Chapter 62 —
Lyra's POV
The hospital smelled the same.
Sterile.
Cold.
Merciless.
I hated hospitals.
Because every time I entered one, someone I cared about ended up disappearing.
Or dying.
Tonight, I prayed history would be wrong.
I didn't remember parking the car.
Didn't remember running through the revolving doors of Eden-Crest Elite Hospital.
I only remembered one thing.
Kieller.
"Miss! You can't run—"
I ignored the nurse.
My heels echoed sharply against the polished marble floors as I marched toward the reception desk.
"Kieller Voss," I demanded. "Where is he?"
The receptionist froze at my expression.
"Fifth floor. VIP Intensive Care Unit."
I was already moving.
The elevator took too long.
Every second felt like betrayal.
Sabotage.
The word replayed inside my head.
Not accident.
Sabotage.
Someone wanted Kieller dead.
The elevator doors slid open.
I stepped out.
And stopped.
Because Aren Blackwood was standing outside Kieller's room.
Blood stained his white shirt.
His hands.
His face was unreadable.
But his eyes—
His eyes looked shattered.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the only question that mattered.
"Is he alive?"
Aren looked away.
"Yes."
I exhaled.
A breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"How?"
Aren remained silent.
Wrong answer.
Too silent.
My gaze sharpened.
"What happened?"
His jaw tightened.
"The brakes failed."
My pulse slowed.
Brakes.
Convenient.
Too convenient.
"Accident?" I asked quietly.
Aren laughed once.
A cold sound.
"In our world?" He looked at me. "Nothing is accidental."
Before I could ask anything else, the ICU doors opened.
A doctor stepped outside.
"Family of Mr. Kieller Voss?"
Aren immediately stood.
"So he's conscious?" I demanded.
The doctor hesitated.
"He regained consciousness for a few moments."
My heartbeat stumbled.
"But?"
The doctor sighed.
"He asked for Miss Lyra Vale."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Aren stared at me.
I stared back.
The doctor continued.
"After saying your name, he lost consciousness again."
Everything inside me stopped.
Because Kieller had been dying.
And in those moments—
He had called for me.
Not his father.
Not Aren.
Me.
The doctor handed me a small object.
"We found this in Mr. Voss's hand."
I looked down.
A black feather.
My blood turned cold.
Attached to it was a tiny white card.
Only three words were written.
PHASE THREE BEGINS.
My fingers tightened around the card.
Someone wanted me to see this.
Someone wanted me here.
And suddenly—
For the first time—
I wondered.
Was Kieller the target?
Or was I?
Elsewhere.
Unknown Location.
A dark room.
Multiple screens illuminated the shadows.
One screen showed Lyra standing outside Kieller's ICU room.
Another displayed old footage of a little girl laughing in the snow.
A distorted voice echoed softly.
"Subject Seven is finally remembering."
A gloved hand placed a fresh white rose on the desk.
"Prepare the Golden Mask."
A pause.
Then—
"Bring Ally home."