Page 27 of The Stars

Amy managed a weak chuckle. “Not exactly.” She leaned her back against a rock and reached out with shaky hands to unlock her phone screen. The brightness momentarily blinded her, but the familiar images of her world flickered across the screen—pictures of her friends, her family, and moments that felt like they belonged to a different lifetime.

Theo gasped as he stared at the images. “You can see into the future? Are these other worlds? Are these all gods?”

Amy smiled faintly, too tired to explain the complexities of technology. Instead, she swiped through the photos, showing Theo snapshots of her world. His face was a mixture of awe and disbelief, his young mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing.

“Are these the other gods?” Theo asked again, pointing at a photo of Dante, unaware of the connection between them.

Amy’s heart tightened at the sight of her brother’s face as he and Dante posed for the photo. She nodded slowly. “In a way, yes.”

Theo knelt beside her, his eyes wide with admiration. “You must be here to meet with the other gods. The gods don’t send people like you unless it’s to save us.”

Amy’s breath hitched. Save us. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that responsibility. She wasn’t even sure she could do it. But as she sat there, staring at her phone and at Theo, something stirred within her. The pain in her chest subsided just a little.

“Can you help me?” she said softly, her voice and her mind a little steadier now. If Dante was already here, would they think he was a god too? Would they have taken him somewhere where the gods meet? “Can you show me where the other gods would meet?”

Theo nodded eagerly. “Of course. It’s not far. I’ll take you.”

Amy leaned on him for support as they started their slow journey towards the town. Each step was a struggle, her body still aching, but Theo’s presence—his kindness—helped her push through most of the pain.

As they walked, Theo kept glancing at the phone in her hands, as though it were a piece of divine magic. He didn’t ask any more questions, perhaps sensing that she was too tired to answer.

Dante was out here, somewhere. And somehow, they would find each other. Somehow they had to stop that horrible future from happening.

After all, Joe had mentioned that Brea had gone to many different futures. Different possibilities. Did that mean nothing was set in stone? Could she and Dante really change what she’d seen?

As they neared the outskirts of the town, Amy felt her strength returning—slowly but surely. Whatever Moros had done to her, she wasn’t going to let it stop her. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.

As Theo led Amy through the bustling village streets, she noticed curious glances from the villagers who eyed her. She was here for something beyond their understanding, and even though Theo had been kind, Amy felt a deep sense of isolation growing inside her.

The buildings around them gradually gave way to an open space. The air felt different here—charged, heavy with something ancient. As they approached the base of Mount Cythus, Amy’s heart raced. The mountain loomed overhead, its jagged peaks cutting into the sky like the teeth of some great beast. There was an energy here, one she could feel thrumming beneath her skin, and it filled her with both anticipation and dread.

Theo stopped suddenly and pointed up the mountain path. “There,” he said, his voice quiet, as though he too could feel the presence of something far greater than either of them. “The theater is just beyond those trees. The gods speak to others there. I’m not allowed to go beyond this point.”

Amy swallowed hard, nodding. She had no idea what she was walking into, but she knew she had no choice. Dante was here. Somewhere. She could feel it. And the gods… She wasn’t sure what their plans were for either of them, but she knew they couldn’t turn back now.

“Thank you, Theo,” she whispered, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. His eyes lit up and he smiled shyly before running back towards the village, leaving her alone on the path.

The climb was steeper than she’d expected, every step reminding her how weak she still felt. But determination pushed her forward. The wind picked up as she neared the top of the pathway, swirling around her like unseen hands trying to pull her back.

Finally, the path opened into a grand amphitheater carved into the mountainside. It was immense, larger than anything she’d ever seen. The seats seemed to stretch on forever, rows upon rows of stone benches climbing towards the sky. At the center of it all, standing alone in the middle of the stage, was Dante.

Amy’s breath caught in her throat when she saw him, his silhouette striking against the backdrop of the ancient stone. He was staring up at the sky, lost in thought, the tension in his body palpable even from a distance.

Her heart leaped at the sight of him. He looked small from where she stood at the edge of the theater, but she could feel the power radiating from him even from this distance. He wasn’t the same Dante she remembered. Something had changed.

She took a step forward, her voice catching in her throat. “Dante…”

He turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers across the vast expanse. For a moment, there was nothing but silence between them. The world seemed to hold its breath as they stared at each other, two pieces of a puzzle that had been separated for far too long.

“Amy,” Dante breathed, his voice laced with relief and something else—something deeper.

She stepped onto the stone stage, her legs trembling beneath her. “Dante…”

Before she could say more, the weight of everything—the attack, the injuries, the overwhelming journey—hit her all at once. She staggered, feeling the world spin around her, and Dante was there in an instant, catching her before she collapsed.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. He looked over her face, his hand steadying her by the waist.

Amy blinked, forcing herself to focus. “I’m here. I made it. I didn’t have a choice,” she said. “Moros—he’s coming. He’s… killed everyone.”