The ASUV's wheels screeched as it came to a halt. Maria and Lane sharply turned towards Jaden, who was breathing heavily.
Jaden stared at his palm with a frightened expression. The voice of the dark figure continued to echo in his head. He was familiar with this voice—it was his voice, after all.
His breath hitched, words stopped in his throat as he tried to speak. His body trembled as he remembered the dark figure and its voice. Beads of sweat glistened across his forehead as his hold on the devouring pups tightened.
The pups, which suddenly felt his hold tighten, woke up from their sleep and looked at him with eyes that spoke of worry.
"Bre!"
"Bru!"
However, Jaden could not reply as he fell into his thoughts.
'What was that? How is it possible for that being to have my voice? Was it a clone or an illusion of some sort? But… it was too real, too vivid for it to be a clone. No. No, no, no. It was real, y-yes, it has to be. But… how?'
