Chapter 42: The Choice
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The rain hadn’t stopped.
Rasheed stood alone on the rooftop of St. Gabriel Clock Tower long after Mr. Vale disappeared.
The photograph remained clenched in his hand.
His father’s handwriting.
His father’s warning.
His father’s choice.
None of it made sense.
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The bookstore was unusually quiet.
Elias stood behind the counter.
He already knew why Rasheed had come.
“You met him.”
“I did.”
“And?”
Rasheed placed the photograph on the counter.
The old man’s face fell.
“So…”
“He finally showed you.”
“You knew this existed.”
“…Yes.”
“You hid it.”
“…Yes.”
Rasheed’s jaw tightened.
“Why?”
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Elias walked toward the fireplace.
For a long time…
Only the crackling wood answered.
Finally…
He spoke.
“Because your father didn’t disappear by accident.”
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Silence.
The words struck harder than any punch.
“What?”
“The Chrona Gate became unstable.”
“You already know that.”
Rasheed nodded slowly.
“But the truth is…”
“It was closing.”
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“The evacuation alarms were already sounding.”
“Everyone was running.”
“Everyone…”
“…except David.”
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Rasheed couldn’t speak.
Elias continued.
“There were still people inside.”
“Scientists.”
“Engineers.”
“Security staff.”
“The Gate was collapsing.”
“If it closed…”
“They would all die.”
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“So my father went back.”
“No.”
Elias looked him directly in the eye.
“He never left.”
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The room seemed smaller.
“When the evacuation began…”
“David stayed behind.”
“He held the stabilizer manually.”
“So everyone else could escape.”
Rasheed’s breathing became uneven.
“Why?”
“Because there wasn’t enough time.”
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Elias closed his eyes.
“I begged him.”
“I told him to run.”
“He smiled.”
“And said…”
’If someone has to stay…
…let it be me.’
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Neither of them spoke.
The only sound was rain tapping against the windows.
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“When the Gate collapsed…”
“We thought David had died.”
“But…”
Elias looked toward the ceiling.
“The Chronal Zone didn’t kill him.”
“It took him.”
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Rasheed slowly sat down.
Everything he’d believed…
Everything he’d imagined…
His father hadn’t been a victim.
He had been a volunteer.
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Across the city…
Omar couldn’t stop thinking about the hooded boy.
He opened the footage again.
Paused.
Zoomed.
Enhanced.
There.
On the edge of the frame.
The same backpack.
The same shoes.
The same posture.
He whispered,
“Who are you…?”
Before he could look further—
Every monitor in the room flickered.
The lights dimmed.
Emergency systems activated.
A computerized voice echoed through Helix.
UNAUTHORIZED CHRONA SIGNAL DETECTED.
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Deep beneath Helix Dynamics…
The silver ring began glowing.
By itself.
The Director stared silently.
Then turned toward Dr. Sato.
“It hasn’t reacted in twenty years.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
“What changed?”
She answered without hesitation.
“David reached him.”
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Far beyond Earth…
David stumbled across the fractured landscape of the Chronal Zone.
His breathing was heavier now.
The crimson energy surrounding him flickered violently.
He reached the remains of a towering structure that floated upside down in the endless sky.
At its center…
An ancient gateway stood dormant.
Covered in glowing symbols.
He pressed his hand against it.
Nothing happened.
He closed his eyes.
“Just a little longer…”
“I almost reached him.”
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Behind him…
A familiar voice echoed across the void.
“You always were stubborn.”
David slowly turned.
The crimson storm parted just enough to reveal a hooded silhouette.
Its face remained hidden.
Its body seemed to shift with the storm itself, as though reality refused to hold a single form.
Only two golden eyes burned beneath the hood.
David’s expression hardened.
“…You.”
The figure smiled faintly.
“It’s been a long time, David.”
David took a defensive stance.
“I remember the man you used to be.”
The smile disappeared.
“That man died the day the Gate opened.”
The storm surged between them once more.
Neither moved.
Neither attacked.
They had fought this battle long before either of them threw a punch.
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Back in the bookstore…
Elias opened one final drawer.
Inside rested David’s old wristwatch.
Cracked.
Frozen.
Stopped forever at 8:17.
“The exact second the Gate collapsed,” Elias said.
He handed it to Rasheed.
“I think…”
“…it’s finally time your father came home.”
Rasheed took the watch carefully.
For the first time since discovering his powers…
He wasn’t thinking about becoming stronger.
He was thinking about becoming the kind of man his father had been.
Someone willing to stand alone…
So others wouldn’t have to.
Outside…
Lightning illuminated the city skyline.
The watch ticked.
Once.
Then fell silent again.
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