Chapter 5 – The Girl with Silver Hair

Chapter 5- The girl with silver hair

The morning after finding the sketchbook, Kael couldn't concentrate.

Every time he looked at Noah...

His heart ached.

As if he had spent a lifetime missing someone he couldn't remember.

"Kael."

Noah snapped his fingers in front of him.

"You've been staring for five minutes."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

Noah grinned.

"You still suck at lying."

Kael rolled his eyes.

"...Why do you keep acting like we've known each other forever?"

Noah's smile faded.

"...Because to me, we have."

Lunch Break

Kael walked alone to the rooftop.

He needed fresh air.

Instead...

Someone was already there.

A girl stood at the edge of the roof, her long silver hair dancing in the wind.

She didn't turn around.

"I was wondering how long it would take before you started remembering."

Kael froze.

"You know me?"

"I know every version of you."

She slowly faced him.

Her eyes were unlike anything Kael had ever seen.

One was silver.

The other... a deep crimson.

"My name is Elara."

"Who are you?"

She smiled sadly.

"Someone who's failed to save you."

Before Kael could ask another question—

The rooftop door slammed open.

Noah stood there, breathing hard.

His expression...

was filled with fear.

"Kael!"

The moment Noah saw Elara—

His face turned cold.

"You found him."

Elara folded her arms.

"It wasn't difficult."

Noah stepped between them.

"Stay away from him."

Elara laughed.

"Still pretending to be his hero?"

"You don't understand."

"No, Noah."

Her smile vanished.

"You're the one who refuses to understand."

For a moment...

Nobody moved.

The wind howled across the rooftop.

Kael looked between them.

"You two know each other?"

Neither answered.

Instead—

Elara looked directly at Noah.

"How many times has it been now?"

Silence.

"...Three hundred?"

"...Five hundred?"

Noah lowered his head.

"...I stopped counting."

Kael's heart skipped a beat.

Five hundred... what?

Elara sighed.

"Tell him."

Noah remained silent.

"You owe him the truth."

"I can't."

"If you don't..."

She looked at Kael.

"...The next reset will erase him completely."

Kael's blood ran cold.

"Reset...?"

Noah grabbed Kael's wrist.

"We're leaving."

"Noah!"

"Not now."

"You can't keep running."

"I said not now!"

For the first time...

Noah shouted.

The pain in his voice was unmistakable.

As Noah pulled Kael toward the stairwell...

Elara spoke one final sentence.

Not to Noah.

To Kael.

"Tonight, at exactly 2:13 a.m.... don't open your bedroom door."

That night...

2:12 a.m.

Kael lay awake, staring at the glowing numbers on his alarm clock.

His room was silent.

2:13.

Knock.

...

Knock. Knock.

A voice came from the other side.

Soft.

Gentle.

Almost familiar.

"Kael..."

"It's your brother."

Kael's breath caught.

His older brother had died years ago.

The knocking came again.

Slower this time.

"Please..."

"Open the door."

Kael's hand reached for the doorknob...

End of Chapter 5

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