Kael moves first.
Fast.
He grabs Orion's wrist.
The device flickers.
Orion doesn't even flinch.
"You're predictable."
His agents immediately raise their weapons.
Lena shouts.
"Don't!"
Too late.
Gunfire explodes through the room.
Chaos erupts.
Jonas dives behind a broken clock.
Elias pulls Aria down.
Kael wrestles Orion.
The device sparks wildly.
Future Kael grabs Aria's arm.
"Stay down."
Aria pulls away.
"No!"
Lena suddenly appears beside Orion.
Too fast.
She slams her hand onto the glowing watch.
Energy surges.
The room goes silent.
Everyone freezes.
Orion slowly looks at her.
"…Lena."
Her voice is calm.
"You shouldn't have come."
Orion studies her.
Then laughs softly.
"So it's true."
Aria frowns.
"What?"
Orion looks at Lena with fascination.
"You're not just an anomaly."
The creature speaks quietly.
"She is the first fracture."
The room goes still.
Jonas whispers.
"…what."
Aria stares at Lena.
"You knew?"
Lena says nothing.
Future Kael whispers.
"That's impossible."
The creature continues.
"She was the first human erased."
Elias breathes sharply.
"…the original paradox."
Orion smiles again.
"And now she's back."
The glowing device suddenly pulses violently.
Reality shudders.
The cracks begin spreading faster.
Much faster.
Future Kael whispers.
"…you just made it worse."
Orion's smile fades slightly.
For the first time—
He looks uncertain.