"We're out of time."
Luna's words didn't leave space for questions.
The moment she said it—
Something inside me shifted.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
Something else.
Pressure.
"…Explain," I said.
Kiara didn't joke.
Didn't smirk.
Didn't even look relaxed.
That alone told me—
This was serious.
"Those things," she said quietly, "they're not just observing anymore."
"I noticed."
"No," Luna cut in. "You didn't."
I frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," she stepped closer, "they revealed something they shouldn't have."
My chest tightened.
"…'Key'," I muttered.
Neither of them denied it.
Great.
"So what?" I said. "I'm a key now? What does that even mean?"
Silence.
Then—
"It means," Luna said slowly,
"you're not just connected to the door…"
A pause.
"…you can control whether it opens."
Everything—
Stopped.
"…What?"
Kiara exhaled.
"Yeah… welcome to the worst part."
I stared at them.
Processing.
Failing.
"Control?" I repeated. "You're saying I can just—what—decide?"
"Not that simple," Luna said.
"Then explain it simply."
"You are the trigger."
That word again.
Trigger.
Bridge.
Key.
Different words.
Same problem.
"…And if I don't trigger anything?" I asked.
A pause.
Then—
"They'll force it."
My stomach dropped.
"…Force it how?"
"Through you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Cold.
I let out a slow breath.
"Of course."
Because why wouldn't it be like this?
Kiara crossed her arms.
"You've got two options."
I looked at her.
"…I'm listening."
"Option one," she said,
"you learn to control it."
"And option two?"
A small pause.
Then—
"You don't."
"That's not an option."
"It is," she replied.
"You just won't like what happens after."
I clenched my jaw.
"Which is?"
Luna answered this time.
"You lose control."
That—
Didn't need explanation.
I could already imagine it.
That door.
Opening.
Not by choice.
Not by control.
"…And if I try to control it?" I asked.
"It won't be safe," Luna said.
"Nothing is safe anymore."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
She held my gaze.
"Forcing control means accelerating the process."
My chest tightened.
"…Meaning?"
"You'll change faster."
There it was.
That word again.
Change.
Not stronger.
Not better.
Change.
"…Into what?" I asked quietly.
Neither of them answered.
That silence—
Was worse than anything they could've said.
I laughed.
Dry.
"Great options."
Kiara smirked faintly.
"Yeah. We try our best."
I ran a hand through my hair.
Thinking.
Fast.
Because this—
This wasn't something I could ignore anymore.
"They said something else," I said.
Luna's eyes flickered.
"What?"
"…'Keys are meant to be used.'"
That line hung in the air.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Kiara's expression darkened.
"Yeah… I don't like that."
"Same," I muttered.
Silence.
Then—
I looked at both of them.
"…What would you do?"
Kiara blinked.
"Me?"
"Yes."
She tilted her head slightly.
Then—
"I'd take control," she said.
"Of course you would."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You like chaos."
"I like winning."
Fair enough.
I looked at Luna.
"And you?"
A pause.
Then—
"I would wait."
That didn't surprise me.
"And let them come?" I asked.
"I would prepare."
"That's basically the same thing."
"No," she said calmly.
"It's not."
I exhaled slowly.
Two different answers.
Two different paths.
And me—
Stuck in the middle.
"…What if both of you are wrong?" I said.
Kiara smirked.
"Then you're screwed either way."
"Very helpful."
"Always."
I looked down.
At my hands.
At the faint tremor still there.
At the mark—
Burning softly beneath my shirt.
This wasn't a choice I could delay forever.
And deep down—
I knew it.
"…If I try to control it," I said slowly,
"you'll help me?"
Kiara didn't hesitate.
"Obviously."
Luna hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"Yes."
That hesitation—
I noticed it.
Of course I did.
"…And if I don't?" I asked.
Silence.
Kiara looked away.
Luna didn't respond.
That was enough.
I exhaled.
"…Yeah."
Figures.
No safe path.
No easy answer.
Just—
A decision.
I lifted my head.
"…Then I'm not waiting."
Both of them looked at me.
Kiara smiled slightly.
"Thought so."
Luna didn't smile.
But she didn't stop me either.
"You understand the risk?" she asked.
"No," I said honestly.
"…But I'll deal with it."
Silence.
Then—
She nodded.
"…Alright."
The air shifted.
Subtly.
But noticeably.
Like something had just—
Locked in.
Kiara stepped closer.
"Then we start today."
Of course.
"Of course we do," I muttered.
But before either of them could move—
That feeling returned.
Sharp.
Cold.
Watching.
Stronger than before.
All three of us froze.
"…You feel that?" I whispered.
"Yes," Luna said.
Kiara's smile disappeared.
"…That's not normal."
"Nothing is anymore," I replied.
"No," she said.
"This is different."
The pressure increased.
Fast.
Too fast.
The air around us—
Distorted.
And then—
A voice.
Not from one place.
From everywhere.
"You chose…"
My blood ran cold.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The voice continued.
"…Good."
Kiara stepped in front of me instantly.
"Why do they keep saying that?" she muttered.
Luna's eyes sharpened.
"Because they want him to choose."
"I DID choose," I snapped.
"Exactly."
The pressure spiked.
And suddenly—
The world around us flickered.
For a split second—
I saw it.
That door.
Again.
Not in a vision.
Not in darkness.
Right there.
Behind them.
Cracked open.
Just slightly.
And something—
Was looking through.
My breath stopped.
"…Guys," I whispered.
They didn't turn.
"Guys."
"What?" Kiara asked.
"…It's already opening."