The city twisted around them like a bad memory that refused to fade.
Streets stretched too far before folding into themselves.
Buildings leaned in strange angles, some sagging like they were melting, others twisting toward the sky like they'd forgotten gravity. Nothing made sense.
Some windows showed the world as it was. Others showed nothing at all. Some showed things that hadn't happened yet.
It was like walking through someone else's dream... or nightmare.
Bel, Crest, and Airi moved quietly through the broken maze of streets. The air was too still. The sky above was the wrong shade of blue. Every step felt like it echoed too long.
Crest stepped around a bent lamppost growing out of the road sideways. He reached Bel.
"Bel, please," he begged, voice low.
Bel didn't even look at him.
"Ten seconds."
Airi moved ahead of them, her pace quick. Either the dream didn't bother her… or something else did.
Crest jogged up beside her.
