The space had no walls, and yet they were enclosed. No ceiling, and yet above them hovered a dome of stars that seemed to move in slow, synchronized motion, singing in soft pulses. In the center of it all stood a structure - a dais made of roots and stone, wrapped around a pulsating orb the size of a heart. It was beating. Alive.
"What is it?" Jude whispered.
Rose stepped forward. "The Source."
Emma stared at it. "It's alive."
"It's us, " Layla said, brushing fingers through Grace's hair as they approached.
"The island has been growing this," Sophie murmured. "Or we've been growing it."
Natalie nodded. "Every dream, every song, every time we touched and shared our desire - it was feeding this."
Jude stepped closer. The orb pulsed faster, its light deepening to a rich crimson, then glowing pink, then gold. It throbbed in time with his heartbeat. He didn't need to ask - he knew it was responding to him.