The Vanishing Truth

The world fractured.

Lena felt herself dissolve, the air rushing past her skin as she vanished into the void. For a brief, weightless moment, she existed in the space between—a realm of neither light nor shadow, where the echoes of reality blurred into nothingness.

Then—

She reappeared.

She gasped, stumbling forward as her body snapped back into existence. The cold air hit her like a slap. Her legs buckled, her vision swayed. The world around her settled.

She was outside.

The night was dark, the distant hum of the city muffled by the pounding in her ears. She spun, her breath fogging in the cold air.

Where was Riven?

Where was her mother?

Her mind reeled. The last thing she remembered was the Watchers closing in, her mother's cold voice slicing through the silence.

"You weren't supposed to remember."

Lena's stomach twisted.

She had used her ability on instinct.

But she hadn't controlled it.

She hadn't chosen where to go.

The realization sent a shiver down her spine.

If she had teleported somewhere randomly… what about Riven?

Her pulse pounded.

She had to go back.

She had to find him.

But before she could move, a voice cut through the night.

"You're getting better at that."

Lena froze.

A figure stepped out from the shadows.

Tall. Lean.

And too familiar.

Dark eyes met hers, gleaming with amusement.

Rehan.

The boy from the rooftop. The boy from her nightmares.

The boy who had tried to take her.

Lena's breath hitched.

She took a step back, her fingers curling into fists. "Stay away from me."

Rehan smirked, tilting his head. "I just saved you."

Lena stiffened.

"Saved me?" she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief.

Rehan spread his hands. "You think you teleported on your own? Not quite."

Lena's heart pounded. "You—"

"I pulled you out," he interrupted smoothly. "Right before they got their hands on you."

Lena's stomach twisted. "Why?"

Rehan stepped closer, his dark eyes sharp. "Because I don't want them to erase you. I want you to remember."

Lena's breath caught.

Her mind screamed not to trust him.

But there was something in his voice—something almost… desperate.

"You know who I am," Lena whispered.

Rehan's smirk faded.

"Yes," he said quietly. "And so did Riven."

Lena's pulse skidded. "Riven—"

"He's still there," Rehan said. "Still fighting. But he won't last long."

Lena's stomach dropped.

She had left him.

She had vanished, leaving him behind.

No—

She had to go back.

Lena turned—

But Rehan grabbed her wrist.

"You're not ready."

His fingers were warm against her skin, firm yet careful.

Lena yanked her hand away. "I don't care."

Rehan exhaled sharply. "If you go back now, you'll lose. Do you want to get captured?"

Lena's jaw tightened.

"Then tell me what I need to know," she snapped. "Tell me who I am."

Rehan studied her, his dark gaze unreadable.

Then—

He sighed.

And said the last thing she expected.

"You were supposed to be my wife."

Lena's breath left her in a rush.

The world tilted.

"What?" she whispered.

Rehan's lips curled into a bittersweet smile. "In your past life."

Lena's legs felt weak.

Past life.

The words rang in her skull.

Was that what they had erased?

Had she lived before?

Had she been someone else—**Aarya Sen—**and had her life been rewritten?

She swallowed, her thoughts spiraling.

"That's impossible," she muttered.

Rehan chuckled. "No, it's just inconvenient."

Lena's head spun.

Her mother. The Watchers. Riven.

Rehan.

Everything was tangled in a truth she couldn't grasp.

But one thing was clear.

She had to remember.

Before it was too late.

Lena squared her shoulders.

"Fine," she said. "Tell me everything."

Rehan's smile widened.

"Gladly."

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