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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.