The stars went out one by one.
Not clouds. Not night. The stars themselves flickered and died, swallowed by something vast and dark moving across the sky.
Lyra saw it first. She ran to Lena's house, her golden glow flickering with fear.
"The sky. Something is wrong."
Lena stepped outside. Above her, the heavens were being consumed. A darkness that wasn't empty—it was full. Full of hunger. Full of intent.
"The Beneath," Lena whispered. "Aris said it was the foundation. The ground where wounds grew. But what if it was also a door?"
"A door to what?"
Lena didn't answer. She ran to the crater.
---
Aris was already there. The ancient being stood at the edge, staring at the sky.
"I didn't know," it said. "I was asleep for so long. I didn't feel it waking."
"Feel what waking?"
"The ot
