence means yes."
"Great," she sighed. "I need better friends."
"Too late," Lila said. "We're permanent."
The message had arrived at exactly 2:17 AM.
No sender name. No number. Just a file.
Rayan had opened it first.
"Big mistake," he admitted.
"What did it say?" Nira asked.
He pulled out his phone, scrolling.
"Here."
He read aloud:
'If you're reading this, you've been chosen. Beneath the deepest part of the ocean lies something humanity was never meant to find. A world untouched. A secret alive.'
'Coordinates attached. Come if you want the truth.'
'Warning: Once you descend… returning will not be possible.'
Silence filled the room.
"…Yeah," Arham said slowly. "That's definitely a trap."
"Or," Lila leaned forward, eyes shining, "an adventure."
"Or death," Nira corrected.
"Same thing, depending on perspective."
"Let's be logical," Rayan said. "Who sends something like this?"
"Hackers," Arham said.
"Cult," Nira added.
"Government experiment," Lila said excitedly.
"Or a bored teenager," Rayan shrugged.
"Bored teenagers don't attach real ocean coordinates," Lila shot back.
That made them all pause.
"…You checked?" Arham asked.
"Yes," she said.
"And?"
"They're real."
"Of course they are," Nira groaned.
"Okay," Rayan stood up. "Let's vote."
"No," Nira said immediately.
"Too late," Lila grinned. "Voting has started."
"All in favor of going?"
Lila raised her hand instantly.
Rayan hesitated… then slowly raised his.
Arham sighed. "…Fine. But if we die, I'm blaming you."
"That's fair," Lila said.
They all turned to Nira.
"No," she said firmly.
Three seconds passed.
"…Fine," she added quietly.
"YES!" Lila jumped.
"I hate all of you."
"Wait," Arham said suddenly. "That's only four of us."
"Yeah," Rayan frowned. "Message said chosen, not group discount."
"Maybe there's someone else."
Right then—
The café lights flickered.
"Okay… that's not creepy at all," Nira whispered.
Then a voice spoke.
Not from anywhere.
Everywhere.
"Finally," it said.
They froze.
"Who said that?" Rayan demanded.
"Me."
A small metallic figure stepped out from behind the counter.
It was… round.
Compact.
With glowing blue eyes.
"…What," Arham blinked, "is that?"
"Excuse me," the robot said, offended. "I have a name."
"Which is?" Lila asked, fascinated.
"Zyro."
"…You're kidding," Rayan said.
"I never joke about identity," Zyro replied.
"Okay," Nira whispered, "we're hallucinating."
"No," Zyro said calmly. "You're selected."
"Selected for what?" Arham asked.
"The descent."
"Yeah, no," Nira stood up. "I'm leaving."
"You can't," Zyro said.
She froze.
"…Why?"
"Because," the robot tilted its head, "you already accepted."
Rayan stepped forward.
"You sent the message?"
"Yes."
"Why us?"
Zyro paused.
"Because," it said quietly, "you're the only ones who might survive."
Silence.
"…Might?" Arham repeated.
"Comforting," Nira muttered.
Lila crouched down in front of Zyro.
"You're not from here, are you?"
"No."
"Future?"
Zyro's eyes flickered.
"…Yes."
Rayan laughed nervously. "Of course you are."
"I was sent back," Zyro continued, "to prevent something."
"What?" Nira asked.
"A discovery."
"That sounds good," Arham said.
"It isn't."
"What happens if we don't go?" Rayan asked.
Zyro looked at him.
"For you?"
"…Yeah."
"Nothing."
They all relaxed slightly.
"Humanity?" Zyro added.
Silence again.
"…What happens?" Lila asked.
"It ends."
"…You're joking," Arham said.
"I don't joke."
"Everyone says that before they joke," Rayan muttered.
Zyro ignored him.
"Beneath the ocean," it continued, "there is a civilization older than your history."
"Atlantis?" Lila whispered.
"Not myth," Zyro said. "Reality."
Nira shook her head. "No. No, this is insane."
"You think your world is complete?" Zyro asked.
"It is," she said.
"It isn't."
"So what do we do?" Rayan asked quietly.
Zyro turned.
"Follow the coordinates."
"And then?"
"Descend."
"And come back?"
Zyro didn't answer.
"…Say it," Arham said.
Zyro's voice dropped.
"You won't."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Real.
Then Lila smiled.
"Perfect."
Everyone stared at her.
"What?" she shrugged. "Best adventure ever."
"You're unbelievable," Nira said.
"You're coming," Lila replied.
"…I know," Nira sighed.
Rayan looked at Zyro.
"When do we leave?"
"Now."
"NOW?" Arham shouted.
"You wasted enough time," Zyro replied.
"I have exams next week!"
"You may not have a next week."
"…Great," Arham said. "Love that."
Outside, the sky darkened.
A storm was forming.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Is that normal?" Nira asked.
"No," Zyro said.
"Good."
A vehicle appeared at the end of the street.
Not a car.
Not a van.
Something else.
Sleek.
Silent.
Waiting.
"That's ours?" Rayan asked.
"Yes."
"Of course it is," he sighed.
Lila walked toward it first.
"No hesitation," she said.
"Of course not," Arham muttered. "Why would we think?"
Nira stopped.
Turned back.
Looked at the café.
At the normal life.
At safety.
"…We can still walk away," she whispered.
Rayan stood beside her.
"Yeah," he said.
"Should we?"
He looked at the vehicle.
At Zyro.
At the storm.
"…No."
They stepped forward.
Together.
Zyro's voice echoed softly:
"Once you enter…"
They paused.
"…there is no return."
Lila smiled.
"Then let's make it worth it."
The door opened.
Darkness inside.
Deep.
Endless.
And one by one—
They stepped in.
End of Chapter One