NOT LIMITED

CHAPTER FOUR - WHEN TIMELINES COLLIDE

Rain poured over the city as Aiden sprinted through the narrow back streets, his heart pounding loud enough to drown out the storm. Every flash of lightning made him flinch, terrified that Liam—whatever version of him now existed—would appear again.

The photo of his brother burned in his pocket like a warning.

Target located.

Liam’s voice echoed in his mind, mechanical, corrupted.

Aiden forced himself to breathe.

He had only one lead.

The girl in the art district.

The girl his mother—possessed or not—said could see memories that weren’t his.

Zara.

ZARA’S VISITOR

Zara flinched as another knock hit her studio door—three slow taps, evenly spaced, like someone following a code. She reached for a metal sculpting tool, gripping it like a weapon.

“Who’s there?” she called.

Silence.

She swallowed, stepped closer.

Just as she reached for the lock, her holographic screen glowed to life on its own. The symbol—spiral-like, burning bright—expanded until it filled the entire room.

A distorted voice emerged from the speakers:

“He is coming.”

Zara shoved the door open—

Nobody.

Just empty rain-soaked darkness.

But when she turned back around, her latest drawing—Aiden’s face—had changed.

Now the eyes were glowing.

Like Liam’s.

THE BROTHER IN THE SHADOWS

Aiden slowed near the art district, soaked and shivering. The street felt wrong—like reality kept slipping half a second behind itself. Neon signs flickered in and out like dying stars.

Then he sensed it.

Someone watching him.

He turned slowly.

A silhouette stood on the rooftop above, outlined by rain and lightning.

Tall. Still.

Liam.

Even from the distance, Aiden could feel the intensity of his stare.

A high-pitched static sound filled the air.

Aiden winced, clutching his head.

Liam spoke—not with a human voice, but with a layered metallic echo:

“Subject Delta… deviation progressing.”

Aiden didn't know what that meant.

But he knew he had to get away.

He dashed into the alley where Zara’s studio stood.

Above him, Liam tilted his head like a predator tracking prey—

and jumped.

WHEN THEY FINALLY MEET

Zara had barely caught her breath when the door burst open. She swung her metal tool instinctively—

Aiden caught her wrist mid-air.

“Wait—I’m not here to hurt you!” he gasped.

Zara’s eyes widened.

It was him. The boy from her visions.

Real. Breathing. Terrified.

“You…” she whispered. “I’ve seen you fall through a timeline rupture.”

Aiden blinked. “You… what?”

Before she could answer, a loud metallic thud hit the rooftop above them.

Both froze.

Zara stepped back. “What was that?”

Aiden’s voice cracked.

“My brother.”

The lights in the studio flickered violently.

Zara looked at him, realization dawning like ice in her veins.

“Aiden… whoever is after you… he’s not from this version of reality.”

The ceiling cracked.

A shadow dropped in front of the window, glowing eyes staring through the rain.

Liam had arrived.

TO BE CONTINUED…