Jude's heartbeat thundered. "And you want to wear us?"
"We want to love you. To become you. To be many within one. To escape the sleep. You are the door."
"No," Grace said, voice low and fierce. "He's not."
The figure looked at her, and its face changed again, this time, it became Grace's.
"We are already within you."
And with that, it vanished.
Gone in a heartbeat, leaving only the quiet hum of the forest.
Jude turned to the others. They were breathing hard, clutching weapons, shaking. Serena collapsed to her knees. Natalie pulled her close.
"I think it's telling the truth," Jude said quietly. "Whatever it is… it's part of the island. Part of the dream. Maybe this whole place isn't real, not like we thought."
Sophie was pale. "Then what do we do?"
Jude looked back at the arch through the trees, its frame now distant and strange.
"We go back," he said. "We regroup. We plan."
They didn't argue.
