46、第46章

    46

    Cloudsofsmokebillowedoutfromtheburningwoodenbridge,andthesoundofcracklingflamesfilledtheair.Thefirewassointensethatitseemedtobeeatingawayattheveryfabricofrealityitself.

    Kaitostoodattheedgeofthechasm,hiseyesfixedontheinfernobelow.Hefeltasenseofdetachment,asifhewasobservinghimselffromoutsidehisbody.Itwasafeelinghehadgrownaccustomedtoovertheyears,onethatallowedhimtomaintainhiposureinthefaceofchaos.

    Thebridgebehindhimhadbeentheonlystablepointinthisever-changingworld.Now,itlayinruins,consumedbytheveryflamesthathadoncedrivenhumanitytoseekanswers.

    Kaito‘sthoughtswereinterruptedbyavoicefrombehindhim.“Whatareyouwaitingfor,Kaito?“ItwasLila,hertonelacedwithamixofcuriosityandconcern.

    Kaitoturnedtofaceher,hiseyesnarrowingslightlyashetookinherappearance.Shelookedtired,herskinpaleandherhairdisheveled.Afaintscentofsmokeclungtoher,areminderofthedangerthatlayahead.

    “I‘mwaitingforyoutotellmewhat‘sgoingon,“Kaitoreplied,hisvoicecalmanddetached.“You‘vebeenactingstrangelately,alwaysdisappearingatthemostinopportunemoments.“

    Lilasighed,runningahandthroughherhair.“I‘vebeentryingtouncoverthetruthaboutourworld,Kaito.Therearesomanysecretshiddenbeneaththesurface,waitingtobeuncovered.“

    Kaitoraisedaneyebrow.“AndwhatmakesyouthinkI‘mnotawareofthem?“

    Lila‘sgazelockedontohis,ahintoffrustrationinhereyes.“Becauseifyouwere,you‘dhavestoppedmebynow.You‘realwayssoquicktojumptoconclusions,Kaito.“

    Theword‘always‘hungintheairlikeachallenge,andKaitofeltatwingeofannoyance.HehadstoppedLilabefore,notbecausehewasright,butbecauseheknewshewouldn‘tlisten.

    “I‘mtryingtoprotectyou,Lila,“Kaitosaid,hisvoicesofteningeversoslightly.“You‘regettingclosetosomethingyoudon‘tunderstand.“

    Lila‘sexpressiontwistedinamixtureofangerandsadness.“Iwon‘tbeheldbackbyfear,Kaito.Ihavetoknowthetruth,nomatterwhatitcostsme.“

    Kaitowatchedher,hisheartheavywithasenseofforeboding.Heknewthatlookalltoowell,theonethatsaidshewasdeterminedtofollowherconvictionsevenifitmeantriskingeverything.

    Withoutanotherword,Kaitoturnedandbegantowalkawayfromthechasm.Lilafollowedhim,herfootstepsechoingoffthewallsastheydisappearedintotheunknown.

    Thebridgebehindthemburnedwithafieryintensity,itswoodenbeamssplinteringandcrackingunderthepressureoftheflames.Itwasareminderthateveninthedarkestmoments,therewasalwaysawayforward,alwaysachancetorebuildandstartanew.

    AsKaitowalked,thelandscapearoundhimshiftedandchanged,likeakaleidoscopeofcolorsandtextures.Theskyturnedadeepshadeofcrimson,andtheairgrewthickwithanotherworldlyenergy.

    Kaitofeltit,atinglingsensationthatrandownhisspine.Heknewthatthiswasit,themomenthehadbeenwaitingfor.Themomentwhentheveilbetweenworldswasatitsthinnest.

    Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentwhite.

    ---

    Lila‘seyesflutteredopen,andshefoundherselfinaworldunlikeanyshehadeverknown.Toweringspiresofcrystalpiercedthesky,castingrainbow-coloredshadowsonthegroundbelow.Asoft,etherealmusicfilledtheair,likethegentlehumofaharpstring.

    Shesatupwithastart,herheartracingasshetookinhersurroundings.Wherewasshe?Andhowhadshegottenhere?

    Afigurestoodbeforeher,itsfeaturesindistinctatfirstbutgrowingclearerbythesecond.ItwasKaito,hiseyesfixedintentlyonhers.

    “Lila,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky.“I‘vebeenwaitingforyou.“

    Lila‘smindreeledasshestruggledtprehendwhatwashappening.Shewasinaworldunlikeherown,surroundedbystrangeandwondroussights.AndKaitowashere,standingbeforeherlikeaguardianangel.

    “Whatdoyouwantfromme?“Lilaasked,tryingtokeephervoicesteady.

    Kaito‘sgazenarrowed.“Iwantyoutoknowthetruth,“hesaid,hiswordsdrippingwithanunspokenmenace.“Aboutourworld,aboutyourfamily...aboutyourself.“

    Lila‘seyeswidenedasacoldrealizationdawnedonher.SheknewwhatKaitowastalkingabout,thesecretsthatlayhiddenbeneaththesurfaceoftheirreality.

    “Idon‘tknowanything,“Lilasaid,tryingtosoundbravedespitethefearcreepingupherspine.

    Kaitosmiled,hislipscurlingupintoaslygrin.“Oh,butIthinkyoudo,“hesaid,hisvoicedrippingwithcondescension.“Ithinkyouknowmorethanyou‘relettingon.“

    Lila‘sheartskippedabeatasKaitotookanotherstepclosertoher.Shecouldfeeltheairthickeningaroundthem,likeatangiblepresencethatseemedtobedrawingherin.

    Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentdarkonceagain.

    ---

    WhenLilacameto,shefoundherselfbackinherownworld,standingattheedgeofthechasm.Thebridgewasgone,reducedtosmolderingruinsthatseemedtoholdastrangeandtwistedbeauty.

    Kaitostoodbesideher,hiseyesfixedintentlyonhers.“Whathappened?“Lilaasked,tryingtokeephervoicesteady.

    Kaito‘sgazenarrowed.“Idon‘tknow,“hesaid,hiswordsdrippingwithsuspicion.“ButIthinkyoudo.“

    Lila‘sheartskippedabeatassherealizedthetruth.Shehadseensomething,somethingthatlaybeyondtheveilofrealityitself.AndKaitoknewittoo.

    Withoutanotherword,Lilaturnedandbegantowalkawayfromthechasm.Kaitofollowedher,hisfootstepsechoingoffthewallsastheydisappearedintotheunknown.

    Thebridgebehindthemburnedwithafieryintensity,itswoodenbeamssplinteringandcrackingunderthepressureoftheflames.Itwasareminderthateveninthedarkestmoments,therewasalwaysawayforward,alwaysachancetorebuildandstartanew.

    Astheywalked,thelandscapearoundthemshiftedandchanged,likeakaleidoscopeofcolorsandtextures.Theskyturnedadeepshadeofcrimson,andtheairgrewthickwithanotherworldlyenergy.

    Kaitofeltit,atinglingsensationthatrandownhisspine.Heknewthatthiswasit,themomenthehadbeenwaitingfor.Themomentwhentheveilbetweenworldswasatitsthinnest.

    Andthen,withoutwarning,everythingwentwhiteonceagain.