Michael strokes Lloyd's hair, his heart heavy with the knowledge he carries. He glances at Monja, still unconscious.
Micheal: *He closes his eyes briefly, a silent prayer escaping his lips. The fate of two souls, two worlds, rests precariously in the balance.* Rest, little one. Your mother needs her strength.
Thousands of miles away, in Jin-Woo's Seoul apartment, Jinah paces anxiously in her brother's study.
Jinah: *She clutches a dusty, leather-bound tome, her fingers tracing the faded gold lettering. 'Souls Bound by Destiny', the title reads, eerily echoing the manga her brother loves to read.* This… this can't be a coincidence.
She flips through brittle pages filled with archaic script, her heart pounding. The room feels colder, the air thick with an unseen pressure.
Jinah: *She shivers, pulling a shawl tighter around her shoulders. The text speaks of soul-swaps, of dark entities harvesting life force, of realms colliding. A chilling parallel to Christopher's distress and her brother's odd behavior.* This… this explains so much…
Downstairs, Christopher sits at the kitchen table, staring blankly at a half-eaten bowl of cereal. He pushes it away, the phantom ache in his chest intensifying.
Christopher: *He rubs his temple, feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. Monja's distress echoes in his own being, a constant, agonizing reminder of their separation. He misses her terribly, the sound of her laughter, the warmth of her presence.* What's happening to me?
Jinah enters the kitchen, attempting a casual demeanor, concealing the ancient book behind her back.
Jinah: *She forces a smile, emptying a glass of juice nervously in one go.* Christopher. Rough morning?
Christopher: *He looks up, his gaze meeting hers. He sees through her facade, sensing her unease. He feels a pang of guilt, knowing that this would never be his world.* Jinah, what's wrong? You're hiding something.
Jinah hesitates, her grip tightening around the hidden book. She opens her mouth to speak, but the words catch in her throat. The weight of the truth, the sheer impossibility of it, threatens to crush her.
Christopher: *He stands, his chair scraping against the floor. He reaches for her, his hand hovering just above her arm.* Jinah…