As Stephen sank deeper into the endless void of the glitched world, the darkness wrapped around him like a suffocating cocoon. It felt like his body was falling through an infinite abyss, his senses muted and distant. His limbs were weightless, and the coldness of the void pressed in from all sides, draining him of any strength he once had. There was no end in sight, only the endless, oppressive blackness.

His mind raced, but thoughts were disjointed, slipping through his grasp as quickly as they formed. It was as if he was floating outside of himself, disconnected from the world he once knew. He didn’t know how long he’d been falling—minutes, hours, days? Time had lost all meaning in this place.

And then, amid the suffocating silence, a voice called out to him.

“looks like i arrived just at the right time.”

The voice was steady, reassuring. It cut through the crushing emptiness like a flicker of light in the dark. Stephen’s mind clung to the sound of it, desperate for something to ground him in the vast void.

He didn’t recognize the voice, but it was calm, unshakable.

"You’re safe now,” it said, the words soft but laced with quiet strength. “Just breathe."

Stephen’s chest tightened at the mention of “safe,” but it was a word he couldn’t quite understand anymore. Was he safe here? The word felt like a lie. He couldn’t let himself believe it.

The void around him began to dissolve, and a new feeling washed over him—warmth. The coldness began to fade, replaced by a sense of grounding, something solid beneath him. Slowly, the swirling blackness receded, and the glitched world unraveled.

When Stephen’s eyes finally opened, he found himself in a new, unfamiliar place. A dimly lit room. The soft beeping of medical equipment filled the air, punctuated by the occasional murmur of voices. He inhaled, his chest still tight from the panic he had felt moments before. He was lying on a bed, an oxygen mask gently secured over his face.

For a second, confusion flooded his senses. Where was he? What was happening? His body felt heavy, sluggish. He wanted to sit up but found himself unable to move as quickly as his mind demanded.

The feeling of uncertainty grew, his heart racing in his chest. He blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The room was small, but warm. The lighting was dim, casting a soft glow that made everything feel oddly intimate. Nothing like the harsh, clinical brightness of a hospital.

A voice broke through his thoughts.

“Calli…” His voice was barely a whisper, strained, as if speaking took all of his remaining energy.

He turned his head weakly and found Ryuu standing beside him, his expression serious but not unkind. Ryuu’s gaze softened when he saw Stephen’s confusion, and he spoke in a calm, steady tone.

“She’s here,” Ryuu said, his voice like a gentle anchor in the whirlwind of Stephen’s emotions. “you both are in critical condition, but we’re doing what we can.”

Stephen’s breath hitched at the mention of Calli. His heart clenched, his mind racing. He didn’t know what to make of all this. He had no idea where he was or who these people were. Were they enemies of his father? Were they the reason he had been dragged into this nightmare in the first place?

Before he could voice his fears, Ryuu’s voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts. “You’ve been through a lot. You need to rest.”

Stephen felt a rush of panic flood his chest again. “I… I don’t know if I can rest…” he whispered, his voice shaky.

Ryuu placed a hand gently on his shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. “You don’t have to be afraid here. We won’t let That get to you.”