"Time stood frozen around Sade, the air heavy and silent, as if the world itself was holding its breath."
The hunter was locked mid-strike.
Tunde was frozen mid-step, eyes wide with shock.
Birds hung motionless in the sky.
Sade, heart racing, whispered to herself:
"Did… I do this?"
Her fingers glowed again — white, crackling like lightning wrapped in mist.
Then suddenly—
Time snapped back.
The hunter's attack completed its arc—
Tunde blocked it—
Sade fell to her knees, gasping.
Tunde pulled her up.
"Sade, listen… your power… it's awakening too fast."
She held her head.
"What am I turning into?!"
Tunde looked at her with fear and awe.
"A Connector."
Sade blinked, breath trembling.
"What does that mean?"
Tunde swallowed, choosing his words carefully.
"There are three types of beings in the spirit world:
Spirits — like the dead.
Guardians — like me.
Hunters — the ones who drag lost souls."
Sade whispered:
"And the fourth?"
Tunde hesitated.
"Connectors…
are extremely rare.
A Connector is a living human who can interact with both worlds.
Control both worlds.
Even… merge both worlds."
Sade shook her head.
"That's impossible. I'm normal."
Tunde stared at her, voice soft.
"No, Sade.
You were never normal.
You were born marked."
Sade stepped back.
"Marked by what?"
He didn't answer.
Because he couldn't.
The hunter cracked his neck, laughing.
"You're unlocking fast… Good."
Before Sade or Tunde could react—
The hunter teleported.
Right behind Sade.
Tunde shouted, "MOVE!"
Sade spun—
The hunter's black hand reached for her chest—
aiming to rip out her soul.
But Tunde slammed into him, knocking him sideways.
They crashed onto a parked car — metal caving in like paper.
The hunter hissed:
"Still protecting her?
Guardian or not… she will be mine."
Tunde's eyes turned a deep, glowing blue.
"I'd die a thousand times before I let you touch her."
The hunter smirked.
"You already died once."
The hunter slashed Tunde across the ribs.
Blue spirit-blood spilled onto the road.
Sade screamed:
"Tunde!"
He fell to one knee.
The hunter turned toward her.
"Your Guardian is weakening…
and when he falls…
the bond breaks.
Then you're mine."
Sade's hands shook violently.
Her chest burned.
Something inside her snapped.
She screamed, voice breaking:
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!"
A shockwave exploded from her body — white, blinding light pushing the hunter back several meters.
Tunde stared at her in awe.
"Sade… your power— it reacts to your emotions."
Sade dropped beside him, tears in her eyes.
"You're bleeding— you can't die again!"
Tunde gave a weak smile.
"I wasn't supposed to come here…
but I came for you."
Her heart cracked.
"Tunde…"
He reached up and touched her cheek gently.
"I don't regret it."
Their faces inched closer.
The bond between them pulsed—
bright, alive, magnetic—
But before their lips met—
The ground shook.
The sky darkened instantly.
Electricity died across the street.
Dogs barked.
Phones turned off.
A deep, ancient voice echoed from above:
"Sade.
Connector of the Two Realms."
Sade froze.
Tunde froze.
Even the hunter looked stunned.
A crack appeared in the air — like lightning splitting the sky open.
From the crack…
two glowing figures stepped out.
Not spirits.
Not hunters.
Something else.
Something higher.
Tunde's voice broke:
"No… no no no… they're not supposed to come here."
Sade whispered:
"Who are they?"
Tunde answered with dread:
"The Celestial Council."
Sade turned pale.
"What do they want?"
Tunde swallowed hard.
"They want to decide…
whether you should continue living."
The two celestial beings pointed at Sade.
Their voices echoed like thunder:
"Sade, you have broken the balance.
And now… your existence threatens the worlds."
Sade fell back.
Tunde held her hand tight.
The hunter smirked.
The council raised their glowing hands—
"Sade must be judged."