[96] Through the Looking Glass

Xavier plummeted through darkness, his fingers still locked around Calypso's wrist. The void swallowed all sound except for the rush of blood in his ears. He couldn't tell if they were falling up, down, or sideways—direction had lost all meaning.

"Calypso!" he shouted but no sound came out.

A pinprick of light appeared in the distance, expanding rapidly. The darkness shattered into fragments, replaced by a kaleidoscope of colors that surrounded them. Purples and blues twisted into greens and golds, forming impossible geometric patterns that broke apart and reformed. The colors weren't just visible—they seemed to have weight and texture, pressing against Xavier's skin.

The sensation was familiar, reminding him of moments from his past life when everything hung in the balance.