The night was eerily silent.
Too silent.
I stood at the edge of the rooftop, gripping the bloodied note in my trembling hands. The words burned into my mind—"You were never meant to live."
Kai had written it.
Or at least, someone using his signature. But I knew that handwriting. I remembered it from the diary he once gave me, when we were foolishly in love and believed promises meant forever.
I crumpled the note in my palm and turned.
Celeste stood behind me. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes—those hauntingly blue eyes—held a storm.
"You read it," I said.
She didn't speak for a long moment. Then, quietly, "He was forced to write it. Or maybe he thought it would protect you. Either way... it changes things."
"It changes everything," I replied coldly.
Because now I didn't know who to trust. Not even the one I thought I loved.
---
Meanwhile, in the Raven's Nest Underground:
Ravian stood facing the wall of monitors. Lira—yes, Lira—stood beside him, her face no longer soft and loyal.
"She's slipping out of your control," Lira said.
Ravian smirked. "She was never meant to be controlled. Only broken."
Lira frowned. "But what if she survives? What if she remembers it all?"
"Then she'll come for me," Ravian said. "And I'll be ready."
He clicked on the oldest file.
---
File Name: "Project Arin - JUNE 03-12"
A video played.
A girl with my face. My eyes. But younger, more scared.
Tied to a bed.
Screaming.
"No..." I whispered as the image faded.
Celeste gasped, covering her mouth.
"That's you," she said, horrified.
And it was. But I had no memory of that footage.
---
Back to the rooftop—
"He knew," I whispered. "Kai knew everything."
Celeste touched my shoulder. "Do you want revenge, Nyra? Or do you want the truth?"
"Both."
She smiled darkly. "Then let's begin."
---
End of Chapter 43: Part 1