Jay had stopped pretending he was okay about ten seconds ago.
The dream-world had always felt like some surreal playground—vivid, weird, but manageable. Something he could understand… or at least sleep through.
But now?
The skies above shimmered with cracks. Like glass stretched too far, the clouds fractured, revealing something cold beneath them—an empty grid pattern, like a half-rendered blueprint.
Alicia stood at the edge of the cliffside garden, where Jay had first pulled her into the dream-space. Her long braid danced in slow motion—time was starting to lag.
"Jay," she said quietly. "You feel it too?"
Jay nodded, not even trying to hide the sharp chill rolling down his spine.
"Yeah. Something's breaking."
He turned toward her. His lazy half-lidded eyes were sharper than usual now. Not panicked—just focused.
"It's Rei."
