The spirit realm trembled with suspended energy—sapphire skies laced with ghost-fire and muted winds that carried the distant howls of lost souls. Aria stood amidst that fractured beauty, her heart pounding like tribal drums. Beside her lay Caleb's spirit form—alive but vacant, his golden eyes dulled of their fire.
She had found him—but so many pieces were still missing.
"Caleb…" Her voice cracked like ice. She crouched beside him, hands trembling. "Do you—do you remember anything?"
He opened his eyes slowly, reaching out before pulling away. His gaze was distant, fogged with confusion.
"Aria…?" he whispered, voice threading uncertainty through the realm. "I… I don't know who I am."
Aria's chest tightened. This wasn't the reunion she'd dreamed of—this fractured soul was not the Caleb she knew. She swallowed hard, stepping closer, her whole being focused on rekindling what was lost.
