This place shouldn't be empty. There should be guards guarding Anny, there should be people inside…even Raily. She should be here. I don't understand.
The three of us sprinted through the palace hallways, footsteps echoing against the stone.
I haven't changed anything. I've made the same decisions I did in the original timeline…Is it because I'm two months late? No…it can't be that. Someone or something is changing it.
A knot tightened in my chest, worry flickering across my face.
I must stop any big chances from happening. If the flow alters too much, I'll lose control of everything that follows.
Ahead, Andrew stumbled, nearly slipping on the spiral staircase that twisted upward like a serpent.
He let out a breath, "It looks pretty dangerous, be careful climbing these."
Anny leaned over the railing, whispering under her breath. "What kind of way is this.."
My thoughts drowned their voices. I can't seem to remember anything that happened…Has something like this occurred before? Are we certain Victor is here?
Anny glanced back, her eyes catching my silence. "Zack…are you coming?"
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
The three of us burst through the rooftop door, Andrew pushing it open with a grunt.
— We're here.
Anny rushed forward, her steps faltering as her eyes locked on the figure ahead.
— Victor!!
Her voice broke, trembling. "Victor….?"
Victor stood at the edge of the rooftop, one hand wrapped around the throat of a girl no older than fourteen. Her feet dangled helplessly, scraping against the stone ledge as she struggled for breath. Victor's face was cold, distant—no flicker of remorse, no hesitation. He turned his gaze toward us, his voice sharp as steel.
"Stay back. She's an enemy." He lifted her higher, his grip tightening.
— She must die.
The girl clawed at his hand, tears streaking her cheeks, choking sobs spilling into the wind. Her cries were thin, fading, swallowed by the rooftop silence.
I couldn't bear to watch any of this nonsense. My hand rose instinctively to my mouth, my eyes glowing faintly blue. The bandages on my arm loosened, strips fluttering as sparks of electricity coiled around my body.
I dashed.
Lightning cracked across the rooftop as I surged forward, faster than sight. My fist collided with Victor's face, the impact exploding with thunder. Victor's body was hurled across the rooftop, crashing against the far edge.
But this action made the girl slip free.
Her body dropped, the rooftop vanishing beneath her feet. The wind tore at her hair, her arms hugging the night sky as she whispered in surrender: Yes… this is it. This is my fate.
She closed her eyes, bracing for the fall.
And then— a hand caught her wrist.
Her eyes snapped open. I dangled from the rooftop edge, one hand clamped desperately to the stone, the other locked around her wrist. Sparks of electricity flickered weakly across my skin, fading like dying stars. My teeth clenched, muscles trembling, veins straining with the effort.
I shouted, "Romie! Hold on tightly!"
Romie's tears blurred her vision. She could feel his hand shaking, the rooftop edge crumbling beneath his grip. For a heartbeat, it seemed impossible, the weight of her body dragging him down, gravity clawing at them both.
— I'll save you. Don't worry.
His voice cracked with urgency, raw and human. Inch by inch, he pulled her upward, his body screaming against the strain. The world narrowed to the sound of his breath, the scrape of stone, the pounding of his heart.
Finally, her feet touched the rooftop. I collapsed backward, dragging her onto solid ground. Romie fell against the stone, grasping, her face streaked with tears. Shock and disbelief filled her eyes as she looked at me.
— You..you are alive..
I knelt beside her, my gaze sharp but gentle. My hands hovered over her shoulder, inspecting her quickly. I wanted to reassure myself that she was truly there. And safe.
"Are you okay?"
Romie nodded faintly, still trembling. Her voice breaked, "Zack, don't believe that guy! He brought me here saying nonsense! A-and..when I was caught off guard, he striked me! Son of a bitch!"
Victor groaned, pushing himself up from the rooftop's edge. His movements were stiff, his balance faltering. He dragged the back of his hand across his nose, smearing the blood. His eyebrows drew together, his gaze sharp and accusing. "You must be nuts. Saving an enemy?…she's under Raily's drugs!!"
I throw a disgusting look at Victor.
Anny and Andrew stayed silent in the back watching all of this unfold.
