Kenji was standing.
That was the first thing he noticed.
He didn't remember getting up.
Didn't remember moving.
Didn't remember anything after the wall.
The ground beneath him wasn't concrete.
It wasn't anything he recognized.
Flat.
Endless.
Dark—but not empty.
There was light.
But no source.
Kenji looked around slowly.
Nothing moved.
Nothing existed—
until it did.
A structure.
Far in the distance.
Tall.
Broken.
Familiar.
His chest tightened.
"I've… been here."
But he hadn't.
He knew that.
He would remember a place like this.
Wouldn't he?
He took a step forward.
The sound didn't echo.
It didn't even feel like he stepped on anything.
Another step.
Closer.
The structure became clearer.
A building.
Or what used to be one.
Collapsed in places.
Bent inward like something had crushed it from above.
His breath slowed.
Not calm.
Controlled.
"I know this place."
But the thought didn't belong to him.
Kenji stopped walking.
There was someone there.
Not moving.
Not hiding.
Just… standing.
Facing away from him.
Same height.
Same build.
Kenji's jaw tightened.
"Turn around."
No response.
The air felt heavier.
"Turn around."
This time—
the figure moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
And when it turned—
Kenji's body locked.
It was him.
Not exactly.
But close enough that the difference didn't matter.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Except—
empty.
Not hollow.
Not dead.
Just… deeper than they should be.
The other Kenji tilted his head slightly.
Like he was studying something.
Then he spoke.
"You're late."
Kenji's throat tightened.
"What is this?"
No answer.
Instead—
the other version stepped closer.
"You felt it."
Kenji didn't respond.
"You don't understand it yet."
Closer.
"But you will."
Kenji's hands clenched.
"What are you?"
The figure stopped just in front of him.
Close enough to see every detail.
Every scar.
Every line.
Every breath.
"I'm what happens—"
A pause.
"—when you stop holding it back."
Silence.
Kenji didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
The figure leaned in slightly.
"It's already happening."
Then—
everything broke.
Kenji woke up gasping.
Back in the warehouse.
Cold air hitting his lungs too fast.
Too sharp.
His hand shot to his chest.
Heartbeat uneven.
Not fast—
wrong.
He looked down.
For a second—
he could swear his shadow wasn't where it should be.
Then it snapped back into place.
Like nothing happened.
Kenji didn't believe that.
And somewhere outside
something was getting closer.