THE HUNT FOR KIERAN

The air in Natuka was heavier than before, as if the land itself was grieving. Andrea and Rebel stood at the edge of the ruins, catching their breath after their escape from the void. Their bodies ached, but there was no time to rest.

Kieran was still missing.

Andrea dusted herself off and turned to Rebel. "We need to move. Fast."

Rebel clenched his fists, his expression unreadable. "Something took him. And if we don't find him soon, we might never see him again."

Andrea frowned. "The portal. We should check there first."

Rebel nodded, but neither of them voiced the thought weighing on their minds.

What if Kieran had already *crossed into something worse*?

---

**A World Falling Apart**

They ran toward the portal, but the moment they stepped into the clearing, a chill crawled down Andrea's spine.

The portal wasn't *stable*.

The swirling energy cracked and flickered, as though it were on the verge of collapse.

Rebel cursed under his breath. "That's… bad."

Andrea approached cautiously, her wings twitching in anticipation of danger. "Natuka is unraveling." She looked at Rebel. "Do you feel it?"

Rebel exhaled slowly. "Yeah. And if we don't do something soon, this whole world is going to tear apart."

Andrea took a deep breath. "We find Kieran first. Then we fix the rest."

Rebel scoffed. "That's assuming we *can* fix it."

Andrea shot him a glare. "You didn't give up when it was just us trying to survive. Don't start now."

For once, Rebel didn't argue.

Instead, he closed his eyes and reached out with his powers, trying to sense any trace of Kieran's presence.

Seconds passed. Then—

A flicker. A *vision*.

Kieran, standing in a darkened place. Shadows curling around him.

His eyes… empty.

Rebel's breath hitched. He opened his eyes and turned to Andrea. "I know where he is."

Andrea's heart pounded. "Where?"

Rebel's voice was grim.

"The Forgotten Hollow."

---

#### **The Forgotten Hollow**

The journey to the Hollow was brutal. Natuka itself seemed to fight them every step of the way. The vines that had once whispered playfully now lashed out like snakes, trying to pull them under.

The sky, once filled with endless twilight, had darkened to a deep violet hue, streaked with crimson cracks.

Andrea dodged a massive root that nearly impaled her. "It's like the world *knows* we're trying to stop it from falling apart."

Rebel gritted his teeth. "Then we push through."

They pressed forward, avoiding the traps that Natuka had unknowingly set for them.

By the time they reached the Hollow, the ground beneath them was unstable, pulsing like a living thing.

Andrea shivered. "This place feels… wrong."

Rebel didn't respond.

He was staring straight ahead.

At *Kieran*.

---

#### **Kieran's Descent**

Kieran stood at the center of the Hollow, motionless.

His body was surrounded by swirling shadows, but his face was eerily calm.

Andrea's stomach twisted. "Kieran!"

No response.

Rebel narrowed his eyes. "Something's *holding him*."

Andrea took a cautious step forward. "Kieran, we're here. You're not alone."

Kieran's head *snapped* toward her.

His eyes were clouded, unfocused. "You shouldn't be here."

Andrea's breath caught in her throat. "We're here to save you."

Kieran chuckled softly—but it wasn't his usual laugh. It was *wrong*.

"I don't need saving."

Rebel swore. "Something's *controlling him*."

The shadows around Kieran pulsed, and the air grew thick with an unseen force.

Andrea realized—

This wasn't just *Kieran's* fight anymore.

It was theirs too.

And if they didn't act fast, they might lose him