29

"That’s not the way home."

Anna’s voice broke the silence as her eyes fell on the unfamiliar road ahead. She turned to Joseph, her confusion clear.

He kept driving, unbothered, with a calm smile on his face. "We’re not going home," he replied simply, his tone teasing.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Then where are we going this late at night?" she asked, feeling a mix of unease and curiosity.

Joseph’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, but he said nothing.

"Oh, it’s a surprise, isn’t it?" Anna ventured, her lips pressing into a small smile of her own as she watched him.

"Maybe," he replied with a playful shrug, his eyes still on the road.

Anna sighed but couldn’t help the flicker of intrigue in her heart. Whatever Joseph had planned, he clearly wasn’t going to ruin the mystery.

After some time, the car slowed, and Joseph pulled over onto a dirt path that led to a dark, desolate area. The headlights of the car dimmed as he stepped out without a word. He turned back to her and gestured for her to follow.

"Come on," he called.

"Here? In the dark?" Anna hesitated, gripping her phone tightly. Her thumb hovered over the flashlight icon.

"You trust me, don’t you?" His voice carried over the stillness, steady and sure.

Anna sighed, muttering under her breath. She turned on her phone’s flashlight as she stepped out of the car, the beam of light cutting through the shadows. Joseph was already walking ahead, seemingly unfazed by the surrounding darkness.

"You’re really not going to use any light?" she called after him, squinting to make out his silhouette.

He turned slightly, his face barely visible in the faint glow of her flashlight. "It’s better this way," he said simply before continuing on.

Anna frowned but followed him, her curiosity stronger than her hesitation. They climbed a rocky path, the terrain uneven and steep in some places. Finally, Joseph reached a higher point and stopped, standing perfectly still as he gazed at the sky.

She caught up with him, panting slightly, her flashlight still illuminating their path. But before she could say anything, Joseph turned and walked back toward her.

"You won’t see what I want to show you with that light," he said, reaching for her phone. He gently switched off the flashlight, plunging them into darkness once again.

"Joseph, what—" she started, but he placed a hand over her eyes.

"Just trust me," he murmured.

Anna stood still, letting him guide her. When he moved his hand away, her eyes slowly adjusted.

What she saw took her breath away.

The world around her seemed to glow softly, an otherworldly light casting everything in an ethereal shimmer. The night sky, filled with stars, seemed closer than ever, as if she could reach out and touch them.

"Amazing," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. She turned to Joseph, her eyes wide.

He smiled and took her hand, leading her to a vantage point. Ahead of them was something even more extraordinary—a small piece of land floating in the air, just above the mountain’s peak. It looked like a bridge suspended in nothingness, glowing faintly in the moonlight.

"This," Joseph began, gesturing toward it, "is the connection between my world and yours."

Anna stared at it, her mouth slightly open. "You mean... this leads to your planet?"

Joseph nodded. "Exactly. That’s the gateway. It’s invisible to humans—well, most humans."

"Has anyone from Earth ever used it?" she asked, her voice hushed as if afraid to disturb the magic of the moment.

Joseph hesitated, then nodded again. "Yes. Knox."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Knox? He’s been to your world?"

Joseph chuckled softly. "Not exactly. He found this place by accident, years ago. He had come here, intending to end his life. But instead, he discovered this."

Anna listened intently as Joseph continued.

"When Knox stepped onto that land, it sent ripples through our planet. Normally, only my kind can survive there. But Knox... he was different. The freezing didn’t harm him, and he breathed as though he belonged there. We allowed him to stay, though it was unprecedented. He’s the only human who’s ever been there and survived."

Anna blinked, trying to process everything. "Why him? What made him different?"

Joseph explained, "Some rare humans are born with traits that make them compatible with both worlds. Knox is one of them. We’ve tested others, but none lasted longer than a few seconds."

"And you?" Anna asked cautiously. "You’re staying here. Won’t your body... fail?"

Joseph smiled, a glimmer of reassurance in his expression. "I’m one of the few who can live here without harm. One in a thousand of my kind has this ability."

Her face lit up with relief. "So, you can stay on Earth forever?"

He laughed softly. "Not yet. I still have responsibilities to my planet. I need to find someone to take my place before I can truly stay."

"But what if you don’t find anyone?" she asked, worry etched into her features.

He looked at her with quiet determination. "We know someone who can—Knox."

Her eyes lit up in realization. "Of course! Knox could do it. But will he agree?"

Joseph nodded slowly. "His destiny is tied to my world, even if he doesn’t know it yet."

Anna smiled, her heart swelling with hope. "You’re not leaving, are you?"

"Not unless I have to," Joseph assured her.

They sat together on the edge of the mountain, the surreal glow surrounding them. The moon above was full and seemed close enough to touch. For a moment, the weight of their worlds didn’t matter. They were simply two souls sharing the magic of the night.