Elara! Reality snapped back violently. She collapsed forward and someone caught her. Warm. Steady. Noah. I have got you, she said quickly. Just breathe. A sharp force ripped her away from him. Kael. Don't touch her, he snapped. Noah's expression darkened. You don't get to decide that. And you do? The tension snapped. Noah swung first. Kael didn't dodge. He caught Noah's first mid air. Effortless. And for a split second, something unnatural flickered in his eyes. Not human. Noah froze. What are you? Kael tilted his head slightly. Something you can't protect her from. He pushed Noah back hard. Elara tried to stand, but the world tilted again. No, stop both of you,but they weren't listening. Because something else had entered the clearing. Slow. Heavy. Dragging. All three of them turned. The person on the ground moved. A broken sound escaped their throat. Help... relief hit Elara instantly. They are alive, but Kael expression changed. Not relief. Something worse. No, he said quietly. Too late. The body twisted unnaturally. Bones cracking. Skin pulling, Elara screamed. That's not them anymore. The thing lifted its head. And smiled.
Its voice came out wrong. Layered. Echoing. Elara...her blood ran cold. Because this time, she recognized it. Not as a stranger. But as someone she had already failed to save.
The thing wasn't human. Not anymore. Elara, its voice echoed unnaturally, like multiple people speaking through a broken throat. Elara couldn't move. Her body locked. Her breath stuck. Because she knew that voice. Flash. Laughter. Warm sunlight. A hand holding hers, back to now.
She whispered. That's not possible. The thing tilted its head. Bones cracking softly. You left me. Her chest tightened painfully. I don't even know you you, you did. The voice sharpened. Hurt. Angry. Broken. You chose to forget. Elara stumbled back. Her mind racing. No I didn't. Kael moved instantly. Stepping in front of her. Protective. Without hesitation. Don't listen to it, he said. Low and firm. Noah stepped closer too. On her other side. We will handle this. For a second, they stood together. Not allies. Not enemies. Just two people trying to keep her safe. The thing laughed. A horrible twisting sound. Still protecting her? It looked at Kael. She didn't protect you. Silence. Karl's jaw tightened. His eyes darkened. Shut up. The creature smiled wider. She let you break. Something snapped. Kael moved. Fast. Too fast. He was in front of it in an instant, and his hand slammed into its chest. A sharp, unnatural crack echoed through the forest. The creature flew back, but it didn't stay down. It twisted mid air. Landed wrong. Still smiling. You can't fix what she did. Kael froze. Just for a second. And that was enough. The creature lunged. Elara move! Too late. It grabbed her. Cold hands looking around her arms. And suddenly, the world broke again. Flash. A different night. Rain pouring down. The same person, alive. Human. Crying. Please, Elara. Don't leave me. Her own voice, shaking. Terrified. I will come back, I promise, another voice behind her. Cold. Commanding. You have to choose. Back to now. Elara screamed. I didn't leave you! The creature froze. For a moment, just a moment, its grip loosened. And something flickered in its eyes. Liar. Tears burned in Elara's eyes. I didn't remember! I swear, I didn't. Kael's voice cut through everything. She is telling the truth. Silence. The creature slowly turned its head toward him. And you believe her? Kael didn't hesitate. I never stopped. Something in Elara's chest broke. The creature screamed, a violent, distorted sound and tightened its grip again. Then suffer with her. Darkness surged around them. Noah moved. He grabbed Elara, pulling her hard. Kael stouck at the same time and for a split second, everything aligned. Light. Dark. Choise. Elara's power exploded. Not just one vision. Not two. All of them. Every path. Every ending. Every version of her, screaming. Choosing. Losing. I can't do this again. She cried. And something answered. Not the creature. Not Noah. Not Kael. Something older. Deeper. Then don't. Everything stopped. Silence. The creature froze. Its body cracked, light spilling through the fractures. And then, it shattered. Gone. Just like that. Elara collapsed. Her body weak. Her mind spinning. Noah caught her again. Gentler this time. Careful. It's over, he said softly. But Kael he didn't move. He was starting at her. Like he had just seen something he feared. You are getting stronger, he said quietly. Elara forced herself to look at him. What am I? A long pause. Then the truth. Just a piece. A mistake they couldn't erase. Her breath caught. Who are they? Kael expression darkened. The ones who made you choose.
Elara's heart pounded. Because deep down she knew this wasn't about her past anymore. It was about something bigger. And whatever it was, it wasn't done with her.