Morning didn't feel different.
But something had already moved.
---
Dev didn't check his phone.
---
It was still beside him—
screen dark.
---
He was awake.
Not recently.
For a while.
---
His eyes stayed on the ceiling.
---
Not empty.
Not thinking randomly.
---
Focused.
---
Kai.
---
Sky.
---
Arjun.
---
And—
Canora.
---
The sequence replayed.
Not as memory.
As structure.
---
Kai didn't go there by accident.
---
Sky was already there.
---
Arjun wasn't surprised.
---
And Canora—
had been there before all of them.
---
"…Not coincidence."
---
The words came out low.
---
Dev sat up.
---
The room felt normal.
---
But the pattern didn't.
---
He stood.
---
Didn't rush.
---
Didn't hesitate.
---
Just moved.
---
"If it started there…"
---
He paused.
---
"…then it doesn't end there."
---
---
Outside.
---
Kai stood near his bike.
---
Not leaving.
---
Not waiting.
---
Just there.
---
Dev approached.
---
No greeting.
---
No delay.
---
"You knew he'd be there."
---
Kai didn't look at him immediately.
---
"…Who?"
---
"Sky."
---
A pause.
---
Kai's gaze shifted slightly.
---
"Say it properly."
---
Dev stepped closer.
---
"You went there knowing something."
---
No anger.
No accusation.
---
Just direct.
---
Kai exhaled lightly.
---
"I went because I had to."
---
"That's not an answer."
---
"It's enough."
---
Silence.
---
Not empty.
---
Measured.
---
Dev's eyes didn't move.
---
"You're not surprised."
---
Kai looked at him now.
---
"And you are?"
---
"…No."
---
That answer stayed.
---
Dev continued.
---
"Arjun was already there."
---
"And he wasn't reacting."
---
"He was expecting."
---
Kai didn't interrupt.
---
"He knew something would happen."
---
Another pause.
---
"And Sky—"
---
Dev stopped for a moment.
---
"…he wasn't confused either."
---
Kai's grip on the handle tightened slightly.
---
"You're thinking too much."
---
"And you're not thinking enough."
---
The line stayed between them.
---
Not loud.
---
But sharp.
---
Kai stepped closer.
---
"You think this is something you can solve?"
---
"I think this is something that already started."
---
A pause.
---
"And we're already in it."
---
Silence followed.
---
Neither stepped back.
---
Then—
Dev moved first.
---
"I'm not waiting for it to explain itself."
---
Kai didn't respond.
---
But he didn't disagree.
---
That was enough.
---
---
Elsewhere.
---
Sky stood at the edge of the road.
---
The hoodie remained still.
---
No wind.
---
No movement.
---
His eyes followed nothing in particular.
---
"…So he noticed."
---
The words didn't carry far.
---
They didn't need to.
---
---
A different place.
---
Arjun stood near the same grave.
---
Empty now.
---
Unchanged.
---
He looked at the ground.
---
Not searching.
---
Confirming.
---
"They've started moving."
---
No reaction followed.
---
There wasn't supposed to be one.
---
---
Back.
---
Dev stood still.
---
The morning had already begun.
---
People moved.
---
Normal.
---
Unaware.
---
He exhaled slowly.
---
"…Alright."
---
Not acceptance.
---
Decision.
---
He turned.
---
"I'm not leaving this alone."
---
Kai watched him.
---
For a moment—
nothing was said.
---
Then—
he picked up his keys.
---
"…Do whatever you want."
---
Dev didn't look back.
---
"I will."
---
He walked forward.
---
Not fast.
---
Not slow.
---
Just certain.
---
The distance between them didn't feel the same anymore.
---
Not separation.
---
Direction.
---
Something had started.
---
And this time—
someone was moving toward it.