They fall.
But falling is too small a word.
It's the kind of fall that lasts longer than the distance should allow, like the universe paused the tape and forgot to press play again.
White fire above.
Black nothing below.
Four people hanging in the gap between two heartbeats.
Ryo reaches for Mara's hand.
Fingertips brush.
Miss.
Sato's baton spins away, a tiny silver comet.
The other resonant's mouth opens in a silent scream.
Then gravity just… quits.
They stop mid-air.
Suspended.
The shadow is there.
Standing on nothing.
Still smiling that gentle, awful smile.
It reaches out and catches Ryo by the wrist.
The fall ends.
—
The darkness folds like paper.
Suddenly they're standing on a subway platform that stretches forever in both directions. No walls. No ceiling. Just tracks disappearing into violet fog.
A train waits, doors open, every window showing a different Ryo.
Some older.
Some younger.
Some with eyes the color of old television static.
Some with no eyes at all.
Mara lands hard, rolls, rifle up in one motion.
Sato follows, already sweeping for threats that don't have shapes yet.
The resonant hits the platform on their knees and pukes pure static.
Ryo can't move.
The shadow still has his wrist.
Its thumb rests on his pulse like it's learning the rhythm.
It leans in, close enough that Ryo can feel its breath that isn't breath.
"…welcome home…"
Then it lets go.
—
The shadow walks toward the train.
Doesn't look back.
Doesn't need to.
They all follow.
First carriage.
A kid sits alone.
Eight years old.
Ryo's face.
Ryo's eyes.
Too many teeth when he smiles.
"You're late again," the kid says.
The doors close.
The train lurches forward.
No sound of wheels on tracks.
Just heartbeats.
—
Second carriage.
Ryo and Mara on a burning rooftop.
She's bleeding out in his arms.
The city screams below.
The other-him is crying.
He chose her.
The city died anyway.
The shadow stands beside real-Ryo, watching.
"…this piece hurt the most…"
It reaches into the memory-Ryo's chest and pulls out a shard of black light.
The memory-Ryo screams.
The shard melts into the shadow's hand.
The shadow grows a fraction taller.
—
Third carriage.
A Ryo in a crisp Command uniform.
Medals.
Cold eyes.
No scar on his chest.
He gave the order that erased an entire district to contain a breach.
Saved millions.
Lost everything that made him human.
The shadow walks past.
Doesnt Doesn't take anything.
Just nods.
Almost proud.
—
Fourth carriage.
Empty.
Except for a mirror on the floor.
Ryo looks.
There's no reflection.
He understands.
This carriage is waiting for him.
—
Fifth carriage.
The last one.
The train brakes.
Doors open onto the same endless platform.
But now the shadow stands at the far end.
Taller.
Complete.
Eyes soft violet.
No hesitation.
No fear.
No Mara.
It opens its arms.
Speaks with Ryo's voice made whole:
"Take your place. One vector. One timeline. One Ryo."
Mara steps in front of him, rifle raised.
"Over my dead body."
The complete Ryo tilts his head.
Smiles the gentlest smile in the world.
"That can be arranged."
The lights turn violet.
The doors start to close.
Ryo's hollow rips wide open.
Something inside starts crawling out.
And the chapter ends.