The world didn't break all at once.
It cracked.
Quietly.
Subtly.
Like something slipping out of place.
At first—
People ignored it.
A flicker in the sky.
A shadow that lingered too long.
A reflection that didn't match.
They called it stress.
Fatigue.
Imagination.
But then—
More people started noticing.
A man stopped in the middle of the street.
"…Did you see that?"
A woman turned.
"…See what?"
"…The sky just… moved."
She laughed nervously.
"…You're overthinking."
But even as she said it—
She didn't look up.
Because deep down—
She was afraid she would see it.
Across the city—
Screens flickered.
Phones glitched.
Cameras distorted.
People began recording.
Posting.
Sharing.
"Weird crack in sky???""My mirror just MOVED??""Is anyone else seeing this at night??"
The noise spread fast.
Too fast.
For the first time—
The truth wasn't hidden anymore.
It was leaking.
Meera stood on a rooftop.
Watching it all.
Her chest felt heavy.
"…It's spreading," she whispered.
Her reflection stood beside her.
Not in glass.
But in the air.
Faint.
Watching.
"…You did this," it said softly.
Meera clenched her fists.
"…I didn't mean to."
"…Intent doesn't matter," it replied.
A pause.
"…You remembered him."
Meera's voice shook.
"…Is he back?"
The reflection smiled slightly.
"…He never left."
Elsewhere—
The boy's room was empty.
The mirror—
Gone.
No glass.
No cracks.
Nothing.
Just a faint mark on the wall.
Like something had been there—
And was taken.
The boy stood in the street now.
Barefoot.
Still.
People walked around him.
Ignoring him.
But something was wrong.
His eyes.
They weren't afraid anymore.
They were… aware.
"…I remember," he whispered.
His voice—
Not fully his.
Layered.
Familiar.
Aarav.
He looked up at the sky.
At the crack.
It widened slightly.
Like it was responding.
"…So this is what happens…" he said softly.
"…when the loop ends."
A pause.
"…It doesn't stop."
"…It spreads."
Behind him—
A reflection formed.
Not in a surface.
In the air.
A figure stepped out.
Another version.
Not identical.
Not stable.
"…You're early," it said.
Aarav didn't turn.
"…No," he replied.
"…I'm late."
Silence.
The figure tilted its head.
"…Do you remember everything?"
Aarav's eyes darkened slightly.
"…Enough."
The figure smiled.
"…Then you know what comes next."
Aarav finally turned.
Facing it.
Not afraid.
Not confused.
Just… certain.
"…Yeah," he said.
"…Now they start seeing us."
Across the city—
More people stopped.
Looked up.
Turned around.
A girl froze in front of a mirror.
Her reflection blinked late.
"…No…"
A man heard his name whispered—
And answered.
A child stared into darkness—
And smiled back.
The rules weren't hidden anymore.
They weren't messages.
They weren't warnings.
They were—
Happening.
Meera looked at the sky again.
The crack now visible to everyone.
No denying it.
No ignoring it.
"…What do we do now…" she whispered.
A voice answered.
Right behind her.
Calm.
Familiar.
"…Now we stop pretending it's a game."
Meera turned slowly.
And saw him.
Not fully.
Not completely real.
But there.
Aarav.
Watching.
"…You came back," she whispered.
He shook his head slightly.
"…No."
A pause.
"…I spread."
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 18