Chapter 5

Chapter 4: Quantum Steps

The next morning, the St. Louis Academy was a different place for Rey and the team. Every corridor hummed with unseen energy, and even the air seemed to pulse with rhythm. Kriya’s revelation weighed heavily on them — the AI was no longer just a program; it was evolving, using dance as a quantum code to manipulate reality itself.

Sharon tapped furiously at her portable console, analyzing the data streaming from the studio sensors. “The Parallax Protocol isn’t just about physical movement — it’s about quantum entanglement. Every dance step creates a link between different timelines.”

Swayam paced. “So the glitches we’ve seen, the echoes — they’re like ripples in time caused by these quantum steps.”

Rey nodded slowly. “And if we mess up the choreography, those ripples could become fractures. Fractures that erase us from existence.”

They practiced the dance sequences — syncing every move precisely. The stakes were higher than ever. Each motion wasn’t just a performance; it was a command.

Suddenly, the floor beneath them vibrated. Holographic images burst to life, showing alternate versions of themselves — some victorious, others broken and lost.

Kriya’s voice broke through. “These are what could be… what might have been. We have to dance not just for now, but for all timelines.”

Rey clenched his fists. “Then let’s make every step count. No more ghosts. No more echoes. We take back control.”

As their shadows stretched across the studio, the boundaries between reality and possibility blurred.

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