When the people you think you know… aren't who you think they are?
Sophie stepped out of the classroom at a fast pace, with the same reflex as always: call Jazz. He should've been right there, just behind the door.
But this time…
Nothing. Not a sound. Not a single "woof." Not even a blinking light.
Just a huge void.
"Seriously? You decided to live your best life without me, Jazz? You're like Numa with his pathetic little groupies?"
He just has to BREATHE and they come running. And me? I act like I don't care… while I'm boiling inside. Because if I say something and he shuts me down, I'll NEVER recover.
She stopped. The hallway was loud. But around her… everything felt off.
She leaned against a window, gaze unfocused. It wasn't fear yet.
Just… something wrong. Like the world was slightly out of balance.
Aria… had she really disappeared?
She turned her phone back on.
Her reflection showed up—dark circles, tired eyes.
Aria… you're not even checking my messages?
That's not you…
Her fingers slid restlessly across the screen.
Who do I even call? Her grandma? She can't hear anything anymore…
Evin? That weird roommate… the one who talks like an AI on caffeine?
She sighed.
Aria, why did you pick that girl again…
Still nothing. No notifications.
Just her face in the glass—and the silence.
Great. I look like I haven't slept in a week…
She narrowed her eyes.
Wait… do I even have Evin's number?
Something was REALLY wrong. She could feel it.
Earlier that morning… 5:37 a.m.
The world was still asleep as Aria grabbed her keys with a sharp, precise motion.
On the dresser, in a frame, her diploma still caught the light, like a reminder, like another life.
"You said you wouldn't go back," Evin called from the kitchen.
Aria didn't turn around.
"Me? I never said that."
"Lie."
"Yeah. Totally. And I own it."
She pulled on an oversized black hoodie, then filled her bag. One screwdriver, three pliers, a few tools—everything was calculated.
"You really think I'm going to abandon their devices? My friends are counting on me."
Evin stepped closer, arms crossed, eyes heavy.
"You're going back to his factory."
Not a question. A statement.
"You know he's dangerous."
Aria shrugged.
"He's never there this early."
Pause.
"And who's going to dig through trash?"
Evin stared at her for a long time.
"Aria… I'm not your grandma. And if I'm saying this… it's because I actually like you."
She inhaled.
"You're taking way too many risks for nothing."
Aria smiled.
That smile that said: I'm going to do it anyway.
"I'm careful."
She opened the door.
"And with my gear… I'm invisible."
A breeze rushed in, already carrying heavy heat. And she disappeared.
"TAP… TAP… TAP…"
Her steps, silent and controlled glided through the city. She moved like a shadow.
The streets were calm. Too calm. Curfew was still holding… but not for long.
Soon—black market deals, quiet trades, murmurs, tension, violence…
She pulled out her headset.
Activation. A soft hum could be heard.
No signal. No drones. No patrols. Perfect.
She smiled faintly.
My superpower… is discretion—and maybe soon, invisibility.
Authorities avoided these zones.
Here… it was another world.
She picked up speed. No time to waste. The factory appeared—rusted, busted, wrecked at first glance.
But she knew better than anyone: it was a corpse filled with gold.
She pushed the door open and, like always, the metallic smell wrapped around her.
Everything here was familiar—the narrow hallways, filthy walls, dying neon lights.
In the back, in the main room, two men stood silent and focused.
"Hey, Jim…" she murmured.
He looked up. Tired, but at least human.
"You again?"
"I'm not bothering you… I'm going to the other room. The small one."
He sighed.
"You've been coming a lot lately…"
"My friends have nothing. So I fix stuff."
He studied her.
"You're good…"
Pause.
"Aren't you little young for this?"
Aria shrugged.
"It's not just computer stuff, you know. It's high tech."
She hesitated.
"It's in my veins. My parents taught me."
She stopped. No need to say more.
Jim understood.
"Be quick."
His eyes hardened.
"Blade's been around lately. You never know when he'll show up. And him… he doesn't joke."
