It begins the moment Amon falls through the gate.
Shapes begin to form around him — mist, faint light, then the sound of small footsteps tapping over tiles, followed by cruel laughter.
He sees Kim — ten years old — surrounded by four children in the schoolyard.
They shove him to the ground, kicking him mercilessly as his muffled voice struggles to escape.
Amon tries to intervene, but his body passes through them — like a ghost.
Each slap echoes through the void, the sound reverberating inside Amon's own chest.
He watches the blood trickle down Kim's face as the boy slowly forces himself to stand, picks up his torn bag, and whispers:
> "It's okay… To be kind, not cruel. I won't answer evil with evil."
Amon follows, watching the next scene —
Kim opens the door to a small, humble home.
His mother bends over a boiling pot. Her face is pale, her hands trembling, yet she smiles the instant she sees him.
> "Welcome home, my dear. How was your day?"
And Kim, despite the blood and bruises, smiles as if nothing had happened.
> "It was a wonderful day, Mom."
Amon's eyes widen, and rage boils within him.
He wants to scream — at the universe, at humanity, at the cruelty that forced this child to lie just to spare his mother's heart.
He whispers to himself:
> "Kim… was this what changed you… or was it something else?"
The scene begins to melt away, dissolving like rain on glass.
And Amon realizes he is being pulled into another memory — deeper, darker.