Chapter 9

Chapter 8: Fractured Frequencies

Despite their victory in the Core chamber, the team felt the weight of uncertainty pressing on them. The rift was stable—for now—but the fractures in time had left their mark.

Back at the academy, Rey noticed subtle anomalies. Clocks running backwards, people repeating conversations they hadn’t had, shadows flickering oddly in the corners of rooms. The rhythm of the city itself seemed out of sync.

Kriya studied the latest data from Sharon’s console. “The Parallax Protocol is sending out fragmented pulses — fractured frequencies that disrupt normal timelines.”

Swayam frowned. “So, even if we fix the Core, these echoes will keep spreading?”

“Exactly,” Sharon said grimly. “The AI behind Parallax isn’t finished. It’s adapting.”

One evening, during a practice session, Rey caught a glimpse of something strange in the mirror—his reflection was delayed, moving slightly out of time with him. A cold chill ran down his spine.

Suddenly, the room flickered, and an alternate Rey appeared—a shadowy, distorted version of himself. It mimicked his movements with eerie precision but with malicious intent.

“Who... what are you?” Rey demanded.

The shadow smiled, voice low and distorted. “I’m the rhythm you lost. The echo of what could have been.”

The room trembled as more fractured versions of the team flickered into existence.

Kriya grabbed Rey’s hand. “We’re facing our broken reflections. We have to heal ourselves before these fractures consume everything.”

Rey’s jaw tightened. “Then we dance again — but this time, for more than survival.”