Matthias froze, his hand remaining suspended in the heavy air, a paralyzed gesture of comfort.
"Olivia..." he breathed, his voice barely a whisper.
"No! No, don't call my name!" she shrieked, backing away until there was nowhere left to retreat. "You are not real... you are a phantom. An illusion!"
Desperate to anchor her to reality, Matthias reached out, his fingers seeking her hand to let her feel his warmth. But the moment his touch neared, Olivia violently slapped his hand away. Her eyes widened, staring at him with a horrifying, frantic gaze—an expression he had never seen on her face before. It was a volatile, shattering mix of pure terror, deep-seated brokenness, and absolute disbelief.
"You are not real," she whispered, her voice fracturing into a jagged whimper as she shook her head frantically. "I won't live in these delusions anymore. Vanish... please, I beg of you, just disappear!"
