Kaida is pacing now.
Not sitting.
Not breathing properly.
Summer leans against the wall, arms folded, watching the doors like staring will make them open faster.
"Say something," Kaida mutters.
Summer blinks. "Like what?"
"I don't know—just—something that doesn't sound like everything is falling apart."
Summer exhales. "Okay… um… Thorian is stubborn. He won't die just because of one stupid car."
Kaida lets out a shaky laugh.
"Wow. That's supposed to comfort me?"
"It's working a little," Summer says quietly.
Kaida doesn't deny it.
The car stops outside the hospital.
Zyren doesn't wait for the engine to fully die before stepping out.
Lyrelle follows immediately.
This time—
She grabs his hand first.
Not tight.
Just enough.
He notices.
Doesn't say anything.
The moment they walk in—
Kaida turns.
Their eyes meet.
Everything freezes.
Lyrelle.
Alive.
Here.
Kaida's face crumples instantly.
"You're okay…" she breathes.
Lyrelle nods once.
That's all.
Kaida takes a step forward—
Then stops.
Like she doesn't deserve to get closer.
"I'm sorry," she says.
No defense.
No explanation.
Just that.
Lyrelle looks at her.
Really looks.
Her voice is quiet.
"I know."
That hurts more than anger.
⸻
The doctor walks out right then.
Perfect timing.
Cruel timing.
"Are you here for Thorian?"
Everyone gathers instantly.
"Yes—how is he?" Kaida asks, voice shaking.
"He's stable," the doctor says, "but his condition is critical. We've managed the immediate injuries, but the next few hours are important."
Kaida nods like she understands.
She doesn't.
None of them do.
⸻
She breaks anyway.
Not loud this time.
Just tears falling as she sinks into the chair.
"I did this," she whispers.
Summer kneels beside her again. "No—"
"If I told the truth earlier—"
"You don't know that," Summer says, softer now.
Kaida shakes her head. "Everything is connected now. Every choice."
That part is true.
Aurora stands near the vending machines.
Arms folded.
Watching.
Always watching.
Kaida sees her again.
But this time, she doesn't shout.
She just says quietly—
"You knew this would happen."
Aurora tilts her head. "I knew something would."
"That doesn't make you better than us."
Aurora's gaze softens just slightly.
"It makes me honest about it."
Kaida looks away.
That answer doesn't help.
Zyren stays beside her.
Close.
Steady.
Present.
She leans slightly into him without thinking.
Across the room—
Summer notices.
Her expression flickers.
Just for a second.
Then she looks away.
⸻
A few minutes pass.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Then—
Lyrelle speaks.
"I haven't eaten."
Soft.
Like she almost didn't mean to say it out loud.
Zyren turns instantly. "You should."
She shakes her head.
"I'm not hungry."
He stands anyway. "I'll get something small. You don't have to finish it."
She doesn't argue.
He looks at Summer. "You want anything?"
She pauses.
"…no."
Then adds quickly, "I'm good."
He nods and walks off.
⸻
Summer watches him go.
Then glances at Lyrelle.
Then looks away again.
Her fingers fidget slightly.
Quiet.
Unsaid.
Kaida lifts her head slowly.
Looks at Lyrelle again.
So many years between them.
Second grade.
Shared lunches.
Secrets.
Now this.
Lyrelle meets her eyes.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Just… tired.
And for the first time—
Kaida realizes:
The hardest part won't be the game.
It'll be fixing what broke before it.
⸻
And somewhere—
Unseen—
A phone screen flickers.
No sound.
Just one line:
"REST PHASE ACTIVE."
"FOR NOW."