George woke with a violent gasp, as if he had been pulled back from the depths of death itself. His body jerked upright, breath uneven, heart pounding like a warning bell.
Ali and Andy rushed toward him, fear written plainly on their faces.
"You're awake!" Andy exclaimed. "What happened? You scared us!"
Andy grabbed his shoulders. "Where is Siya? Didn't you bring her back with you? Say something, George—don't scare us like this!"
George swallowed hard, his throat dry. His eyes were distant, haunted.
"A scream," he said finally, his voice low. "A loud scream jolted me awake. That's why I came back." He clenched his fists. "But I need to go back inside. I can't leave her there."
Ali frowned. "What kind of scream?"
George closed his eyes. "I don't know," he replied slowly, "but it sounded like it carried the pain of countless years."
Andy hesitated before asking, "Did you see her? Did you find Siya?"
George shook his head. "No. But her memories… they're fading. Slowly disappearing into oblivion."
He stood up, determination burning in his eyes.
"I'm going back," he said firmly. "And this time, I'll bring her back with me. Wait for us."
Before they could stop him, George slipped back into the meditative state, his consciousness plunging once more into the darkness.
The sound of crying echoed through the void—raw, broken, desperate.
George moved toward it, each step heavier than the last. Then he saw her.
Siya.
She was being held captive by countless dark hands, shadows wrapping around her like chains. Her eyes were closed, tears streaming endlessly down her face as her body slowly began to fade.
"Siya!" George ran toward her.
He tried to reach her, to touch her, but unseen forces pulled him deeper instead. Fighting against them, he freed himself and shouted with everything he had.
"Wake up, Siya! Listen to me!"
Her body trembled.
"I know you can hear my voice," he continued desperately. "What you're seeing isn't real. It's an illusion—nothing more. You have to come out of it."
He stepped closer, stretching his hand toward her.
"I'm here. Come to me."
Slowly, Siya reacted. She could hear George. She began to move toward him—
But then another voice echoed behind her.
"Siya… where are you going?"
She froze.
"I'm here," the voice said softly. "Come back."
She turned—and saw Jate, smiling warmly, his eyes filled with false comfort.
"Come quickly, Siya," he called. "In this world we created, no one will ever separate us."
Her feet shifted toward him.
"No!" George shouted. "Siya, don't be foolish. This world isn't real. Jate isn't real. Don't fall for his tricks!"
He reached out again. "Come to me. Let's go back—to the real world. Ali and Andy are waiting for us."
At the sound of their names, something inside Siya shattered. Clarity struck her like lightning.
She turned and ran toward George.
She understood now—this was a delusion. Not reality. And this wasn't real.
Just then, a terrifying voice roared behind her.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, SIYA! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!"
She looked back. Jate's face had twisted into something monstrous. He lunged toward her.
Siya grabbed George's hand and ran.
"We have to get past him," George said urgently. "Once we do, we'll be out."
They were almost free—
Almost.
Suddenly, Jate grabbed George from behind.
George staggered. In that moment, he understood the truth.
Even if they fought, without their powers, neither of them would escape.
He made a choice.
Pushing Siya forward with all his strength, he whispered one word:
"Find him."
Then, with a calm smile, George disappeared into the darkness.
"NO… GEORGE!" Siya screamed.
Her cry echoed endlessly as the darkness swallowed him whole.