A pool of blood spread beneath Ren's feet.
He stood still. Silent.
Staring down at Lyra's lifeless body.
"She's dead. They're all dead."
Sound swelled in his ears. Not screams. Not footsteps. Just the unbearable pressure of nothing.
He didn't hear the footsteps behind him. Didn't hear the voice full of rage and grief.
"Disgusting fucking humans… They're all dead because of monsters like you!"
Then came the pain.
A sudden, searing pressure—wet and white-hot. A hand. Through his back. Flesh tearing. Bones cracking.
Lyra's brother.
Ren didn't scream.
"I'm so cold."
Something trickled down his stomach. Sticky. Wet.
But no word could escape him—no thought strong enough to carry the pain away.
---
Then—black.
And again…
White.
That same endless light. That same silent heaven. And the same old man.
God.
Waiting.
Waiting for the question.
It doesn't come.
---
"My child…"
God's voice is soft. Strained.
Ren looks up, eyes full of something not quite rage, not quite sorrow.
"Why?"
God sighs. Strokes his beard.
"Because life is hard… and will always be hard. Admittedly, it's worse for some. But that, my child, is what makes you stronger."
Ren lowers his gaze.
"I want Lyra here. With me."
The words fall from his lips like glass. Soft. Barely heard. As if anything louder would shatter what little remains.
God pauses.
"I'm afraid… that's not possible. She is… elsewhere."
The silence that follows feels deeper than death.
---
"Don't worry. You'll have a new life very soon."
"Will Lyra be there too?"
Again, silence.
Then, finally:
"Yes. Now—no more questions. This next life of yours is going to—"
God stops.
Ren screams.
---
The cycle repeats.
A new child is born.
Then again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
And each time, the memories return sooner. And each time, the scream grows louder.
Until one day…
He wakes up as a baby. And remembers everything.
Every death. Every life. Every love.