The void was endless, a canvas of darkness flecked with fragments of shattering light. Ava hovered, suspended, her chest heaving as whispers clawed at her mind—soft, relentless, venomous.
"You failed him," one hissed, its voice jagged like broken glass.
"Your fire was never enough," another taunted, a dagger of icy truth.
She spun, clutching her head. The shards around her floated like memories splintered beyond recognition—moments that once belonged to her but now eluded her grasp. Each fragment flickered, teasing glimpses of warmth, pain, and faces she should have known. A figure emerged from the shadows, its silhouette familiar and heart-wrenching.
"Lucas," she whispered, her voice trembling with hope and despair.
