In a quiet room down the hall, Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, head down.
The message from the system still hovered in his peripheral vision.
One wish. Any wish.
He didn't care about the prize.
He didn't care about the competition.
All he cared about was seeing her again.
Selene.
He didn't care if she yelled at him or cursed him or told him to go away.
He just wanted to look her in the eyes.
And finally ask her the question that had haunted him every night since she disappeared.
Why did you leave us behind?
He clenched his fists.
'This time, I'm not letting you run.'
Ethan sat in the dim room, the system interface glowing in front of him, illuminating the bitter expression etched across his face.
His eyes scanned the announcement again—one wish, any wish—and a hollow feeling settled in his chest.
It should have been exciting. A chance to change everything.
But all he could think about was how many times he had already failed.
