LILA’S POV
The scream of the system didn’t sound like sound.
It sounded like reality forgetting how to exist.
The white exploded outward
then inward
then everywhere at once.
I couldn’t tell where I ended anymore.
Or where she began.
“Lila!”
Nathan’s voice ripped through the collapse.
“LILA, DON’T LET GO!”
But I wasn’t letting go.
That was the problem.
I couldn’t let go of him.
I couldn’t let go of her.
I couldn’t let go of me.
And the system couldn’t hold all three.
Ryker’s voice cut sharply through the chaos.
“It’s not separation anymore it’s forced convergence!”
Ethan shouted back.
“That’s impossible two core imprints can’t merge without catastrophic cognitive collapse!”
The white cracked again.
Harder.
And then
everything stopped.
Silence.
Not peace.
Not calm.
