The reality crack widened, and with it, the children's powers surged uncontrollably. Luna's shadows began consuming walls while Sarah's starlight burned too bright to look at.
"Now," Alternative Cassius commanded urgently. "We have to go now."
The children rushed to embrace their chosen protectors one last time. No words seemed adequate.
Luna's shadows wrapped around Samantha like a final hug. Bob pressed a piece of paper into Marcus's hand—equations for remembering. Danny's last drawing raced across the wall, showing their family as it was, as it would always be in memory.
Ben held out Mr. Fluffles to Kai. "Keep him safe?"
But the stuffed animal was already changing, its shadow features becoming more pronounced.
Emma and Ethan's temporal ripples created echoes of their laughter throughout the room, like memories refusing to fade.
