Chapter 92 – The Man Behind the First Door
The door slammed shut.
The sound echoed across the forest.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Evetyl stood frozen in front of it.
Her hand was still raised toward the place where the door had disappeared.
Kai stood beside her.
He was staring at the empty space.
"What just happened?"
Nobody answered.
The First Mother was on her knees.
Tears were running down her face.
Aren had never seen her cry before.
Neither had Elara.
The Curator slowly closed his book.
The First Thought wasn't moving.
Even the Eye remained silent.
Cr-Hook looked around.
"So..."
He swallowed.
"Is everyone else also pretending that didn't happen?"
Noah shook his head.
"I don't think anyone can pretend anymore."
Cr-Hook sighed.
"Fair."
Kai looked at Evetyl.
"Are you okay?"
She didn't respond.
"Evetyl."
She finally looked at him.
"I know him."
Kai's expression changed.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
Evetyl stared at the empty space.
"I don't know."
"That doesn't make sense."
"I know."
She pressed her hand against her chest.
"But I remember him."
"From where?"
She closed her eyes.
"Everywhere."
---
Aren slowly approached the First Mother.
"Mother."
She didn't look up.
"Who was that man?"
The First Mother wiped her tears.
"He was the first person to see the beginning."
Aren frowned.
"That's not an answer."
"It is the only answer I can give."
Elara stepped forward.
"You knew him."
The First Mother looked at her.
"Yes."
"Who was he?"
The First Mother looked toward Evetyl.
"He was the first person your sister ever loved."
The entire group became silent.
Kai stared at Evetyl.
Evetyl stared at the ground.
Aren's expression hardened.
"What?"
The First Mother continued.
"Before there were worlds..."
"Before there were timelines..."
"Before Crosshaven..."
"There was only the Garden."
"And in the Garden..."
"There were two children."
Evetyl slowly looked up.
"Me and him."
The First Mother nodded.
"And the third?"
Evetyl's voice was barely audible.
"Kai?"
The First Mother shook her head.
"No."
"Then who?"
She looked toward Kai.
"The third was created later."
Kai frowned.
"By Evetyl?"
"Yes."
Kai's expression became complicated.
"Then why did that man look like me?"
The First Mother looked away.
"Because Evetyl used him as the template."
Kai became completely still.
Evetyl looked at him.
"What?"
The First Mother continued.
"You created Kai using his memories."
Kai took a step backward.
"Why?"
"Because you wanted someone who would understand you."
Evetyl's eyes widened.
"I don't remember doing that."
"You forgot."
"Why?"
"Because you couldn't accept what happened next."
---
The First Thought suddenly spoke.
"I know."
Everyone turned.
It was holding its book tightly.
"I know what happened next."
The Curator looked at it.
"You said you didn't remember."
"I didn't."
The First Thought opened the book.
"Until now."
The pages began turning.
"I erased the memory."
"Not just from Evetyl."
"From myself."
The Curator stepped closer.
"Why?"
The First Thought stared at Evetyl.
"Because the memory contained something dangerous."
Evetyl asked,
"What?"
The First Thought looked terrified.
"Your first death."
---
Evetyl felt cold.
"Again?"
The First Thought nodded.
"But this death was different."
"How?"
"You didn't die naturally."
"You were killed."
Aren stepped forward.
"By whom?"
The First Thought looked toward the empty forest.
"By him."
The man from the door.
Evetyl's breathing became unsteady.
"Why?"
The First Thought shook its head.
"I don't know."
"You must."
"I only remember the end."
"What happened?"
The First Thought closed its eyes.
"The Garden was burning."
"The worlds hadn't been created yet."
"The laws of existence were collapsing."
"And Evetyl..."
It looked at her.
"...was trying to stop him."
Kai frowned.
"Why would he attack her?"
The First Thought answered:
"Because he believed she was going to destroy everything."
Evetyl shook her head.
"I wouldn't."
The First Mother whispered,
"You would."
Evetyl looked at her.
Her mother continued.
"You didn't want to destroy existence."
"You wanted to replace it."
Silence.
Evetyl couldn't speak.
---
The forest around them began changing.
Trees grew taller.
The sky became brighter.
The ancient house appeared again.
This time it was closer.
Almost within walking distance.
Kai looked at it.
"That's the house."
The Curator nodded.
"The First House."
Noah asked,
"Why is it appearing again?"
The Curator looked toward Evetyl.
"Because she remembers it."
Evetyl stared.