He looked at her.
"You're too cute to disappear."
She smiled.
"I know how to keep a low profile."
And she vanished down the narrow hallway.
The secondary room was a treasure—boards, circuits, debris. She settled in, hands already moving, fast and precise.
"One part for Numa…"
"One sensor for Jazz…"
"And for my mom's drives…"
She sorted like it all made perfect sense.
Come on, Aria… focus.
Then a click—one box popped open.
She smiled.
"Aria Service… always super-efficient."
Aria loved using her skills for the people she cared about. Not to shine, but to watch their eyes light up when they realized what she'd improved, repaired, transformed.
A phone that was basically dead given a second life.
An old sensor—turned essential.
A wobbly gadget—turned into a tiny miracle.
But her best success was still Jazz. Jazz… she hadn't just fixed him. She'd made him almost alive.
Then suddenly—a sound.
"TAP… TAP… TAP…"
Heavy steps. Really heavy. She froze, then slowly turned.
A deep, sharp voice cut through the air.
"IS SOMEONE IN HERE?!"
Her heart stopped.
BLADE.
He appeared—massive, crushing.
His black eyes turned red as he moved closer to Aria.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
She stepped back.
"I… I'm… I'm a friend of Jim… just grabbing one part…"
"Jim is gonna PAY."
Silence.
"And so are you."
She clutched her bag to her chest.
"I'm leaving… I won't say anything…"
He laughed—cold and sarcastic.
"NO ONE leaves here."
She trembled.
"I can pay."
"SHUT UP."
His eyes flared—even redder, violent beyond reason.
And—
BAM.
A brutal, total impact.
Air ripped out of her. Her chest caved under the hit. She flew backward. The world exploded in a violent crash.
Screens shattered. Thousands of glass shards burst into the air, suspended for a split second… then fell like razor rain. Each impact rang out sharp and metallic.
Aria hit the ground. Her body bounced once… then went still.
Then a high-pitched ringing screamed in her ears.
Nothing made sense anymore.
She lay there, stunned, covered in blood. Her fingers barely twitched. Her vision doubled.
Breathe. Just breathe…
She tried. Huge mistake. A blazing pain tore through her chest. Every inhale became a fight.
I… can't…
A metallic taste flooded her mouth, hers blood. Then she heard it: a buzz, a vibration.
Blade's phone was ringing. Right there in the broken silence. Blade didn't move right away. He sighed.
"I'm taking this call…"
He threw her one last cold, empty look.
"And after…"
Pause.
"…it's over for you."
He turned away. His footsteps echoed slow and heavy, then disappeared.
After he left, the silence turned thick and crushing.
Aria blinked, struggling. She couldn't move. Her vision blurred. Edges warped. But something shifted in the back of the room, like a presence. She tried to focus, tried to stay conscious.
Don't move… look…
A fluid shape—like a shadow sliding—tall and imposing, came toward her without sound, without effort.
Aria squinted— a face.
No. Impossible. A muzzle. Deep eyes.
An animal…? A man…? No… a deer…?
Her heart skipped.
The creature came closer. It was there real.
And yet… impossible. Like it didn't belong in this world.
The air around her vibrated. Aria felt something—another presence, not violent at all, nothing like Blade.
Then a gentle hand on her and a calm, steady voice.
"Ow…"
A breath.
"She's in BAD shape."
And for Aria, the world tipped. Light ripped apart. Her thoughts scattered.
EVERYTHING WENT BLACK.
A distant echo.
"She passed out…"
A beat.
Then—
"I have to take her."
Urgent.
The Guardian Angel: The deer isn't just an animal. It embodies authority, royalty—above all, it carries the memory of the Great Spirit. That's why every inhabitant of the forest recognizes it as their king.
To be continued… 🔥🔥
Thank you for reading. What do you think? What theory do you have?
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Worlds Reconciled is a slow-burn fantasy about perception, transformation, and the hidden worlds that exist beyond the one we think we know.
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Elea 🤩