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Chapter 7 - The Pieces Fall Into Place

  Scene 1: Amelia’s Home – Doubts and Revelations

  Amelia sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor. The soft moonlight seeped through the window, casting a faint glow on her face. Her hands were clenched into fists, and her eyes reflected a mix of disappointment and frustration.

  Amelia's Thoughts:

  “I should have done better… I studied so hard… Then why couldn’t I perform well in the exam? I guess I really am a failure.”

  Her mind echoed with self-doubt, but then she remembered Kael’s words from earlier that day.

  “Hey, you didn’t choose to be born, right? So why does she get to put all those expectations on you? Love isn’t a trade.”

  Her grip loosened slightly as she replayed his words. A faint smile crossed her lips.

  “I wish I could think like him… carefree and bold.”

  Suddenly, the door creaked open, snapping Amelia out of her thoughts. She turned toward the doorway, surprised to see her mother, Clarie, stepping in.

  "I’m home," Clarie called out casually, slipping off her shoes.

  "O-oh, welcome home, Mom," Amelia replied, masking her inner turmoil.

  Clarie walked into the living room, plopping herself onto the couch with a tired but satisfied sigh.

  "You know," she began, her eyes gleaming with excitement, "I have some good news to share with you."

  Amelia raised a curious brow.

  "Huh? What is it, Mom?"

  Clarie’s lips curled into a grin as she reached into her bag and pulled out a small document. She held it up proudly.

  "Look! I’ve officially been chosen as a candidate for the presidential position."

  Amelia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  "W-what? President? You must be joking, Mom!"

  Her mother had been a researcher at a space agency for years—what connection could she possibly have to politics?

  "Oh, it’s true, baby." Clarie smirked, waving the document. "See this? It’s real."

  Amelia stared at the ticket, still unable to process the news.

  "B-but how? You have no political background… you’re a scientist."

  Clarie leaned back into the couch, her eyes glimmering with subtle mischief.

  "Oh, baby… let’s just say I have my ways," she teased with a playful grin.

  Amelia opened her mouth to speak, but Clarie cut her off, placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s cheek.

  "No buts, my dear," she said with a sweet but firm tone. "Now that I’m in the running, I expect great things from you. Can’t have my daughter embarrassing me, right?"

  Clarie's smile lingered as she gave Amelia’s cheek a light pat before standing up.

  "It’s getting late—you should sleep now, okay?" she said softly before retreating into her room, leaving Amelia sitting there, confused and anxious.*

  Scene 2: Kael and Lyra – Interrogation and Power Plays

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Professor Morris’s eyes flickered open. His body ached slightly, and he realized his arms and legs were bound to a chair. His heart raced as he scanned his surroundings. The dim light illuminated the two figures standing before him—Kael and Lyra.

  He swallowed hard, his throat dry and scratchy.

  "S-so… you guys really aren’t human, huh?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

  His gaze flickered between the siblings, trying to make sense of what he had witnessed earlier.

  Kael remained calm, his expression unreadable.

  "Yes, you’re right. We aren’t human," he admitted without hesitation. "We look like humans… but we possess powers your species has yet to evolve."

  Morris’s hands trembled slightly against the restraints.

  "W-what do you want?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Lyra smirked, leaning forward with a predatory glint in her eyes.

  "Oh, we just want a few answers first."

  Her voice was smooth but carried a menacing edge.

  "We’ll discuss the second thing later."

  She casually circled him, her footsteps slow and deliberate.

  "The explosion at the university today…" Lyra’s tone grew sharp. "What was it? We sensed two powerful auras clashing."

  Morris’s eyes widened in fear, his voice shaky.

  "I… I don’t know their names…" he stuttered. "One was a man in a black suit… the other was a tall man… his name was… um, Hope! Yes, his name was Hope."

  His breathing quickened, his voice pleading.

  "Please… that’s all I know. Let me go."

  Lyra’s smirk widened. She suddenly pressed her boot against his chest, shoving him backward. The chair tilted, making him teeter on the brink of falling.

  "Not so fast, human," she hissed coldly. "What did they want from you?"

  Professor Morris coughed slightly, wincing from the pressure on his chest.

  "T-The man in the black suit… he wanted my necklace," he admitted, his voice cracking. "But Hope… he saved me. Their punches collided, but I… I don’t know the outcome of the fight."

  Lyra’s eyes narrowed, processing the information. She glanced at Kael, who remained silent but alert. A knowing look passed between them. This was bigger than they initially thought—there were others after the necklace, and possibly beings stronger than humans.

  Morris, still bound, whimpered slightly.

  "C-can I go now?" he begged, his voice feeble.

  Lyra’s smirk vanished. She crouched beside him, her voice dripping with venom.

  "Not yet. Now for the second thing… give us that."

  She pointed at the necklace around his neck.

  Morris’s eyes widened in terror. He clung to the small pendant as though it were his lifeline.

  "N-no! I can’t!" he protested. "It’s the last thing I have from my grandmother!"

  Kael’s calm voice cut through the tension.

  "Professor, it would be wise to hand it over willingly. We don’t want to harm you unnecessarily."

  Morris shook his head stubbornly, his knuckles white from clutching the necklace.

  "I… can’t…"

  Without warning, Lyra delivered a swift, precise kick to his face. Blood trickled from his lip as he groaned in pain.

  "Shut up," she spat, her eyes cold. "You’re in no position to make demands."

  Morris whimpered, desperation and fear clouding his eyes.

  "Please… try to understand… please!"

  Lyra’s eyes glowed faintly. With a flick of her wrist, Morris’s vision shifted. He suddenly found himself bound to a cross in a desolate void. The sky was a swirling mass of crimson, and the water beneath him looked like a sea of blood. Gigantic, unblinking eyes stared at him from the shadows, and monstrous figures emerged, stabbing him repeatedly with jagged blades.

  He screamed in agony, but no sound escaped his lips.

  ?

  Back in reality, only three seconds passed, but to Morris, it felt like he had suffered for three days. When he snapped back, his body was physically fine, but his spirit was shattered. His eyes were dull, lifeless.

  Lyra said nothing. She silently unclasped the necklace from his neck. Morris didn’t resist—he couldn’t. His will was gone.

  Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Sister… how can you touch it?" he asked. "I was injured when I tried to take it."

  Lyra smirked wickedly.

  "Oh, brother," she cooed. "It’s because I broke his will. He no longer has the desire to keep it. It’s nothing more than a trinket to him now."

  Kael’s eyes darkened slightly. For the first time, he felt a pang of pity for Morris.

  Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Both siblings tensed, sensing a faint but undeniable surge of power coming from outside.

  Lyra’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. She turned to her brother, her voice dripping with excitement.

  "Be prepared, brother… the movie is just getting started."

  Kael transformed into his battle gear, ready for whatever—or whoever—awaited them.

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