The red eye roared in terror.
BOOOOOOM!
The sound shattered dimensions.
The chains trembled.
The black door cracked.
Reality itself recoiled.
And for the first time since anyone could remember—
Fear belonged to the strongest being present.
The Child of Balance stood frozen.
Her hand pressed against her chest.
The warm voice still echoed inside her soul.
“My baby.”
Tears filled her eyes.
She knew that voice.
Not from memory.
Not from dreams.
From somewhere older.
Somewhere deeper.
The old man collapsed to his knees.
Crying.
“Mother.”
The little boy stared.
His bright blue eyes widened.
“No.”
The endless eye trembled.
Aurora covered her mouth.
The First Dream stood completely still.
Even the Eaters had stopped screaming.
Silence spread across existence.
Then—
A
