Echoes Of A Forgotten World

By Bea Welliver

 

When a diverse group of strangers is abducted by an advanced alien race, they find themselves trapped on a distant world—caught in a battle between ancient forces that could determine the fate of Earth. The Aestherians, a mysterious and seemingly benevolent alien species, reveal a powerful artifact that has the potential to protect Earth from annihilation—or to reshape reality itself.

As the humans become bound to the artifact's unimaginable power, they discover that the shadowy, monstrous Velethari are more than just enemies. Corrupted by the very artifact they seek, the Velethari once shared a connection with the ancient civilization that created it. With the lines between ally and foe blurred, the group faces an impossible decision: harness the artifact's power to save their world, or bury it forever to prevent even greater destruction.

But with both the Aestherians and the Velethari closing in, time is running out, and the fate of Earth—and the galaxy—rests in the hands of ordinary people facing extraordinary odds. In this thrilling tale of survival, betrayal, and untold power, the greatest threat may not be the enemy they see—but the force they've unleashed.

Perfect for fans of high-stakes science fiction, Echoes Of A Forgotten World is a pulse-pounding journey into alien worlds, ancient secrets, and the ultimate question: how far will you go to protect the future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bea Welliver
• Release date: Oct 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227916303

Book preview

Echoes of the Forgotten World

©Bea Welliver

​Chapter 1: Abduction

Dr. Amelia Grant stared out the window of her small, cluttered apartment in downtown Boston. The night sky was unusually clear, a rare gift in the city. She sipped her tea, contemplating the latest data she had collected from her team’s astrobiology mission. Life on other planets—her lifelong obsession. If only she knew how close that dream was about to come crashing into her reality.

A strange flicker in the sky pulled her from her thoughts. At first, it seemed like a shooting star, but the movement was unnatural—too deliberate, too fast. The streak of light zigzagged before coming to a sudden halt, hanging in the air above the city, almost watching.

Amelia leaned closer to the glass. She should’ve felt excitement at the potential scientific discovery, but instead, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

Across town, Malcolm Hughes crouched behind a stack of wooden crates in a dimly lit warehouse. His heart raced as he listened to the low murmurs of the men he was tracking. The ex-soldier had been drawn into the world of mercenaries after a dishonorable discharge—a life he preferred not to talk about. But tonight was different. Tonight he was here on his own terms, hunting down the kind of people who had once betrayed him.

As he prepared to move in, a searing flash of light burst through the cracks in the roof above. Malcolm’s instincts screamed danger, but before he could react, everything went black.

Sophia Mendoza was on the verge of falling asleep, her hands smeared with grease from fixing the engine of her brother’s car. A mechanical engineer with a knack for problem-solving, she was always elbow-deep in machinery. But tonight, something felt off. The usual hum of the city outside her workshop was absent—no cars, no distant chatter. Silence.

Suddenly, the world around her erupted in light. Blinding, searing, and impossibly bright. Sophia gasped, dropping her tools as the floor beneath her trembled. A high-pitched sound filled the room, as if the very air was tearing apart. Her vision blurred, and before she could scream, the world vanished.

Ben Taylor, the billionaire tech mogul and playboy, had just finished giving yet another keynote presentation on the future of artificial intelligence. He was on his way to his private helicopter when his bodyguard stopped suddenly, glancing up at the night sky.

What is it? Ben asked, annoyed.

The bodyguard didn’t respond, frozen in place, his eyes wide with terror. Ben followed his gaze to see a glowing, circular object hovering high above the skyscrapers. He opened his mouth to say something clever—something that would defuse the situation—but before he could form the words, a flash of light engulfed the rooftop.

And then... nothing.

---

When Amelia awoke, her entire body ached. The metallic taste in her mouth made her stomach churn, and her limbs felt as though they were made of lead. Groggily, she sat up, her hands brushing against something cold and smooth. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she realized she wasn’t in her apartment anymore. She was in a vast, alien chamber, surrounded by towering walls made of sleek, iridescent metal that pulsed faintly.

Panic shot through her veins. She scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in short gasps as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Nearby, a man groaned—an older man with close-cropped hair and a muscular build. He wore a tactical vest, and his hand instinctively went to his waist, as though searching for a weapon that wasn’t there.

Where the hell are we? the man muttered, more to himself than to her.

Amelia backed away from him, her mind racing. The man looked dangerous, but before she could process more, another voice spoke up.

What... what happened? A woman’s voice—young, confused, with a slight Spanish accent. Amelia turned to see a petite woman with short, dark hair sitting up and clutching her head.

The man barked, That’s what I’m trying to figure out.

I... I don’t know, Amelia stammered. Her mind flickered to the last thing she remembered—the strange light in the sky.

Another voice interrupted them, this one smoother, confident. Is this some sort of sick joke? A prank?

They all turned to see Ben Taylor, still in his sharp suit, standing up with his hands on his hips. His expression was one of disbelief, his lips curled in annoyance rather than fear.

No joke, Malcolm growled. If this is a prank, I don’t think they would go this far.

As the four of them stood in silence, the reality of their situation began to settle in. They were no longer on Earth. The alien environment around them was unlike anything they had ever seen. Smooth, seamless walls stretched up impossibly high, and a faint, bluish light pulsed from the ground beneath their feet.

Sophia’s gaze darted around, her engineer’s mind already trying to make sense of the technology around them. This place... it’s too advanced. Way beyond anything we have on Earth.

Malcolm wasn’t interested in the tech. His focus was on survival. We need to figure out where the hell we are and how to get out of here.

Before anyone could respond, a low hum filled the air. The ground beneath them trembled slightly, and the walls of the chamber began to shift. Seamless doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a long, dimly lit corridor. At the far end, towering figures stood, their forms barely visible in the darkness, but their glowing eyes—cold and unfeeling—pierced through the gloom.

The humans froze.

What... are they? Amelia whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

They’re coming this way, Ben said, taking a step back. And I don’t think they’re here to welcome us.

The figures moved forward with deliberate, predatory grace. Tall and sleek, their bodies were covered in smooth, metallic armor that seemed to shift with every movement. Their eyes, bright with a cold blue light, fixed on the