Chapter #3: Bruises That Fade

After everything that’s happened, Kai is left dealing with more than just the emotional weight of another bad day. A violent encounter leaves him bruised, bloodied, and questioning just how much he can keep taking before something finally gives. But when Kai gets home, something strange happens. The pain begins to disappear. The swelling fades. Injuries that should still be there seem to vanish far too quickly. For the first time, Kai is forced to confront the possibility that the things he’s been feeling—the dreams, the memories, the sense that something about him is different—might not just be in his head. Some wounds are supposed to take time to heal. Kai’s don’t.