"I don't want to."
"You don't have a choice."
"Why?"
The Curator pointed toward the house.
"Because your memories are no longer inside you."
Evetyl frowned.
"Then where are they?"
The Curator looked at the forest.
"Here."
---
They began walking.
Nobody spoke much.
The forest was strangely peaceful.
Birds flew between the trees.
Small streams ran beside the path.
Flowers grew beneath their feet.
It should have felt beautiful.
Instead, Evetyl felt like she was walking through a graveyard.
Every few steps, she remembered something.
A table.
A window.
A childhood toy.
A voice.
A laugh.
A promise.
Then she remembered Kai.
Not the Kai beside her.
The older one.
The first one.
He was sitting under a tree.
Evetyl was beside him.
They were children.
He was holding a small wooden sword.
"You can't protect everyone."
"I can try."
"You'll get hurt."
"So?"
"I don't want you to."
Evetyl smiled.
"Then stay with me."
"I will."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
The memory disappeared.
Evetyl stopped walking.
Kai noticed.
"What happened?"
She looked at him.
"He promised me."
"Who?"
"The first Kai."
Kai was silent.
"What did he promise?"
"To stay."
Kai looked away.
"Sounds familiar."
Evetyl smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
---
They reached the house.
The door was already open.
The First Mother stopped.
"I can't go inside."
Aren looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because I wasn't there when it happened."
Evetyl frowned.
"What happened?"
The First Mother looked at the house.
"I arrived after the end."
Elara asked,
"What end?"
The First Mother answered:
"The beginning of your world."
She stepped backward.
"Evetyl..."
"Yes?"
"Whatever you see inside..."
"Don't believe all of it."
Evetyl nodded.
Kai stepped beside her.
"We'll be careful."
The First Mother looked at him.
"Especially you."
Kai frowned.
"Me?"
"You were made from his memories."
"That doesn't mean I'm him."
"I know."
She looked sad.
"That's why I'm afraid."
---
Evetyl and Kai entered the house.
The door closed behind them.
The room was exactly as she remembered.
Three chairs.
A wooden table.
The window.
The bed.
But now there were drawings on the wall.
Children's drawings.
Evetyl walked closer.
One drawing showed the Garden.
Another showed the First Mother.
Another showed the First World.
Then she saw one that made her stop.
It showed three figures.
Evetyl.
Kai.
And the man from the door.
Above them was a strange symbol.
Evetyl touched it.
The drawing moved.
The room disappeared.
---
She was standing in the Garden.
Everything was white.
The first Kai was standing beside her.
He looked young.
Maybe fourteen.
Evetyl was the same age.
He was holding the First Key.
"You shouldn't have made it."
Evetyl crossed her arms.
"I needed it."
"You don't know what it opens."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
He looked angry.
"You think the First Door leads to another world."
"It does."
"No."
He stepped closer.
"It leads to the place before worlds."
Evetyl stared.
"What's there?"
Kai shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Then why are you afraid?"
"Because he knows."
"Who?"
Kai looked toward the horizon.
"The one behind the door."
Evetyl felt a chill.
"Have you met him?"
"Once."
"What happened?"
"He showed me the future."
Evetyl's expression changed.
"What did you see?"
Kai looked at her.
"You."
"Me?"
"You standing alone."
"Where?"
"At the end of everything."
Evetyl stared.
"What were you doing?"
"You were crying."
"Why?"
"Because everyone was gone."
She became silent.
Then she asked,
"Did you see yourself?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Beside you."
Evetyl smiled.
"Then it wasn't so bad."
Kai looked at her sadly.
"You didn't understand."
"What?"
"I wasn't alive."
---
The memory changed.
Evetyl saw herself standing in front of the First Door.
The older Kai was behind her.
He was wounded.
Blood covered his clothes.
"Evetyl."
She turned.
"You're hurt."
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I know."
He smiled.
"Listen to me."
"What?"
"Don't open it."
Evetyl looked at the door.
"I have to."
"No."
"I need to know what's inside."
"You already know."
"No."
She shook her head.
"I only know what everyone tells me."
Kai stepped closer.
"You trust me, right?"
"Yes."
"Then trust me now."
Evetyl looked into his eyes.
"I can't."
He became silent.
"Why?"
"Because you lied to me."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"When?"
"You said you would stay."
Kai looked away.
"I tried."
"You failed."
"I know."
Evetyl's eyes filled with tears.
"You left me."
"I died."
"You still left."
