There were so many things swirling in Heka's mind. The questions without answers and the memories that were fragmented and distorted.
The weight of confusion pressed heavily on him as he gripped the steering wheel. He drove toward the dense forest. And he believed that Kiervant Sky held the key to his escape. It was the only place whispered that might offer salvation from the relentless Reverse Time Illusion.
But the fate had other plans.
Suddenly, the car slowed and came to a halt. Before him stretched a scene that seemed oddly familiar yet out of place, a wedding celebration in full swing. The decorations were elegant, and the guests dressed in their finest. Their laughter and chatter filled the air. It was a scene that mirrored the human realm perfectly, yet something about it felt surreal.
One memory surged through Heka's mind with startling clarity: Stacy's wedding. Without hesitation, he stepped out of the car and moved toward the gathering, compelled by a force he couldn't explain.
The wedding was beautiful, every detail meticulously arranged. Heka found a seat beside Clancy, a quiet presence amidst the crowd.
But beneath the surface of celebration, Heka's heart was heavy with a singular purpose. This time, he vowed, he would protect his parents.
He clung to the hope that the Reverse Time Illusion might unfold way differently. Though this iteration could offer a chance for redemption.
As the ceremony progressed, an eerie silence enveloped Heka's senses. The usual sounds of joy and conversation faded away. It was replaced by a haunting melody that only he seemed to hear, the soft, melancholic strains of Tears in Heaven.
"Clancy..." Heka whispered. His voice was trembling.
The words felt heavy on his tongue. As if they carried the weight of a thousand unspoken memories. "Why must it be Tears in Heaven? Why this song?"
Clancy looked at him, puzzled. She replied softly. Her voice was calm but tinged with concern. "What are you talking about? No one plays that song."
She glanced around, as if searching for the source of Heka's distress.
Her words deepened his confusion. If no one else heard it, was it a trick of his mind? "Is something wrong with my ear? Why am I the only one who listens to that song?"
The melody wove through his thoughts, lulling him into a drowsy haze. He fought to stay awake, knowing he couldn't afford to lose control, not now. At least, he allowed himself a brief moment to close his eyes.
When Heka opened his eyes, the scene before him shattered his soul. His father stood close, but something was terribly wrong.
In his hands, Heka found a blade, cold, sharp. The blade was buried deep in his father's belly. He stabbed his own father.
Panic surged through him as he looked down.
His mother lay nearby, motionless and drenched in blood. The sight was unbearable, and terror gripped him like a vice.
Without fully understanding, Heka released the blade from his hand. His father collapsed beside his mother, both bodies stained with crimson. The horror of the moment overwhelmed him. He had no idea what was just happening. No memory of how it came to this.
Around him, eyes turned cold and accusing. The crowd watched in stunned silence. Their gazes filled with hatred and disbelief
"Clancy, it's not me. I don't do it. I don't kill them." Heka pleaded. His voice was breaking.
Nevertheless, Clancy's eyes held a look of disappointment. It was like a silent judgment that cut deeper than any blade.
Crushed by despair, Heka sank to the ground. The tears streamed down his face as he gazed at his parents' lifeless forms.
He whispered, voice choked with sorrow. "I'm sorry. I have absolutely no intention of killing you. I have no idea what really happened. I hope you trust me."
Heka's mind reeled. The Reverse Time Illusion was a cruel torment. It twisted the reality into something far worse than the truth. He felt trapped in an ordeal with no breakout.
Summoning what little strength he had left. He stood and stepped back, putting distance between himself and the accusing eyes. He needed to get away, far away from the pain, the confusion, and the endless cycle of suffering.
Without another word, he ran to his car. His heart pounded with desperation. "I can't stand here anymore. I want to get out soon. This is not what I want."
Heka sped up the car. The frustration and fear fueled his every move. His thoughts were consumed by Kiervant Sky. The only place that felt safe in both the human realm and the
Reverse Time Illusion. It was his beacon of hope, where he might finally find peace.
After what felt like an eternity, the dense forest appeared before him. Relief washed over him as he recognized the familiar trees and the whispering wind.
But then, the car sputtered and stalled. He tried again and again to start the engine, but it was no use. It broke down.
With a deep breath, Heka stepped out into the cool air. Before him stretched a thick fog, swirling mysteriously between the hoary trees. Hope flickered in his chest as he took tentative steps forward.
"This must be that fog, the gateway." He thought.
With determination, he walked into the fog, trusting that at its end lay Kiervant Sky. And perhaps, he found the way out of the Reverse Time Illusion.
Heka's heart pounded as he stepped deeper into the swirling fog. Each step filled with a fragile hope that the Kiervant Sky awaited him at the other side. As the fog began to thin, the world that emerged was not the sanctuary he had envisioned.
Instead of the ethereal beauty of Kiervant Sky, he found himself still standing in the forest. Its trees were tall but unremarkable. Their leaves whispered in the cold breeze.
Disappointment washed over him like a cold wave. The journey, the hope, and the desperate was gone. All seemed to be written in the script. It deliberately led him to the place, like before. Yet, something stirred in the shadows beyond the fog.
Through the lingering haze, Heka noticed a figure standing still, partially obscured by the remaining fog. The silhouette was vague, blurred by the fog. And for a moment, his mind raced with uncertainty. Was this a friend or foe? A guide or a trap?
Despite the confusion, something compelled him forward. The need for answers, the yearning for connection, pushed him to close the distance between them.
As he drew nearer, the fog began to dissipate, revealing the figure's features behind. His breath caught in his throat.
"Ansel..." Heka whispered, a mixture of relief and disbelief flooding his voice.
Ansel stood there. He was calm yet somehow changed. His eyes reflected a depth of knowledge and sorrow that Heka hadn't seen before. The reunion was unexpected, yet it felt like a lifeline thrown across the chasm of uncertainty.