Kai ran before the world could break.
His grip tightened around Lina's wrist, pulling her forward through the crowded street.
"What are you doing?!" she snapped, stumbling slightly. "Kai!"
"Just trust me!" his voice cracked, sharper than he intended.
That sound
That wrong, unnatural crack
It was coming.
He could feel it in his bones now.
The air shifted.
The streetlight flickered violently overhead.
People slowed. Some looked around, confused.
Kai's heart slammed against his chest.
Now.
"Don't look back," he said.
"What are you talking about"
CRACK.
The world split.
Glass exploded outward behind them.
Screams erupted instantly.
"MOVE!" Kai shouted, dragging her harder.
They ran.
Through the rain.
Through the chaos.
Through the beginning of something that should not exist.
"I changed it…" Kai breathed.
They were farther this time.
Farther from the building.
Farther from where she died.
Hope.
For a split second
Hope.
Then
A deafening explosion behind them.
Not the building.
Not the same as before.
A car flipped violently into the air, spinning as if thrown by an invisible force.
Time slowed.
Kai's eyes widened.
"…Lina"
The car slammed down.
The impact sent a shockwave through the street.
Kai was thrown backward, his body hitting the ground hard.
Pain exploded through his back.
His vision blurred.
"LINA!"
He forced himself up.
Stumbling.
Desperate.
And then he saw her.
Lying on the ground.
Still.
Unmoving.
The smell of burning metal filled the air.
Smoke curled upward into the rain.
Kai's steps slowed.
"…no…"
He reached her.
Dropped beside her.
Shaking.
"…get up…"
Nothing.
"This isn't funny… Lina… get up…"
Silence.
His chest tightened until it hurt to breathe.
"I changed it…" he whispered.
So why
The world snapped.