The moment Rose's sobs quieted in Sylus's arms, the world around them began to shift. It was subtle at first—a faint tremor in the air, like the aftershock of a thunderclap. Sylus tightened his hold on her, his instincts immediately on edge.
Then it happened. The walls of the safehouse seemed to ripple like water, their solidity melting into a haze. Objects around them—chairs, the table, even the small lamp—began to blur and distort, their outlines shimmering before flickering out of existence entirely.
Rose pulled away, her tear-streaked face contorting in shock as she looked around. "What… what's happening?"
Sylus's grip on her arm tightened protectively. "I don't know," he said, his voice unusually tense. For the first time, a flicker of genuine fear crossed his features.
The figure stood a few feet away, his shadowy form watching the chaos unfold with growing alarm. He turned toward Rose, his tone sharp and accusatory. "What did you do?"
Rose shook her head, confusion and panic flashing in her eyes. "I didn't do anything!" she protested, her voice trembling. "I don't even understand what's going on!"
The figure stepped closer, his form solidifying as his voice grew colder. "Oh, but you did, Rose. Whether you realize it or not, this is your doing."
"What are you talking about?" Sylus demanded, stepping in front of Rose protectively. "If anyone's responsible for this, it's you. You've been manipulating her from the start!"
The figure ignored him, his piercing gaze fixed on Rose. "You don't understand the power you hold, do you? You're not just any human. You're from the real world—the one place this game was never meant to touch. That makes you... unstable. Dangerous."
Rose's heart pounded in her chest. "I'm just a person," she whispered, though the words sounded hollow even to her. "I don't have any power."
The figure laughed bitterly. "Oh, but you do. Your emotions, your strength—those are things this world cannot contain. And now, with your breakdown, you've done the impossible. You're unraveling the game itself."
Sylus's breath hitched, his hand twitching at his side. He glanced around as the room continued to disintegrate. The once-solid walls were now transparent, revealing a void of swirling, endless light beyond them. The ground beneath their feet cracked, fragments of the floor drifting upward as though gravity itself was breaking apart.
"Rose," Sylus said urgently, his hands gripping her shoulders. "Listen to me. You have to calm down. Whatever this is, it's connected to you. If you don't get control—"
"Control?" Rose snapped, her voice breaking. "How am I supposed to control something I don't even understand?"
The figure sighed, his expression turning grim. "It's not about control. It's about the bond. You and him." He pointed to Sylus, his words cutting through the chaos like a knife. "The connection between you two—it's not natural. He's a part of this world, but his feelings for you are real. And you… you've tied yourself to him in a way that's destabilizing everything."
Sylus's jaw tightened. "So what? You're saying this is all because of us?"
The figure nodded slowly. "Precisely. Her being here was already enough to disrupt the game. But your bond? Your emotions? They've created a feedback loop of power that's tearing the entire system apart."
Rose felt her legs give out, and she sank to the ground, clutching her head as the figure's words sank in. "This can't be happening," she murmured, her voice shaking. "I didn't ask for any of this. I just want to go home."
The figure crouched in front of her, his tone softening for the first time. "You are special, Rose. More special than anyone here. But if this world falls apart, you won't have a home to go back to. You need to make a choice—now."
Rose's head snapped up, her eyes blazing with anger and pain. "A choice? Between what? Destroying the person I've come to care about or being trapped here forever? That's not a choice—that's torture!"
Sylus dropped to his knees beside her, his hand hesitantly brushing against hers. "Rose," he said quietly, his voice laced with guilt. "I… I never wanted this for you. I was selfish. I pulled you here because I couldn't help myself. Because I needed you. And now, I've made everything worse."