*Chapter 4: The Past Unravels*
Aria's mind was still reeling as she stumbled out of the clock tower, J's words echoing in her mind like a mantra. Soulmates? Was it possible? She felt like she was living in a dream, one that she couldn't wake up from.
J followed her out of the tower, his eyes never leaving hers. "Aria, wait," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Let me explain."
Aria shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "Explain what?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
J took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto hers. "We're not just soulmates, Aria. We're also reincarnates. We've lived multiple lives, and our souls have been bound together across time and space."
Aria laughed, the sound bitter and harsh. "You're crazy," she said, trying to push him away.
But J held firm, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Aria's heart skip a beat. "I'm not crazy, Aria. I'm telling you the truth. And I can prove it to you."
He reached out, his fingers brushing against hers, and Aria felt a rush of memories, like a floodgate had opened in her mind.
Images flashed before her eyes, of a life long past, of a love that had been torn apart by fate. Aria saw herself as a young woman, with long hair and a white dress, standing in a field of flowers. She saw J, his eyes locked onto hers, his arms wrapped around her waist.
And then, the images changed, shifting to a different time, a different place. Aria saw herself as a warrior, fighting in a battle that wasn't hers. She saw J, his sword raised, his eyes blazing with fury.
The memories kept coming, each one more vivid than the last. Aria saw herself as a queen, ruling a kingdom with an iron fist. She saw J, his eyes cold and distant, his heart broken.
And through it all, Aria felt a sense of connection to J, a bond that transcended time and space.
When the memories finally faded, Aria was left feeling dazed and confused. She stumbled backwards, her eyes locked onto J's.
"What...what was that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
J's eyes were filled with tears, his face etched with pain. "That was our past, Aria," he said, his voice cracking. "Our lives, our loves, our losses. We're bound together, forever and always."
Aria's mind was spinning, her heart racing with emotion. She didn't know what to believe, what to think.
But as she looked into J's eyes, she knew that she couldn't deny the truth any longer.
She felt it, deep in her soul.