"Something's not right," Samantha said after the other version of her left. "Did anyone else notice the garden shifting?"
Marcus moved to the window, studying the impossible space beyond. "The boundaries are becoming unstable."
"Like reality hiccupping," Kai added, watching a tree appear and disappear. "Very cosmic indigestion."
Maya approached with Lucas, both frowning. "The children felt it too. Their new bonds with you three seemed to... fluctuate when she was here."
Alternative Cassius returned without the children, his expression unusually serious. "They're safe upstairs, but we need to talk. That version of Samantha? She's not the only one who'll be appearing."
"What do you mean?" Marcus's tactical mind engaged.
"The time fold is collapsing," Alternative Cassius explained. "Not just here, but everywhere. Different versions of reality are bleeding through."
