Silence hangs in the broken room.
The creature's words still echo.
One of you must disappear.
Aria looks between the two Kaels.
Same face.
Different weight in their eyes.
Jonas exhales slowly.
"…yeah this is definitely the worst family reunion ever."
Future Kael pushes himself to his feet.
Unsteady.
"You don't understand."
Younger Kael grabs his arm.
"Then explain."
The cracks in the walls widen.
Reality groans like metal bending.
Future Kael points toward the fractures.
"That."
Shadows push through the cracks.
Hands.
Faces.
Hundreds.
Jonas stares.
"Okay nope."
"That's nightmare fuel."
Elias whispers.
"Those are people."
Lena shakes her head.
"Not people."
Aria looks closer.
The shadows move like echoes.
Repeating gestures.
Fragments of lives.
Future Kael speaks quietly.
"Broken timelines."
Aria's chest tightens.
"Because of me?"
Future Kael hesitates.
"Yes."
The creature watches them.
Unmoving.
"You prolong the instability."
Younger Kael steps forward.
"Then fix it."
The creature answers calmly.
"Eliminate the anomaly."
Aria whispers.
"…me."
Kael immediately speaks.
"No."
The creature tilts its head.
"Then eliminate him."
It points at Future Kael.
Reality trembles again.
The two Kaels lock eyes.
Future Kael's voice lowers.
"You can't keep both of us alive."
Jonas mutters.
"I vote we keep the less depressed one."
No one laughs.
Future Kael looks at Aria again.
A strange softness in his eyes.
"You look different."
Aria frowns.
"Different how?"
"…hopeful."
The cracks suddenly widen again.
A loud tearing sound fills the room.
More shadows begin forcing their way through.
The creature whispers.
"Decision time approaches."
And the universe is running out of patience.