The noise followed her.
But Aeris didn't hear it.
Lira's words.
Kael's voice.
Ethan's expression.
All of it faded—
the moment her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She stared at it for a second.
Then opened it.
No greeting.
No name.
Just one line.
"You finally stepped outside."
Her fingers didn't move.
Her expression didn't change.
But something—
deep inside her—
went still.
Another message appeared.
"Did you miss me?"
Silence.
For a moment—
the world around her disappeared.
Then—
a file loaded.
A video.
Her thumb hovered.
Paused.
Then—
she pressed play.
Static.
Darkness.
And then—
Her house.
Six years ago.
The angle—
wrong.
Too high.
Too still.
Like someone had been watching.
Breathing.
Waiting.
A shadow moved across the frame.
And then—
a voice.
A child's voice.
"…Aeris?
The screen glitched.
Cut.
Black.
Her phone slipped—
just slightly—
in her hand.
For the first time—
her breathing wasn't steady.
Not fear.
No.
Something worse.
Memory.
"Who sent that?"
The voice came from behind her.
She didn't turn.
Didn't answer.
Because she already knew—
who it was.
Or at least—
what it was.
"…It started again."
A pause.
Then—
footsteps.
Closer.
Kael stopped beside her.
He didn't ask for the phone.
Didn't try to see.
He just watched her.
And for the first time—
his expression changed.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Focused.
"When?"
"…Just now."
Silence.
A long one.
Then—
"Nocthra vel…"
Literal meaning:
"You are bound to me beyond time."
Real meaning:
"Whatever is coming… you won't face it alone anymore."
Aeris's eyes shifted slightly.
"…You don't even know what this is."
He didn't hesitate.
"I don't need to."
A pause.
Then—
his voice dropped.
Lower.
Sharper.
"I know it's connected to you."
And that—
was enough.