OPERATION WINTERSPINE (Strings Between Us Book 2)

CHAPTER FIFTY: OF LAUGHTER, LIGHTS, AND LINGERING SHADOWS

He was frozen. Teetering between reaction and paralysis. And I knew... this wasn't just surprise. This was fracture.

Then a text from Saichel appeared, stark and serious:
"He's drifting away."

I didn't reply. I just stared at the space where Xythe had vanished. I just hoped he was fine.

"Riyee..."

KD's voice pulled me back. He studied me, worry etched across his face. "You suddenly look pale. Are you okay?"

I gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm okay."

"You sure? You know we can just go home if you don't want to do this date," his tone was hesitant.

I clung to his arms, letting the warmth of him anchor me. "Yes, I'm sure. Let's do this date. I don't want all your effort planning this to go to waste."

He relaxed a little at that, the tension in his shoulders easing, and I let myself focus on him—on the steadiness of his presence. For a brief moment, the pull from elsewhere, that faint, uneven pulse I still sensed at the edge of my awareness, faded. Just KD, just us.

And that's when our adventure in EternaPark finally began.

First, he dragged me to Velocity Valley—the Thrill Zone. The air practically hummed with adrenaline.

The Eterna Coaster loomed first: a record-breaking inverted rollercoaster with loops and skyline views. KD's grin widened, that spark of mischief lighting his eyes.

"Oh, I'm trembling," I teased, rolling my eyes as we shot up the first loop. The wind tore past us, and I screamed half in fear, half in exhilaration.

KD laughed, that low, carefree laugh I couldn't help but love. "I think you just lost your cool," I yelled mid-loop.

"Me? Never," he shot back, grabbing my hand mid-ride. "You, on the other hand..."

I snorted, gripping his arm tighter. "Yeah, yeah. I'm the weak one. Got it."

Next, KD dragged me to Neon Circuit—the kind of ride designed for people who think go-karts are too tame and holograms make everything better.

"You're going down," he declared dramatically.

"Oh please," I replied, elbowing him playfully. "You only think you're fast."

We barreled through the neon-lit track, laughing and jabbing at each other. At one point, KD tried a sneak maneuver, and I shouted, "Cheater!"

He just smirked, leaning over to flick my shoulder. "All's fair in love and racing."

I caught Seb and Tofer in the background, arms crossed but grinning as they watched us zoom past. Even the stoic ones couldn't resist enjoying the spectacle.

Then we wandered into Whimsy Woods, the enchanted forest glowing softly with Glowpath Trails. Lanterns lit our steps, and I could hear KD whispering little jokes about "enchanted forest monsters" lurking behind fake cobwebs.

"Oh no! The fairy king is going to get us," he said in mock fear.

"Then you better protect me, oh mighty king," I shot back, twirling dramatically.

He laughed, brushing my hair from my face. "I protect you from everything... except your terrible jokes."

Alexie and Keryn passed by, pointing out some hidden animatronic creatures to the kids around them. I caught Saichel sneaking up behind them with a little scare—chaos incarnate, just like always.

Celestia Dome came next. VR goggles on, we launched into Starship Odyssey. KD grinned like a kid steering a spaceship. "Brace for warp speed!"

"Warp speed? More like KD-speed panic," I teased, dodging virtual asteroids.

He shot me a look, half mock-offended, half amused. "You're just jealous of my stellar piloting skills."

Floating in Zero-G Zone afterward, we bounced and stumbled, trying to mimic astronauts in training. KD leaned over to flick me mid-jump. "Careful, or I'll push you into orbit."

I retaliated by nudging him off balance. "Try it, space cowboy."

I spotted Lyle and Keryn bouncing nearby, laughing as they tried to time their jumps perfectly. Even Thres, ever the calm one, couldn't hide a small smile as he landed gracefully next to them.

When hunger finally hit, I dragged KD toward Sunset Cove, the beach-style lounge with soft sand, cafés, and lake views. I love beaches and lakes. Looking at them make me calm.

"You still wanna continue going around after this?" A hint of concern from KD.

I nodded. "Yeah. We really need this kinda of mundane thing. Because once we went back to school, you will be busy. So let's enjoy while we can."

He didn't say anything and just nodded too.

After we ate I dragged KD toward Dreamscape Plaza, near the entrance. The place was welcoming, whimsical, and magical—like stepping into a storybook.

We wandered through shops and boutiques, picking up park-exclusive plushies, accessories, and little "Forever City charm" souvenirs.

KD, of course, insisted on picking the silliest plushie for me. "This one screams your level of drama," he teased, holding up a glittery unicorn.

"Excuse me? I am not that dramatic!" I shot back, swatting his arm.

He just laughed, and I couldn't help grinning as I hid the unicorn in my bag.

Around us, I spotted Alexie browsing trinkets with Saichel leaning over her shoulder, clearly pointing out which ones were "most chaotic," while Lyle and Keryn wandered nearby, whispering and laughing at something only they understood.

We slipped into the noise of Food Street, neon signs flickering against steam. For a moment, the Heartbeat Ring at my pinky finger stirred—just a faint thrum, then silence.

Like someone brushing past me in a crowd only to vanish before I turned.

I swallowed, forcing myself to focus on KD ordering skewers with ridiculous confidence, not the echo slipping too close, too far.

As sunset approached, KD dragged me to the Eterna Skywheel, a massive Ferris wheel overlooking Forever City and Lake Aurielle.

"You do have a thing for Ferris wheels," I teased, remembering the first summer festival we'd attended, when he practically begged me to ride that rusty old one.

"Ferris wheels are the highlight of any theme park," he said, grinning like he'd just delivered a profound truth.

We rode in silence at first, taking in the view—the city lights flickering on, the lake shimmering, and the horizon painted in orange and pink. But even in this perfect moment, a thread of tension tugged at me. Xythe's pulse had been distant all day, and I hadn't caught even a flicker of his shadow anywhere.

Then the Aurielle Fireworks Festival began. Bursts of color exploded in perfect sync with music, reflected on the water below. KD's hand found mine, fingers intertwining, and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Perfect ending?" he murmured, looking out over the fireworks.

"Perfect," I agreed softly, squeezing his hand.

For that moment, it was just KD and me, suspended above it all. And yet, even as the sky bloomed with color, I felt it—Xythe's absence wasn't silence. It was a fractured pulse, a lingering shadow I couldn't shake."