Chapter 5: The Threads of Eternity

The light from the scattered mirror went off, leaving Olivia floating in the air and going in circles while seeing different colors and shapes. She felt weightless, and still tied up, as though invisible ropes were holding her in place. Her surroundings shone with golden strands, with the ropes stretching endlessly in every direction. Each rope vibrated with energy, whispering small sounds laughter, screams, and whispers.

"Where am I?" Olivia asked, her voice sounding small in the vast expanse.

"You stand within the Threads of Eternity," a familiar voice answered.

Olivia turned to see the shadowy form of the Weaver appearing before her. Its figure was clearer now, humanoid yet otherworldly, with eyes that shone like twin stars.

"These threads," the Weaver said, pointing to the shining strands, "hold the fates of all beings across the multiverse. Each choice, each death, each birth—woven into the fabric of existence."

Olivia's gaze swept over the threads. Some shone brightly, while others were worn out or torn entirely. "Why are you showing all this to me?" she asked, her voice shaking. "What do you want from me?"

The Weaver bent its head. "You are not merely a victim of these threads, Olivia. Your soul is… special. Connected to mine in ways you cannot yet understand."

Olivia's heart raced. "What do you mean? Why me?"

Before the Weaver could answer, the golden key in Olivia's hand began to shine seriously. It vibrated with so much heat, and the threads around her vibrated in response. A sudden, sharp pull moved her away backward, and the Threads of Eternity dissolved around her. When she opened her eyes, she was back in the castle, lying on the cold tiled floor.

"Olivia!"

She looked up to check around and saw Austin kneeling beside her, his face looked worried and afraid of the uncertainties. He helped her sit up, his touch gentle but firm. "What happened? Where did you go?"

Olivia's mind filled with questions, but she focused on the one in front of her. "I saw the Threads of Eternity. The Weaver was there. It said my soul is connected to it somehow."

Austin's expression darkened. He looked away, as though checking his next words carefully. "There are things you don't understand, Olivia. Things I've been trying to protect you from."

She grabbed his arm, her voice firm. "Then explain it to me. I deserve to know the truth."

Austin hesitated before looking straight into her eyes. "I've been protecting you across timelines, Olivia. Every time you die, I try to change the outcome. But it's never enough. The Weaver always finds a way to pull you back."

Olivia's breath seized. "You've been following me through different timelines? Why? Why do you care so much?"

Before he could respond, the sound of footsteps sounded from the corridor. Paul appeared, his face soft and filled with worry. "You shouldn't be here," he said, looking seriously between Olivia and Austin. "The forbidden wing is dangerous."

Olivia stood, her legs shaky but determined. "I need answers, Paul. No more secrets."

Paul's jaw became firm. "If you've seen the Threads, then you already know how fragile this timeline is. You can't keep pushing, Olivia. It will break."

The golden key in her hand began to vibrate again, and Olivia felt it pulling her toward another part of the castle. She ignored Paul's protests and followed its guidance, Austin reluctantly at her side. The key led her to Lila's chambers.

Inside, Olivia found her adopted sister sitting by the window, her hands shining faintly with a soft, silver light. Lila's look was peaceful, but when she saw Olivia, her calm posture and looks changed immediately.

"You shouldn't have come here," Lila said with and indifferent voice, her voice filled with sadness.

Olivia's eyes narrowed. "What are you hiding, Lila? What's your connection to the Weaver?"

Lila's gaze went straight to her shining hands. "I… I've been helping it. Guiding events to ensure the timelines remain stable."

Austin stepped forward, his voice sharp. "You knew what it was doing to her? You let it happen?"

Tears filled Lila's eyes. "I had no choice! The Weaver controls everything. If I disobeyed, it would have destroyed all of us."

Olivia's chest tightened with a mix of feelings between anger and betrayal. "You were supposed to be my sister. How could you do this to me?"

Lila stretched to come close to her, but Olivia stepped back. "I didn't want this," Lila said, her voice shaking "But your survival is rearranging everything. The Weaver… it's growing desperate. If the timeline collapses, it will take everyone with it."

The ground underneath them started shaking, and the walls began to have cracks in them. The air started blowing seriously, and parts of the room disappeared out of existence. Olivia's hold on the key tightened as she felt its warm temperature.

"I'm not going to let it win," Olivia said, her voice steady despite the chaos around her. "I'll find a way to fix this—to break free from the Weaver's control."

Lila's face was still filled with fear. "You don't understand the strength. The Weaver… it's not just an entity. It's a force of nature. Fighting it could destroy everything."

"Then I'll take that risk," Olivia said firmly.

As the room continued to get destabilized around them, the key in Olivia's hand began to shine brighter than ever, pulling her toward an unseen destination. A voice sounded in her mind, low and scary:

"You cannot escape your destiny, Olivia. The threads will bind you, no matter how far you run."