Lin Xiao was shocked and quickly closed the windows. He staggered out of the bathroom, his head spinning from the overwhelming confusion and fear that had gripped him.
As he entered the dining room, the dizziness intensified, and he clutched his head, trying to steady himself.
His mother and sister were sitting together, their faces etched with concern. Lin Meiying, noticing her brother's unsteady gait and the pained expression on his face, immediately jumped up from her seat. She rushed over to him, her eyes wide with worry.
"Brother, are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with anxiety.
Lin Xiao forced a weak smile, trying to reassure her, but the pounding in his head made it difficult to focus. "I'm... I'm fine, just a little dizzy," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
His mother, who had been watching from the table, quickly joined them, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Xiao, you don't look well. Maybe you should sit down," she suggested gently.
Lin Xiao nodded, allowing his sister to guide him to a chair. As he sat down, the dizziness began to subside, but the unsettling feeling in his chest remained. He knew something was terribly wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to burden his family with the truth. Not yet.
Meiying hovered beside him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of what might be wrong. "Did something happen in the bathroom?" she asked, her voice soft but insistent.
Lin Xiao shook his head slightly, not trusting himself to speak. How could he explain what he had just seen?
"It's nothing, Meiying," he finally managed to say, though the words felt hollow. "Just a bit tired, that's all."
Lin Xiao sank into the sofa, trying to steady his breathing. His mind raced, but he forced himself to focus on the present, on the comforting presence of his family.
His mother sat across from him, her face lined with concern.
Despite her attempt to appear calm, Lin Xiao could see the fear flickering in her eyes—she was just as unsettled by the twin moons as he was.
"Xiao Xiao," his mother began, her voice soft and soothing, "you don't have to worry too much. These twin moons... they must be something natural, maybe an astronomical event or something. There's no need to stress over it."
Lin Xiao nodded, appreciating her attempt to reassure him, but he knew she was just as frightened. Her hands trembled slightly as she spoke, betraying the calm facade she tried to maintain. The truth was, none of them really understood what was happening, and that unknown gnawed at them all.
After a few moments, Lin Xiao managed to calm himself. He took a deep breath, letting the tension in his shoulders ease as he sank deeper into the sofa. His mother was right—there was no point in panicking right now. Whatever the twin moons were, he needed to approach the situation with a clear mind.
"You're right, Mom," Lin Xiao finally said, forcing a small smile. "There's no use in worrying about things we don't understand. We'll figure it out."
His mother smiled back, relief washing over her face, though the fear lingered in her eyes. Lin Meiying, who had been quietly observing, squeezed his arm gently, offering silent support.
As the atmosphere in the room gradually lightened, Lin Xiao suddenly heard a couple of soft meows. He looked up to see Xiao Bai and Little Blackie coming down the stairs. The two cats ran up to him, and Little Blackie jumped onto his lap. Lin Xiao felt a gentle nudge from Little Blackie, and suddenly, her voice echoed in his mind.
"Xiao Xiao," she said hurriedly, her tone tinged with anxiety. "I had a weird dream where there was a big earthquake and... I died. But I feel like it actually happened."
Lin Xiao froze, his heart skipping a beat. Little Blackie had experienced the same events he did. He stared at her, shocked, as she looked up at him with wide, worried eyes. This was no ordinary dream; it was as if she had lived through the same terrifying moment he had.
He stroked Little Blackie's fur, trying to calm both himself and the cat. "It's okay, Little Blackie," he whispered, though his voice betrayed his uncertainty. "Maybe it was just a bad dream."
Xiao Bai, oblivious to the tension, purred softly as she curled up next to him, her presence a small comfort. Lin Xiao continued to pet them, but his mind raced with questions.
If Little Blackie experienced the earthquake and remembered it, then what did that mean for him? Does she remember that stuff because of her time powers?
He needed answers, and he needed them soon.
Lin Xiao petted Little Blackie, trying to soothe both her and himself. Soon, Xiao Bai jumped up onto his lap as well, nudging him gently as if asking for pets too. Lin Xiao smiled faintly and began to pet him as well, but his thoughts were still tangled with confusion and worry.
Suddenly, Xiao Bai's voice echoed in his mind, his telepathic tone calm but laced with a hint of concern. "Xiao Xiao, there's something wrong with the tasty moon," she said. "It reminds me of the tunnel I go through when I use my powers."
Lin Xiao froze, his hand stilling mid-stroke. Xiao Bai had space-related powers, allowing him to warp through dimensions or teleport across distances. The idea that she could sense something similar in the twin moons sent a chill down his spine.
"What do you mean, Xiao Bai?" Lin Xiao asked, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to comprehend the implications. "Are you saying the moons are connected to your powers?"
Xiao Bai tilted his head, his big eyes staring up at him innocently. "It feels like the same energy, Xiao Xiao. Like a tunnel... but much bigger, and... darker."
Lin Xiao's mind raced. If Xiao Bai was right, then the twin moons weren't just some natural phenomenon—they were connected to something far more powerful and sinister. Could they be a gateway? Or perhaps some kind of portal similar to the tunnels Xiao Bai used?
He looked at his two cats, feeling a deepening sense of unease.