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
[ plat form N°4 ]
The station is built of weathered stone and red brick, with tall arched windows that let in shafts of golden light. A grand iron clock hangs above the entrance, ticking steadily. The air carries a faint scent of coal smoke, polished wood, and leather satchels, mingling with the distant whistle of a locomotive.
Cherley walked towards me. "Look! The train will be here at 9PM. That's about 10-12h." She waved the two tickets to my face before continuing, "So when we arrive in Victoria, it will be 6AM! Perfect time to catch the queen."
Uneasy, I replied, "…to be honest with you, queen and money aside…I just— wanted to use this opportunity to get out of here and out of my sister's hands. This whole town is filled with rage, dirty Victorian pigs and the people who hate our race. Utterly boring and stupid."
Cherley grabbed me by my hands and placed it on her warm body. "Don't worry Eda! After getting the money, we'll travel all over!"
"You just forget about everyone, forget about your sister." She smiled as if she understood, as if she cared. But her eyes watched for cracks, not tears.
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
[ ??? ]
Each blow came hard and fast as I closed my eyes, each one echoing in the dim room. I refused to fall. In the corner, barely visible, the girl watched us with arms folded, her face unreadable.
A flick of her hand, and the men froze in an instant. The sudden silence and stillness rang sharper than the strikes. Blood was dripping down my face, tears and saliva mixed, i catched my breath. The boss stepped forward. "Still not giving up?" Her voice calm and in a mockery tone she says, "No surprise after all your kind has endured slavery and violence." I groaned in pain as I slowly stood up. "Where…is my brother..!" It was hard to follow her with my vision getting blurry.
— I don't know? Why don't you tell us?
She grabbed me by my hair and slammed me hard against the concrete floor knocking my teeth out.
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
Victor's words hung in the air, unanswered. No one moved, no one spoke. The rooftop swallowed in silence, heavy pressing. I could hear nothing but the wind
It was Andrew who broke the silence then it was followed up with Anny running towards Victor. "Victor! Are you alright?!"
— Just what the hell is happening.
Anny approached Victor and he patted her head, assuring her. "ah, I'm fine, my jaw hurts a little thanks to your friend." Anny shifted her eyes on me and Romie who was hiding behind me, seeking shelter. She pointed her finger, "Look at him! Acting so differently now that people showed up!"
Victor limped, "I could say the same. You attacked us first."
His voice cut through the rooftop air: "Saving Raily's underdog— how utterly stupid."
Before the tension could snap, Anny stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm. "Victor! Stop it! That's the man that saved me!"
Her words rang out, sharp with desperation, but her tone faltered at the edges. She wasn't defending me nor condemning her friend, she was pleading, trying to bridge the gap between us.
I sighed, "She's not under any drugs or anything. Even if she was, why were you trying to kill her?"
It was strange seeing Victor again, the man who sacrificed himself and our original timeline to send me back, is now standing here in front of me. He knows who I am yet he's acting like he doesn't remember me. He did the same in the original timeline, avoiding me, dodging me until he finally had the courage to tell me who he was.
However, I'm not the old Zack back then, I'm not the same clueless Zack I was back then, I now know the whole situation and the truth. There's no reason to hide yourself from me, from us.
Victor stayed silent. He didn't have any justification other than that.
I looked back at Andrew, " We don't have time to lose. Could you check the path?"
Andrew nodded before using his skill again, I shifted my focus, "Anny, I've told you that your mother's life is in danger, no? If you wanna save her, you need to come with me."
Her eyes darted back and forth, unable to settle; widened slightly as if startled, but not fully panicked. "You mentioned..that the
As panic clawed up her chest. A few tears slipped free. She snapped her gaze upward, eyes wide and glistening, locking onto Victor with a raw urgency : "Victor…say something! Do something! Can't you command them to stop! You work with
Victor couldn't look at Anny's eyes and stared at the landscape. Indeed he was powerless when it came to decisions. It wasn't something Victor could stop, no one could.
— Anny, do you wanna save your mother or not?!
I was getting impatient. Andrew approached me and whispered : " Zack, we have to go. We need to start heading towards Victoria tomorrow morning. It will take us a few hours to reach the bunker and get everything ready for the trip."
Victor grabbed Anny's hands. "We'll save the queen, it's not a question. Let us go then"