I finished eating.
The bioscreen vibrated.
"Yes?"
My voice came out tired, tension weighing heavily.
"Apologies for disturbing you."
Takashi. Always courteous.
"An android deposited the envelope through Postais.
I checked its serial number.
It has been deactivated."
"Can you access the owner's information?"
"No.
Its memory was eradicated.
Completely inaccessible."
"Is that possible?"
"Difficult.
It would require hacking the Aether Network to break the security protocol, corrupt the android, access the entire nanosystem, then alter and erase it.
That appears to be the case.
Whoever did this is highly skilled.
They wanted to hide. To be untraceable. Forgotten.
It is the first time I have encountered something like this."
A chill ran across my skin.
"I understand."
I already sensed I would face more veils along the way.
"Wait for my call.
I need to resolve something first."
"Very well."
The call ended.
I picked up the objects from the envelope:
The phone.
The watch.
The compass.
The coordinates.
I turned on the phone.
Distorted pixels filled the tiny screen.
I searched files. Galleries. Contacts.
Nothing.
Empty.
I picked up the watch.
It read 1:4:18.
I shook it.
Tried to open it.
No manufacturing mark.
I held the compass.
Broken.
Finally, I studied the coordinates.
An abandoned bus terminal at the edge of Centralia.
Why?
The question echoed in my mind.
I rested my forehead against the table.
I spent the day pacing in circles.
Thoughts orbiting Maia and her question.
Ready?
How would I know?
My life continued.
My work. My research. My… family.
Yet there was another choice.
One where I would move forward with more than memories.
With answers.
That night, if I dreamed, I forgot.
Part of me expected Maia to appear in my dreams—
to tell me what to do.
Only darkness as company.
I woke taciturn.
Empty eyes fixed on the horizon.
I picked up the letter and reread every word.
Her voice echoed in my mind.
Maia… what do you want?
I wanted to deny it.
Wanted to ignore it.
I tried to convince myself it was illogical—but something within me pulled forward.
Toward her.
Those questions had haunted me for a long time.
And now, I had to face them again.
Then—
A spark.
A glimpse from deep within.
The answer had always been there.
Hidden.
Filed away.
Locked.
Maia's words unlocked it.
In that moment, she had asked:
Would you cross your own universe?
My gaze fell to the letter.
"Yes. I am ready to cross your universe."