Cherreads

Chapter 18 - Final Freeze

Arc: Frozen Echo — The Climax

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Scene: The Heart of the Frosted Womb

Aren, Aika, and Tomo stood before a massive frozen crystal wall.

And inside it— Eira. Frozen in time.

Tomo (softly):

"Bro... this is it. The core.

Spiral's fractured essence is sealed here… and so is she."

Aika (whispering):

"Eira… that girl... We've seen her before. Remember?"

Aren (breathing heavy):

"I remember.

The first time I saw her… there was something in her eyes.

Pain. Not ordinary pain… but the kind that carries memories too heavy to bear."

Flashback Overlay Begins

Tomo's voice echoed as fragments flashed —

A girl screaming into snow.

A spiral flashing violently in her eyes.

A final cry... fading into silence.

Tomo (narrating):

"Eira was always there.

Buried under Spiral's curse… a shadow of herself.

But the real Eira — the one who once smiled —

she was frozen within this eternal prison."

Flashback Ends

Suddenly, the crystal pulsed.

A shockwave of cold blasted out.

And then…

Eira's eyes opened inside the ice.

Eira (weakly, muffled):

"Aren… help… me…"

Aren stepped forward.

Aika grabbed his arm, panicked.

Aika:

"Aren, stop! Spiral's seal is cracking —

If it pulls you in, you might—!"

Aren (firmly):

"I won't lose her. Not again."

He placed his palm on the ice.

The Spiral mark on his hand ignited — glowing crimson.

Tomo (urgent):

"Bro! Spiral reaction—triggered! Memory stream incoming!

If you do this… your memories could be replaced!"

Aren closed his eyes. Calm.

Aren:

"I'll take her pain.

Her memories.

If that's the price… to bring her back."

FLASH!

Light erupts

Time spirals

Eira screams inside

Aren clenches his fist

CRACK!

The ice shattered.

And Eira collapsed into Aren's arms.

Silence.

Even the snow had stopped falling.

Eira (softly):

"Aren… I… I remember you…

Since the very first time…"

Aren (smiling):

"Then don't forget again.

Because now, we both carry the same story."

Tomo (teary blink):

"Let's go home, bro…"

Final Scene:

Above them, the sky cracked.

The Spiral symbol shattered… just a little.

And from within that rift —

A voice spoke.

??? (Spiral?):

"You've broken the ice…

But can you survive when time begins to burn?"

Aren looked up. Calm.

Fearless.

Aren:

"Try me."

End Narration:

> "Frozen truths melt…

But the scars they leave behind — shape the future."

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Volume 2 – End

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