"I didn't have a choice."
"You always say that."
Kai looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
Evetyl raised the First Key.
"Then I'm sorry too."
Kai's expression changed.
"What are you doing?"
She turned the key.
The First Door opened.
A massive light appeared.
The Garden began collapsing.
Kai ran toward her.
"Evetyl!"
She looked back.
For a moment...
She smiled.
"I'll see you again."
Then the door swallowed her.
---
Evetyl returned to the house.
She collapsed against the wall.
Kai caught her.
"Evetyl!"
She was crying.
"He died."
Kai held her.
"Who?"
"The first you."
Kai became silent.
She continued.
"He died because of me."
"No."
"I opened the door."
"You didn't know."
"I should have."
Kai looked at her.
"You were a child."
"That doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
Evetyl looked at him.
Kai wiped a tear from her face.
"I'm not him."
"I know."
"But I'm here."
She closed her eyes.
"Yes."
"I'm not going anywhere."
She opened her eyes.
"Promise?"
Kai smiled.
"Promise."
---
A sound came from upstairs.
Three knocks.
Everyone outside the house heard them.
Aren immediately reached for his weapon.
The First Mother looked terrified.
"He's here."
The Curator opened his book.
"Who?"
The First Mother whispered,
"The first Kai."
Evetyl heard her.
She stood.
"Kai..."
Her companion looked at her.
"I'm here."
"No."
She pointed toward the stairs.
"Not you."
The knocking came again.
Three times.
Kai stared at the stairs.
"Then who?"
The First Thought suddenly shouted from outside:
"Evetyl! Don't go upstairs!"
She froze.
The Curator shouted:
"The house is a memory trap!"
Evetyl stepped backward.
But another voice came from upstairs.
Her own voice.
"Don't listen to them."
Evetyl's blood ran cold.
The voice continued.
"You came here to remember."
A figure appeared at the top of the stairs.
It was Evetyl.
But older.
Much older.
Her hair was white.
Her clothes were torn.
Her eyes were filled with exhaustion.
She looked at Kai.
Then at Evetyl.
And whispered:
"I'm sorry."
Evetyl stared.
"Who are you?"
The older Evetyl smiled sadly.
"You."
Kai stepped in front of Evetyl.
The older Evetyl looked at him.
"Move."
"No."
"You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
The older Evetyl looked at him with sadness.
"You always were stubborn."
Kai froze.
"You remember me?"
She nodded.
"I remember everything."
Evetyl stepped beside Kai.
"What happened to you?"
The older Evetyl looked toward the window.
"I opened the First Door."
"And?"
"I saw what was behind it."
"What?"
She looked directly at Evetyl.
"The truth."
"What truth?"
The older Evetyl whispered:
"There was never supposed to be a world."
Everyone outside the house became silent.
The older Evetyl continued:
"We weren't created to live."
"We were created to forget."
Evetyl felt her heart sink.
"Forget what?"
The older Evetyl's expression broke.
"That existence already ended."
The room became freezing cold.
Kai looked at Evetyl.
"What does that mean?"
The older Evetyl didn't answer.
Instead, she looked behind them.
At the wall.
A black crack appeared.
Then another.
The First Door began forming inside the house.
The older Evetyl stepped backward.
"He's coming."
Kai tightened his grip.
"Who?"
She looked at him.
"The first version of you."
Kai's face went pale.
Then the door opened.
A man stepped through.
The same man from the Garden.
The same man from the painting.
The same man who had stood behind the First Door.
He looked at Evetyl.
Then at Kai.
His expression was strangely gentle.
He smiled.
"Hello, Aeterna."
Evetyl couldn't breathe.
He looked at Kai.
"Hello, little brother."
Kai froze.
The man continued:
"I've been waiting for you."
Kai whispered,
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"You really don't remember."
He raised the First Key.
"I am the first person you were made from."
A pause.
Then his eyes turned toward Evetyl.
"And I am the person who killed Aeterna."
The older Evetyl began crying.
"No..."
The man looked at her.
"Don't worry."
He smiled.
"We'll fix it this time."
The First Door opened wider.
Behind him stood an endless army of silent figures.
All of them looked like Evetyl.
All of them looked like Kai.
And at the very back...
stood a single enormous shadow.
The shadow raised its head.
Every light in the world went out.
Then it spoke.
"Evetyl."
She froze.
"I have remembered you."
The man beside the door stepped aside.
"Now..."
"...let us remember the ending."
To Be Continued...