He opened it with shaking fingers.
Inside was a letter.
Unsteady, smudged ink. As if the writer's hands trembled while writing.
**"Ray.
I don't know if you're alive. I don't even know if this will reach you.
But if it does… please don't hate me."**
"They're still here. The ones who did it to us. The ones who called it 'enhancement'."
"They're using new kids now. Younger. Sicker. One of them tried to bite their own tongue off to make it stop."
"I kept your photo. They said you died. But I never believed them."
"If you're out there… I need you."
**"Please.
—Elian"**
The teacup slipped from Rayan's hand.
It shattered against the floor.
Kael looked up instantly.
But Rayan was already trembling, back pressed to the wall, letter clutched in both fists.
Ash moved toward him instinctively—then stopped when he saw the look in Rayan's eyes.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Just a broken memory returning to life.
Kael reached him.
Knelt.
Didn't ask anything.
