Novel & Cerita And It Begins

in the specific way that some things begin not with a declaration but with a phone call on a Tuesday and a decision to let someone get to the real reason — Something has started. I don't know what it is yet. But it is there. Uninvited. The way the things that matter always are.

This time, I would be happier. A week later, I walked into the event hall with Anthony. The moment I stepped inside, however, I saw Cyrus. My feet were instantly frozen to the ground, unable to move. Anthony held my arm and pulled me forward, whispering into my ear, “If you don’t cast away the shadows of your past completely, they’ll just come back to haunt you later.” I turned and met his gaze. His eyes were firm and warm, giving me strength. I took a deep breath and squeezed his arm with a smile. “Do I look good like this? Can you tell I’ve started over with a fresh slate?”

A massive fortress was taking shape. Michael appearing at my side. “Bringing a piece of home, home?” Smiling, “yes. I’m a little homesick.” “What of security?” “I already thought of that. I made it so that our essence is built into our new home.” “So how will your new guardians gain access?” “Very easily I’ll add them as they come.” I smiled and leaned my head against his arm. Always perfectly content with Micheal. My calm and peace.

The moment changes, sharp and electric, and I know we’re not playing anymore. “Let’s begin.” The hour starts.

Unbothered. The war had begun.

I say slowly, “we find out what we have become.” The system pulses once. Deep. Resonant. And somewhere within it— Something new begins to move.

But something in him— Was starting to want to. And that— was where everything began to unravel.