–The Tower Awaits_
The wind howled as we stood at the base of the old clock tower, its rusted hands frozen at midnight—like time itself had chosen this place for the impossible. Shadows danced beneath the broken bricks, and every creak of the metal stairs above felt like a warning.
Luna—me, technically—tightened her grip on my wrist. "You sure about this?"
"No," I admitted, "but I'm doing it anyway."
We climbed in silence, each step echoing our heartbeat. The moon peeked through shattered glass as we reached the top. There, etched into the wooden floorboards, was the same strange symbol that had pulsed with light the night we switched.
The altar was already there.
So was Ajax.
He stood in a hooded jacket, nervously pacing. "You came," he said, surprised. "I wasn't sure you'd find the nerve."
"We set the timer, didn't we?" Luna snapped—classic her, even in my body.
Ajax raised an eyebrow. "Did you bring your offerings?"
We both nodded. I pulled out the worn sketchbook I'd carried since I was little, filled with drawings and secrets I never let anyone see. "This is mine."
Luna held up her necklace—the one from her sister. Her hands trembled. "This... this is hers. And it's time I let go."
Ajax took a step back. "You're giving up who you were to become who you're meant to be. That's the price."
A gust of wind slammed the door behind us.
The symbol on the floor flickered, glowing crimson.
"Stand opposite each other," Ajax instructed.
We obeyed.
"Say your names. Your real names. Not the ones you've worn for each other."
"Maya Grace," I said, voice clear.
"Luna Vexley," she replied.
A hum vibrated the tower, low and ancient. Our objects burst into flames between us, consumed by invisible fire that didn't burn the floor. My body—Luna's—glowed briefly, and for a moment, I saw myself again. Like looking into a mirror. Or a goodbye.
Then—
Light.
Blinding, pulsing, overwhelming light.
And silence.
I woke up lying on the cold floor, heart pounding. My fingers curled around my old sketchbook—untouched by fire. I sat up and looked across.
She was there.
Luna. In *her* body.
I looked down at my own hands.
Mine. Again.
We stared at each other in disbelief.
"Did it... work?" I asked.
Luna blinked. "I think so."
Ajax exhaled with a laugh. "You did it. Holy crap, it actually *worked*."
I smiled.
Then Luna grinned. "Maya, we're back."
And just like that, the clock began ticking again.