46

Cloudsofsmokebillowedoutfromtheburningwoodenbridge,andthesoundofcracklingflamesfilledtheair.Thefirewassointensethatitseemedtobeeatingawayattheveryfabricofrealityitself.

Kaitostoodattheedgeofthechasm,hiseyesfixedontheinfernobelow.Hefeltasenseofdetachment,asifhewasobservinghimselffromoutsidehisbody.Itwasafeelinghehadgrownaccustomedtoovertheyears,onethatallowedhimtomaintainhiscomposureinthefaceofchaos.

Thebridgebehindhimhadbeentheonlystablepointinthisever-changingworld.Now,itlayinruins,consumedbytheveryflamesthathadoncedrivenhumanitytoseekanswers.

Kaito‘sthoughtswereinterruptedbyavoicefrombehindhim.“Whatareyouwaitingfor,Kaito?“ItwasLila,hertonelacedwithamixofcuriosityandconcern.

Kaitoturnedtofaceher,hiseyesnarrowingslightlyashetookinherappearance.Shelookedtired,herskinpaleandherhairdisheveled.Afaintscentofsmokeclungtoher,areminderofthedangerthatlayahead.

“I‘mwaitingforyoutotellmewhat‘sgoingon,“Kaitoreplied,hisvoicecalmanddetached.“You‘vebeenactingstrangelately,alwaysdisappearingatthemostinopportunemoments.“

Lilasighed,runningahandthroughherhair.“I‘vebeentryingtouncoverthetruthaboutourworld,Kaito.Therearesomanysecretshiddenbeneaththesurface,waitingtobeuncovered.“

Kaitoraisedaneyebrow.“AndwhatmakesyouthinkI‘mnotawareofthem?“

Lila‘sgazelockedontohis,ahintoffrustrationinhereyes.“Becauseifyouwere,you‘dhavestoppedmebynow.You‘realwayssoquicktojumptoconclusions,Kaito.“

Theword‘always‘hungintheairlikeachallenge,andKaitofeltatwingeofannoyance.HehadstoppedLilabefore,notbecausehewasright,butbecauseheknewshewouldn‘tlisten.

“I‘mtryingtoprotectyou,Lila,“Kaitosaid,hisvoicesofteningeversoslightly.“You‘regettingclosetosomethingyoudon‘tunderstand.“

Lila‘sexpressiontwistedinamixtureofangerandsadness.“Iwon‘tbeheldbackbyfear,Kaito.Ihavetoknowthetruth,nomatterwhatitcostsme.“

Kaitowatchedher,hisheartheavywithasenseofforeboding.Heknewthatlookalltoowell,theonethatsaidshewasdeterminedtofollowherconvictionsevenifitmeantriskingeverything.

Withoutanotherword,Kaitoturnedandbegantowalkawayfromthechasm.Lilafollowedhim,herfootstepsechoingoffthewallsastheydisappearedintotheunknown.

Thebridgebehindthemburnedwithafieryintensity,itswoodenbeamssplinteringandcrackingunderthepressureoftheflames.Itwasareminderthateveninthedarkestmoments,therewasalwaysawayforward,alwaysachancetorebuildandstartanew.

AsKaitowalked,thelandscapearoundhimshiftedandchanged,likeakaleidoscopeofcolorsandtextures.Theskyturnedadeepshadeofcrimson,andtheairgrewthickwithanotherworldlyenergy.

Kaitofeltit,atinglingsensationthatrandownhisspine.Heknewthatthiswasit,themomenthehadbeenwaitingfor.Themomentwhentheveilbetweenworldswasatitsthinnest.

Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentwhite.

---

Lila‘seyesflutteredopen,andshefoundherselfinaworldunlikeanyshehadeverknown.Toweringspiresofcrystalpiercedthesky,castingrainbow-coloredshadowsonthegroundbelow.Asoft,etherealmusicfilledtheair,likethegentlehumofaharpstring.

Shesatupwithastart,herheartracingasshetookinhersurroundings.Wherewasshe?Andhowhadshegottenhere?

Afigurestoodbeforeher,itsfeaturesindistinctatfirstbutgrowingclearerbythesecond.ItwasKaito,hiseyesfixedintentlyonhers.

“Lila,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky.“I‘vebeenwaitingforyou.“

Lila‘smindreeledasshestruggledtocomprehendwhatwashappening.Shewasinaworldunlikeherown,surroundedbystrangeandwondroussights.AndKaitowashere,standingbeforeherlikeaguardianangel.

“Whatdoyouwantfromme?“Lilaasked,tryingtokeephervoicesteady.

Kaito‘sgazenarrowed.“Iwantyoutoknowthetruth,“hesaid,hiswordsdrippingwithanunspokenmenace.“Aboutourworld,aboutyourfamily...aboutyourself.“

Lila‘seyeswidenedasacoldrealizationdawnedonher.SheknewwhatKaitowastalkingabout,thesecretsthatlayhiddenbeneaththesurfaceoftheirreality.

“Idon‘tknowanything,“Lilasaid,tryingtosoundbravedespitethefearcreepingupherspine.

Kaitosmiled,hislipscurlingupintoaslygrin.“Oh,butIthinkyoudo,“hesaid,hisvoicedrippingwithcondescension.“Ithinkyouknowmorethanyou‘relettingon.“

Lila‘sheartskippedabeatasKaitotookanotherstepclosertoher.Shecouldfeeltheairthickeningaroundthem,likeatangiblepresencethatseemedtobedrawingherin.

Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentdarkonceagain.

---

WhenLilacameto,shefoundherselfbackinherownworld,standingattheedgeofthechasm.Thebridgewasgone,reducedtosmolderingruinsthatseemedtoholdastrangeandtwistedbeauty.

Kaitostoodbesideher,hiseyesfixedintentlyonhers.“Whathappened?“Lilaasked,tryingtokeephervoicesteady.

Kaito‘sgazenarrowed.“Idon‘tknow,“hesaid,hiswordsdrippingwithsuspicion.“ButIthinkyoudo.“

Lila‘sheartskippedabeatassherealizedthetruth.Shehadseensomething,somethingthatlaybeyondtheveilofrealityitself.AndKaitoknewittoo.

Withoutanotherword,Lilaturnedandbegantowalkawayfromthechasm.Kaitofollowedher,hisfootstepsechoingoffthewallsastheydisappearedintotheunknown.

Thebridgebehindthemburnedwithafieryintensity,itswoodenbeamssplinteringandcrackingunderthepressureoftheflames.Itwasareminderthateveninthedarkestmoments,therewasalwaysawayforward,alwaysachancetorebuildandstartanew.

Astheywalked,thelandscapearoundthemshiftedandchanged,likeakaleidoscopeofcolorsandtextures.Theskyturnedadeepshadeofcrimson,andtheairgrewthickwithanotherworldlyenergy.

Kaitofeltit,atinglingsensationthatrandownhisspine.Heknewthatthiswasit,themomenthehadbeenwaitingfor.Themomentwhentheveilbetweenworldswasatitsthinnest.

Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentwhiteonceagain.