The ceiling cracked.
Dust rained down.
Aria stepped back.
"That doesn't look safe."
Kael grabbed her arm.
"Move."
The crack widened.
Concrete broke.
And something dropped through.
A figure.
Tall.
Thin.
Grey coat.
A Keeper.
It landed silently on the floor.
Another fell behind it.
Then another.
Mira whispered,
"…three."
Elias shook his head.
"No."
More shadows appeared above.
Six.
Nine.
Twelve.
Aria felt her stomach twist.
"They're multiplying."
One Keeper stepped forward.
Its empty eyes fixed on her.
"Temporal anomaly detected."
Kael moved in front of her.
"You're not taking her."
The Keeper tilted its head.
"Correction required."
Its hand lifted.
The air around them warped.
Aria gasped.
"What is that?"
Mira answered quietly,
"Execution."
Kael opened the pocket watch.
The cracked glass glowed.
"Run."
Aria grabbed his hand.
"Together."
The watch burst with light.
The Keepers froze.
Mid-step.
Kael pulled her toward the back door.
"Now."
They ran.
Behind them —
The frozen Keepers
began to move again.