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46

Cloudsofskebillowedoutfroheburningwoodenbridge,andthesoundofcracklingflasfilledtheair.Thefirewassointensethatitseedtobeeatingawayattheveryfabricofrealityitself.

Kaitostoodattheedgeofthechashiseyesfixedontheinfernobelow.Hefeltasenseofdetachnt,asifhewasobservinghielffroutsidehisbody.Itwasafeelinghehadgrownustodtoovertheyears,hatallowedhiointainhiscoosureinthefaceofchaos.

Thebridgebehindhiadbeentheonlystablepointinthisever-changingworld.Now,itlayinruins,consudbytheveryflasthathadoncedrivenhunitytoseekanswers.

Kaito‘sthoughtswereinterruptedbyavoicefroehindhi“Whatareyouwaitingfor,Kaito?“ItwasLila,hertonelacedwithaxofcuriosityandconcern.

Kaitoturnedtofaceher,hiseyesnarrowingslightlyashetookinherappearance.Shelookedtired,herskinpaleandherhairdisheveled.Afaintscentofskeclungtoher,arenderofthedangerthatlayahead.

“I‘aitingforyoutotellwhat‘sgoingon,“Kaitoreplied,hisvoicecalnddetached.“You‘vebeenactingstrangelately,alwaysdisappearingatthestinopportunents.“

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

Kaitoraisedaneyebrow.“AndwhatkesyouthinkI‘otawareofthe“

Lila‘sgazelockedontohis,ahintoffrustrationinhereyes.“Becauseifyouwere,you‘dhavestoppedbynow.You‘realwayssoquicktojutoconclusions,Kaito.“

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

“I‘ryingtoprotectyou,Lila,“Kaitosaid,hisvoicesofteningeversoslightly.“You‘regettingclosetosothingyoudon‘tunderstand.“

Lila‘sexpressiontwistedinaxtureofangerandsadness.“Iwon‘tbeheldbackbyfear,Kaito.Ihavetoknowthetruth,notterwhatitcosts.“

Kaitowatchedher,hisheartheavywithasenseofforeboding.Heknewthatlookalltoowell,thehatsaidshewasdeternedtofollowherconvictionsevenifitantriskingeverything.

Withoutanotherword,KaitoturnedandbegantowalkawayfrohechasLilafollowedhiherfootstepsechoingoffthewallsastheydisappearedintotheunknown.

Thebridgebehindtheurnedwithafieryintensity,itswoodenbeasplinteringandcrackingunderthepressureoftheflas.Itwasarenderthateveninthedarkestnts,therewasalwaysawayforward,alwaysachancetorebuildandstartanew.

AsKaitowalked,thelandscapearoundhihiftedandchanged,likeakaleidoscopeofcolorsandtextures.Theskyturnedadeepshadeofcrion,andtheairgrewthickwithanotherworldlyenergy.

Kaitofeltit,atinglingsensationthatrandownhisspine.Heknewthatthiswasit,thenthehadbeenwaitingfor.Thentwhentheveilbetweenworldswasatitsthinnest.

Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentwhite.

---

Lila‘seyesflutteredopen,andshefoundherselfinaworldunlikeanyshehadeverknown.Toweringspiresofcrystalpiercedthesky,castingrainbow-coloredshadowsonthegroundbelow.Asoft,etherealsicfilledtheair,likethegentlehufaharpstring.

Shesatupwithastart,herheartracingasshetookinhersurroundings.Wherewasshe?Andhowhadshegottenhere?

Afigurestoodbeforeher,itsfeaturesindistinctatfirstbutgrowingclearerbythesecond.ItwasKaito,hiseyesfixedintentlyonhers.

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

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

“Whatdoyouwantfroe?“Lilaasked,tryingtokeephervoicesteady.

Kaito‘sgazenarrowed.“Iwantyoutoknowthetruth,“hesaid,hiswordsdrippingwithanunspokennace.“Aboutourworld,aboutyourfaly...aboutyourself.“

Lila‘seyeswidenedasacoldrealizationdawnedonher.SheknewwhatKaitowastalkingabout,thesecretsthatlayhiddenbeneaththesurfaceoftheirreality.

“Idon‘tknowanything,“Lilasaid,tryingtosoundbravedespitethefearcreepingupherspine.

Kaitosled,hislipscurlingupintoaslygrin.“Oh,butIthinkyoudo,“hesaid,hisvoicedrippingwithcondescension.“Ithinkyouknowrethanyou‘relettingon.“

Lila‘sheartskippedabeatasKaitotookanotherstepclosertoher.Shecouldfeeltheairthickeningaroundthelikeatangiblepresencethatseedtobedrawingherin.

Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentdarkonceagain.

---

WhenLilacato,shefoundherselfbackinherownworld,standingattheedgeofthechasThebridgewasgone,reducedtoslderingruinsthatseedtoholdastrangeandtwistedbeauty.

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

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

Lila‘sheartskippedabeatassherealizedthetruth.Shehadseensothing,sothingthatlaybeyondtheveilofrealityitself.AndKaitoknewittoo.

Withoutanotherword,LilaturnedandbegantowalkawayfrohechasKaitofollowedher,hisfootstepsechoingoffthewallsastheydisappearedintotheunknown.

Thebridgebehindtheurnedwithafieryintensity,itswoodenbeasplinteringandcrackingunderthepressureoftheflas.Itwasarenderthateveninthedarkestnts,therewasalwaysawayforward,alwaysachancetorebuildandstartanew.

Astheywalked,thelandscapearoundthehiftedandchanged,likeakaleidoscopeofcolorsandtextures.Theskyturnedadeepshadeofcrion,andtheairgrewthickwithanotherworldlyenergy.

Kaitofeltit,atinglingsensationthatrandownhisspine.Heknewthatthiswasit,thenthehadbeenwaitingfor.Thentwhentheveilbetweenworldswasatitsthinnest.

Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentwhiteonceagain.