"How could this be!"
Trapped within the magic circle constructed by Constantine, Rachel immediately sensed that Adrian was in danger.
She lay against the glowing sigils etched into the ground, her face pale to the point of fragility. Sweat streamed down her skin, gathering at the corners of her eyes and stinging as it seeped in. Her breathing was uneven, her body trembling from exhaustion.
Although the magic circle suppressed her abilities, preventing her from casting spells or directly connecting to Adrian's inner world, she could still feel him. That connection, something that had existed between them for years, refused to break.
Right now, it pulsed with danger.
Rachel's condition had already deteriorated. She had exhausted too much magic power and pushed her mind beyond safe limits. Maintaining clarity under Constantine's restraint required constant resistance, and her attempts to sense Adrian only worsened the strain. Her recovery could not keep up with the consumption. She was nearing complete depletion.
Even so, she did not stop.
She forced her consciousness outward, searching for Adrian.
Through that fragile connection, she glimpsed fragments, Adrian's body undergoing violent, incomprehensible changes, transforming into something beyond her understanding before vanishing entirely from her perception.
Yet his soul remained.
Even when his physical presence slipped beyond her reach, she could still feel him. That faint but undeniable existence anchored her focus.
Then she felt it.
His consciousness was fading.
The connection they had shared since childhood, something deeper than simple telepathy, trembled as if being eroded piece by piece. She could sense his will, once overwhelming and unyielding, now weakening under an unseen force.
Panic surged through her.
It felt as though she was losing him.
Rachel clenched her teeth, forcing herself to think. The knowledge taught to her by the Fairytale Queen surfaced in her mind.
"Adrian must have fallen into a coma," she whispered hoarsely. "Something is trapping him inside his own mind."
Her eyes sharpened as realization struck.
"He has not returned to reality. He is trapped in a self-created cycle, repeating endlessly. If this continues, his consciousness will collapse."
Her breath hitched.
If Adrian remained trapped in that state, he would never wake again. His body would remain, but without his soul, it would become nothing more than an empty shell.
"No… I have to bring him back."
Her vision blurred as tears mixed with sweat, the sting sharp and relentless. A deep, aching pain spread through her chest, tightening with every passing second.
With shaking hands, she reached forward.
A faint trace of purple magic flickered at her fingertips.
She poured everything she had left into that fragile spark, driving it into the edge of the magic circle beneath her. The barrier resisted, but she persisted, forcing a flaw into its structure.
If she could create even the smallest opening, it would be enough.
Her magic intensified, expanding from a dim glow into a radiant violet light that filled the room. The circle began to destabilize under the pressure.
Rachel's face grew even paler, but her resolve never wavered.
Then, a sharp cry echoed through the air.
A small raven emerged from her forehead, formed entirely of spiritual energy. It broke free from her body, darted through the fractured magic circle, and escaped into the outside world.
The act carried immense risk. It could cause irreversible damage to her body.
She did not hesitate.
Guided by instinct, the raven soared toward Adrian.
It found him quickly.
Inside the ruined Justice Society Hall, Adrian knelt motionless.
Without delay, Rachel's consciousness entered his body.
She understood the danger. If Adrian's will had already fallen into a deep cycle, anyone entering his mind risked being trapped alongside him, lost in endless repetition.
Still, she stepped forward.
The world shifted.
A deep bell rang through the air.
The sound was heavy, resonant, echoing with solemn clarity.
Sunlight poured down from above, scattering into soft halos that illuminated the surroundings. The scent of damp grass lingered, fresh and earthy, as though it had rained not long ago.
Rachel stood before a white church.
Its Gothic architecture rose elegantly, spires reaching into the sky, intricate carvings decorating every surface. Trees surrounded the building, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. A stone path led through flowerbeds toward the entrance, where well-dressed guests gathered.
She moved with the crowd, her steps uncertain.
Inside, preparations for a wedding were underway.
The sounds of conversation and movement filled the air, blending with the warmth of sunlight streaming through stained glass windows.
Recognition struck her.
This was the church in Smallville.
She had been here before, years ago, attending a neighbor's wedding with Adrian. The memory surfaced clearly, along with the presence of their biology teacher, Ms. Aikins, whose attention toward Adrian had always unsettled her.
"Hey, Rachel, what are you doing? This is not the time to be distracted."
A voice pulled her back.
She turned to see Pete Ross approaching, his expression relaxed, a friendly smile on his face.
Rachel hesitated. "You are…?"
Pete laughed lightly. "What is wrong with you? It is me, Pete. We were just talking."
He patted her shoulder.
"Today is Clark's big day. As his sister, you should not look like that. If Adrian sees you, he will definitely call you out."
With that, Pete adjusted his tie and walked toward the church.
Rachel froze.
"Clark's wedding?"
Her mind struggled to process it.
Clark was getting married? To whom?
And why was she seeing this inside Adrian's mind?
Before she could gather her thoughts, Adrian appeared.
He walked toward her alongside Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen, both dressed as groomsmen. The three of them seemed at ease, even exchanging light conversation. Adrian smiled faintly at something Oliver said.
Rachel stared at him, momentarily unable to react.
Sunlight framed his figure, casting a soft glow across his face. His expression was warm, relaxed, genuinely happy.
"Today is important for Clark," Adrian said as he approached. "Why are you wearing that cloak? If Dad sees it, he will not approve. Come on, I will take you inside."
Rachel's thoughts faltered.
Dad?
Jonathan Kent had been gone for years.
Why would Adrian speak as if he were still alive?
Before she could question it, Adrian guided her into the church.
She took her seat among familiar faces.
The guests were dressed elegantly, their attire refined without overshadowing the bride's presence. As Rachel looked around, she recognized many of them.
Ms. Aikins, Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, Dinah Lance, Harley Quinn, John Constantine, Zatanna, Kara Kent, Hal Jordan, and J'onn J'onzz.
Some were allies. Some were enemies. Some should not have been alive at all.
Yet here they were, gathered peacefully to celebrate Clark's wedding.
Adrian left her side to greet more guests.
Rachel's gaze followed him.
At the entrance, Lana Lang stood waiting. She smiled as Adrian approached, speaking with him as if nothing had ever gone wrong.
Chloe Sullivan joined them, laughing alongside Pete as they gathered around Adrian.
Everything felt… perfect.
Too perfect.
Rachel slowly scanned the church again.
Warmth and happiness filled every corner.
This was wrong.
Deeply wrong.
She had seen Adrian's inner world before. She had felt his pain, the relentless weight he carried within himself. His mind was never a place of peace.
It was closer to a battlefield.
So why did it look like this?
Could this be what Adrian truly desired?
A world where Jonathan was still alive, where Lana never died, where Clark stood at the altar, ready to marry Lois without hardship.
A world where even Bruce and Oliver stood beside him as friends.
Rachel's expression shifted, uncertainty creeping in.
Had she misunderstood him all along?
Voices nearby drew her attention.
"Why would Lois marry Clark? He is so… ordinary."
"I thought they were arguing recently."
"Look at him smiling like that, it is ridiculous."
Rachel turned, noticing several women whispering among themselves, clearly unimpressed with Clark.
She listened carefully, then stood and walked back toward Adrian.
"Brother," she said quietly, "they are speaking badly about Clark."
Adrian glanced in that direction, then simply shook his head.
"It does not matter," he replied. "Everyone has their own opinions. Clark would not take it to heart."
He smiled faintly.
"Today matters to both Clark and Lois."
Rachel studied his expression.
That gentle smile made her chest tighten.
Because she knew the truth.
This was not real.
It was a dream Adrian had created, a beautiful illusion.
And when it shattered, the pain would be unbearable.
In reality, Clark was still searching for him.
In reality, Bruce, Constantine, and Zatanna stood against him.
In reality, Jonathan was gone, and Lana would never stand there smiling again.
"Yes," Rachel said softly, taking Adrian's hands in hers. "It is a beautiful day."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"No matter what happens, I will stay with you. Even if you cannot wake up, I will not leave you alone."
Her voice trembled, but her resolve did not.
"If this world collapses, I will still be here. I will not let you face this alone."