The clocks on the walls restart.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Aria's heart pounds.
"You broke time for another girl."
Kael doesn't look at her.
His voice barely audible.
"Yes."
Jonas rubs his forehead.
"Well this is awkward."
Lena watches quietly.
Aria steps back.
"Who was she?"
The creature answers.
"Her name was Elara."
The name echoes in the room.
Aria repeats it slowly.
"Elara."
Kael whispers.
"She died."
The creature continues.
"She was erased."
Aria looks confused.
"Erased by what?"
The creature's voice deepens.
"By time."
Elias steps forward.
"That shouldn't be possible."
The creature turns its hollow eyes toward him.
"You built the system."
Elias freezes.
Jonas blinks.
"Wait."
"You built this?"
Elias's voice trembles.
"…we all did."
Silence crashes over the room.
Aria looks between them.
"You knew?"
Lena nods slowly.
"Yes."
Aria's voice shakes.
"Then why didn't you stop him?"
Lena answers softly.
"Because we tried."
The creature raises its hand again.
"And failed."
The air grows heavy.
The creature looks at Aria.
"You are not the first."
Her breath stops.
"What?"
The creature continues.
"You are the seventh."
The room goes silent.
Aria whispers.
"…seventh what?"
The creature answers.
"The seventh girl Kael tried to save."
Kael closes his eyes.
Like a man drowning in his own past.
And Aria finally understands.
The truth hurts more than the danger.
Because suddenly—
She doesn't know if she was ever special at all.