Kai didn't ask where.
---
He walked beside Dev—
---
just a step behind.
---
The road stretched ahead.
---
Nothing unusual.
---
People moved.
---
Shops opened.
---
Morning continued like it always did.
---
But it didn't sit right.
---
Dev slowed.
---
Not stopping—
---
just enough to look around.
---
"…You see it?" he asked.
---
Kai frowned slightly.
---
"See what?"
---
Dev didn't answer immediately.
---
He pointed ahead.
---
A signboard.
---
Half-lit.
---
Nothing special.
---
But—
---
the flicker wasn't random.
---
It repeated.
---
Same interval.
---
Same delay.
---
Kai stared at it for a moment longer.
---
"…That's just faulty wiring."
---
"Maybe."
---
Dev stepped closer.
---
Not to fix it.
---
To observe.
---
The light flickered again.
---
Exact timing.
---
Kai's posture shifted slightly.
---
"…Okay."
---
That was enough.
---
Dev moved past it.
---
Didn't stop there.
---
Because it wasn't the point.
---
It was part of something.
---
They turned into a narrower street.
---
Quieter.
---
Less movement.
---
The air felt different.
---
Not heavier.
---
Just—
---
less active.
---
Kai glanced around.
---
"You've been here before?"
---
"No."
---
"Then how are you—"
---
"I'm not."
---
Dev's voice stayed calm.
---
"I'm just following it."
---
A pause.
---
Kai exhaled lightly.
---
"…That doesn't sound better."
---
They walked deeper.
---
The street narrowed further.
---
Fewer sounds.
---
Fewer people.
---
Then—
---
Dev stopped.
---
This time—
---
completely.
---
Kai looked ahead.
---
Nothing.
---
Just a wall.
---
Blank.
---
No markings.
---
No signs.
---
"…Now what?" Kai asked.
---
Dev didn't respond.
---
He stepped closer.
---
Raised his hand slightly.
---
Not touching—
---
just hovering.
---
For a second—
---
nothing happened.
---
Then—
---
a faint shift.
---
Not visible.
---
But—
---
there.
---
Dev's eyes narrowed.
---
"…You feel that?"
---
Kai didn't answer immediately.
---
But he didn't deny it either.
---
The air—
---
wasn't still.
---
It was—
---
off.
---
Not moving.
---
Not reacting.
---
Like it wasn't part of the same space.
---
Kai took a step back.
---
"…That's not normal."
---
Dev lowered his hand.
---
"…No."
---
Silence stayed.
---
Not empty.
---
Just—
---
waiting.
---
"This wasn't where it started," Dev said.
---
Kai looked at the wall again.
---
"…But it's connected."
---
Dev didn't respond.
---
Because that part—
---
was already clear.