Chapter Twenty- One: The Echo of Truth

Selene's POV

The world around me felt as though it was teetering on the edge of collapse. The chasm separating us from the figure of my father grew wider, the earth cracking under the immense pressure of our shared reality and the dream world colliding. Callista clung to my arm, her grip tight, her breath shallow. The strength I usually found in her presence was being tested by the sight of the man I thought I knew standing across from us.

My father—no, the manifestation of my father—stared at me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. His eyes were dark, filled with a knowledge I wasn't sure I wanted to uncover. He took a step closer to the edge, the chasm between us just barely keeping him from reaching out to me.

"Selene," he spoke, his voice echoing in the stillness. "Why are you here?"

The words felt like a punch to my gut. Why was I here? The question held a weight far beyond the literal meaning. I knew he wasn't asking why I stood in the dream world at that moment. He was asking why I had pursued this connection, why I had allowed myself to be drawn deeper into the dreams, despite all the warnings.

"Dad… what's happening?" I asked, my voice cracking under the pressure of my confusion and fear.

"This place is dangerous," he replied, his tone firm but with an underlying softness I rarely heard from him. "You weren't meant to be here, Selene. You've crossed a line that can't be uncrossed."

Callista shifted beside me, her eyes darting between me and the figure that resembled my father. I could feel her unease mirroring my own, her presence a grounding force even as the world around us threatened to fall apart.

"But I—" I began, only to be cut off by his next words.

"You've been dreaming of her since you were a child. It's not a coincidence. There's a reason the two of you were brought together in this world. But the cost of finding out that reason could be more than you're prepared to pay."

His words sent a chill through me. I had always believed the dreams were a fluke, a beautiful mystery that had brought Callista and me together. But now, faced with the possibility that there was something far more deliberate and dangerous at play, I wasn't sure how to proceed.

"What do you mean?" Callista asked, her voice steady even as the ground trembled beneath our feet.

The figure of my father turned his gaze to her, his expression softening slightly. "There are forces at work here that neither of you understand. The dream world is a reflection of something much deeper—something ancient and powerful. It's no longer just a dream. It's becoming real, and with that reality comes a price."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "But what can we do? We didn't ask for this."

"No, but now that you're here, you must decide how far you're willing to go. There's no turning back. If you choose to continue, you'll need to face the consequences of that choice."

The chasm began to glow, a soft, pulsating light emanating from its depths. It was hypnotic, drawing my gaze even as I fought to focus on the figure of my father. I felt a pull, like an invisible thread connecting me to the light, to the truth that lay buried within it.

"I don't know if I'm strong enough for this," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.

Callista squeezed my hand, her touch reassuring and warm. "You're not alone, Selene. We're in this together."

Her words were like a balm to my frayed nerves. I turned to face her, finding the strength I needed in the depth of her eyes. We had come this far, and now, standing on the precipice of something far greater than ourselves, I knew I couldn't back down.

The figure of my father watched us, his expression unreadable. "If you choose to go forward, remember this: not everything is as it seems. The truth may be harder to face than the lies you've told yourself."

With those words, he began to fade, the edges of his form blurring as if he were being pulled back into the void. The chasm continued to pulse with light, and I could feel its pull growing stronger, tugging at something deep within me.

As the dream world began to dissolve around us, I held onto Callista's hand with all my strength, determined not to let go. Whatever came next, whatever truths we were about to uncover, I knew that we would face them together.

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Author's POV

As the dream world collapsed, Selene and Callista found themselves standing on the edge of a revelation that would challenge everything they thought they knew. The figure of Selene's father, with his cryptic warnings and ominous presence, had left them with more questions than answers. But one thing was certain: the dream world was no longer just a place of fantasy. It had become intertwined with their reality, bringing with it the weight of ancient forces and the promise of hidden truths.