~Kaida POV~
The other-me leaned closer, her whisper brushing against my ear like a secret. "Choose me, and you will never be afraid again."
From the mist, Lupus's roar tore through, ragged and raw: "Choose me, Kaida! Come back to me!"
And Kaelith's soft laughter slithered like smoke, echoing faintly: "Or choose me, and be free forever."
The ground beneath me trembled violently, cracks of crimson light splitting it apart. My knees gave way, and I fell, both hands outstretched....cone toward the shadow of myself, one toward the voices beyond.
The shard inside my chest flared blindingly bright, forcing a scream from my throat and then—everything stopped.
I opened my eyes, and found myself standing before three paths carved into the crimson mist.
One glowing with Lupus's dark, desperate fire and one with Kaelith's golden allure, with one… where my other-self waited, her crimson eyes unblinking.
All three paths trembled, waiting for me to step forward.
