The black door stood open.
Nobody moved.
Aanya stared into the darkness.
“Who remembered before me?”
Nightfall didn’t answer.
The Keeper stepped forward.
“Aanya, don’t go near it.”
She looked at him.
“You know.”
His silence was enough.
Aarav turned toward him.
“Tell us.”
The Keeper shook his head.
“Some memories are dangerous because they are true.”
Aanya’s voice became firm.
“Then let me see it.”
The silver key in her hand suddenly glowed.
The darkness behind the door moved.
Then— a small figure appeared.
A child.
Aarav.
Aanya’s breath caught.
“That can’t be…”
The Keeper whispered,
“It’s his first memory.”
Aarav stared at his younger self.
The child was standing alone.
No Ravenhall.
Only the black door.
Then another figure appeared behind him.
Aanya.
But she was older.
Much older than the little girl beside him in the previous memory.
Aarav stepped back.
“That isn’t possible.”
The Keeper closed his eyes.
“It wasn’t supposed to be.”
Aanya looked at him.
“What happened?”
The Keeper finally spoke.
“Your memories were never created at the same time.”
Aanya stared at him.
“Then whose came first?”
The Keeper looked at Aarav.
“His.”
Aarav’s face went pale.
“But I don’t remember her.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
The black door began closing.
Aanya rushed forward.
“Wait!”
The memory suddenly changed.
Little Aarav was crying.
A voice whispered to him: This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“Forget her.”
Aarav shook his head.
“No.”
“Forget her, and she will be safe.”
He looked toward the door.
Then whispered—
“I promise.”
Aanya froze.
Aarav looked at her.
“I made the promise.”
The Keeper nodded.
“You chose to forget her.”
Aanya’s eyes filled with tears.
“And I never knew.”
The room became silent.
Then the blackboard changed.
One final sentence appeared:
HE FORGOT YOU TO SAVE YOU.
Aarav looked at Aanya.
“I’d do it again.”
Before she could answer— the black door slammed shut.
And somewhere beyond it—
Nightfall whispered:
“Now you remember why.”