3rd Eye

The rooftop was silent now, save for the faint hum of electricity coursing through the threads around me. My heart still raced from the encounter, my body trembling with a mix of adrenaline and dread. The man's words echoed in my mind, layered with meaning I couldn't fully grasp.

*"All you need to do is survive."*

Survive what? The Third Eye? The Veil? Or something far worse?

I clenched my fists, staring at the spot where he had stood just moments ago. He wasn't just a guide or a mentor—he was a manipulator, weaving his own threads into the chaos of my life. Every word he spoke felt like a carefully placed trap, designed to keep me tethered to this nightmare.

But why? What did he stand to gain by helping—or hindering—me?

That night, I returned to the notebook, determined to uncover its secrets. The symbols had shifted again, rearranging themselves into patterns that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly light. As I traced them with my fingers, I felt a strange warmth emanate from the pages, as though the book itself was alive.

One phrase stood out among the rest:

**"THE THIRD EYE IS A KEY."**

A key to what? The Veil? The Unveiled World? Or something else entirely?

Before I could dwell on it further, the whispers returned, louder and more insistent than ever.

*"Open it,"* they urged. *"Unlock the truth."*

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the page. The energy within me surged, responding to the call of the threads. Slowly, I pressed my palm against the glowing symbols, channeling the power of the Third Eye into the notebook.

The world shifted.

I wasn't in my apartment anymore.

Instead, I stood in a vast, endless void. The ground beneath my feet shimmered like liquid glass, reflecting a sky filled with swirling galaxies. Threads crisscrossed the expanse, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with life. In the distance, a massive structure loomed—a towering spire made entirely of intertwined threads, glowing with an otherworldly light.

At its base stood the man from the park.

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice low and deliberate.

"I'm tired of your games," I snapped, stepping closer. "Tell me the truth. What are you hiding?"

His piercing blue eyes narrowed, studying me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "The truth is not something you're ready to face."

"Try me," I growled, my voice trembling with frustration.

He sighed, shaking his head. "Very well. But remember—you asked for this."

With a flick of his wrist, the threads around him erupted into motion, swirling violently like a storm. They coiled together, forming a crimson spiral that twisted into the shape of a dagger—the same one he had given me before.

"This," he said, holding it aloft, "is the Key."

"The Key to what?" I demanded, my voice rising.

"To everything," he replied cryptically. "The Third Eye, the Veil, the Unveiled World—they are all connected. And you, Akihen, are the linchpin."

"What does that mean?" I pressed, stepping closer.

"It means the Third Eye isn't just a power—it's a gateway. A bridge between worlds. And if you fail to master it, the gateway will collapse, unleashing chaos upon both realms."

Before I could respond, the ground beneath us trembled violently. The cracks in the spire widened, and a shadow emerged—a monstrous figure composed entirely of writhing black tendrils. Its eyes glowed red, fixing me with a gaze that froze me to the core.

"The Unveiled are drawn to instability," the man said urgently. "If you cannot mend the Veil, they will tear it apart."

The creature let out a deafening roar, charging toward us with unnatural speed. Instinctively, I raised my hand, and to my astonishment, a thread shot forth from my palm, lashing out like a whip. It struck the creature, causing it to recoil momentarily. But it wasn't enough—it recovered almost instantly, lunging at me again.

"Focus!" the man shouted. "Feel the flow of Aether! Channel it through your Third Eye!"

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the panic threatening to overwhelm me. Beneath the chaos, I felt it—a current of energy coursing through me, connecting me to the threads around me. I reached for it, pulling it into myself, and when I opened my eyes, the world was bathed in light.

The threads responded to my will, weaving themselves into a barrier between me and the creature. It slammed against the shield, snarling and thrashing, but the barrier held firm. Emboldened, I pushed forward, directing the threads to wrap around the creature's body. They tightened, binding it in place, until it dissolved into nothingness with a final, ear-splitting scream.

Breathing heavily, I turned to the man. "Is that it? Is it over?"

"For now," he replied. "But this is only the beginning. The cracks will grow larger, and the Unveiled will become stronger. You must prepare yourself, Akihen. Learn to master your abilities—or risk losing yourself entirely."

As he spoke, the void began to dissolve, the threads unraveling around us. I felt myself being pulled backward, the vision fading into darkness.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in my apartment. The notebook lay beside me, its pages blank once more. My body ached, and my forehead throbbed where the scar lay, pulsating faintly beneath my skin.

But despite the exhaustion weighing me down, I couldn't shake the feeling of exhilaration coursing through me.

For the first time, I hadn't just seen the threads—I had used them. Controlled them. And while the experience had been terrifying, it had also been intoxicating.

The madness wasn't a curse.

It was a weapon.

And I was ready to wield it.

The next morning, I decided to test my newfound abilities. Standing in the middle of my apartment, I focused on the threads, weaving them together into a glowing lattice. With a flick of my wrist, I sent it hurtling toward the wall, where it exploded in a burst of energy that left a scorch mark on the plaster.

I laughed—a wild, unhinged sound that echoed through the empty room. For a moment, I felt alive in a way I never had before. Powerful. Invincible.

But the laughter quickly turned to tears as the whispers returned, their voices rising in a cacophony of laughter and screams.

*"You cannot conquer us,"* they taunted. *"We are part of you."*

I clenched my fists, fighting back the urge to scream. Because deep down, I knew they were right.

The Third Eye wasn't just consuming me.

It was testing me.

And I wasn't going to break. Not this time.