Riven was falling.

There was no ground.

No sky.

No sound.

Only darkness.

Selene’s hand was still locked around his wrist.

“Don’t let go!”

Riven couldn’t see her.

“I’m trying!”

Something moved beneath them.

A shadow.

Huge.

Alive.

Riven looked down.

Two enormous eyes opened in the darkness.

He screamed.

“WHAT IS THAT?”

Selene looked down.

Her face became pale.

“The First Memory.”

The eyes disappeared.

Then something caught them.

Riven felt a violent impact.

He landed on something soft.

He opened his eyes.

Selene was lying beside him.

Riven sat up.

“Are you okay?”

Selene nodded.

“Where are we?”

Riven looked around.

They were standing inside a massive underground chamber.

The walls were covered with thousands of photographs.

Every photograph showed people.

Some were smiling.

Some were crying.

Some were alone.

Riven walked toward the nearest one.

A young man.

He looked familiar.

Riven touched the photograph.

The image moved.

The man turned his head.

Riven jumped back.

The man whispered:

“Don’t remember me.”

The photograph went black.

Riven stepped away.

“What is this place?”

Selene stood.

“The Archive.”

“Whose?”

“Everyone’s.”

Riven looked at the walls.

“These are memories?”

Selene nodded.

“Every memory the Heart has ever collected.”

Riven stared.

“How many?”

Selene looked around.

“Millions.”

Riven felt sick.

“How long has this been here?”

Selene’s answer was quiet.

“Longer than Nocturne.”

Riven turned.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Nothing about this place does.”

A sound came from the darkness.

Footsteps.

Riven raised his knife.

Selene stepped in front of him.

“Wait.”

Someone walked out.

Riven froze.

It was Kael.

His brother looked exhausted.

There were cuts across his face.

His clothes were torn.

But his eyes were normal.

“Kael.”

Riven ran toward him.

They hugged.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Riven pulled away.

“Are you real?”

Kael laughed weakly.

“That’s a terrible question.”

“I need to know.”

Kael looked at him.

“Yes.”

Riven sighed with relief.

“Where is Seraphine?”

Kael’s expression became serious.

“She followed us.”

Selene looked around.

“She can’t enter the Archive.”

“Why?”

“Because she isn’t real.”

Riven frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Kael looked at him.

“Seraphine is a memory.”

“Whose?”

Kael shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

Riven stared.

“You know something.”

Kael looked away.

“Not enough.”

Riven grabbed his arm.

“Tell me everything.”

Kael remained silent.

“Kael.”

His brother finally spoke.

“Six years ago, when we came here, we weren’t alone.”

Riven waited.

“Our parents were with us.”

Riven’s heart stopped.

“My mother was here.”

“Yes.”

“My father?”

Kael nodded.

“He was too.”

Riven looked at Selene.

“She told me my father was the first person erased.”

Kael shook his head.

“That’s not true.”

Riven froze.

“What?”

“Your father wasn’t the first.”

“Then who was?”

Kael looked toward the photographs.

“The first person who ever died.”

Riven stared.

“Who was that?”

Kael’s voice became quiet.

“Nobody knows.”

“That’s impossible.”

“The First Memory is older than names.”

Riven frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Kael pointed toward the darkness.

“Before people had names…”

“There were memories.”

Riven didn’t understand.

Kael continued.

“The first person died.”

“But nobody knew what death was.”

“So their family remembered them.”

“Then their friends remembered them.”

“Then their children.”

“Every generation passed the memory forward.”

Riven listened.

“Eventually, nobody remembered the person.”

“But the memory remained.”

Riven looked at the photographs.

“And that’s the First Memory?”

Kael nodded.

“Yes.”

“What does it have to do with Nocturne?”

Kael looked toward the ceiling.

“Everything.”

A deep sound echoed through the Archive.

The photographs began shaking.

Selene looked terrified.

“It’s waking up.”

Riven looked at her.

“What is?”

Selene pointed toward the darkness.

“The First Memory.”

The floor began to crack.

Riven stepped backward.

“Where is it?”

Selene shook her head.

“It isn’t somewhere.”

“Then what is it?”

She looked at him.

“It’s someone.”

The darkness moved.

A figure appeared.

At first, Riven saw only a shadow.

Then a person.

A young girl.

She was wearing a white dress.

Her hair was black.

Her face was pale.

She looked no older than ten years old.

Riven stared.

“Who are you?”

The girl looked at him.

“Do you remember me?”

Riven shook his head.

“No.”

The girl smiled.

“Of course.”

“Everyone forgets.”

Riven felt cold.

“What’s your name?”

The girl looked confused.

“I don’t have one.”

“Everyone has a name.”

“Not me.”

“Then what should I call you?”

The girl thought for a moment.

“Call me…”

She looked toward the thousands of photographs.

“The First.”

Riven stared.

“You are the First Memory?”

The girl nodded.

Selene stepped backward.

“No.”

The First looked at her.

“You remember.”

Selene’s face became terrified.

“Don’t.”

The First smiled.

“You were there.”

Riven looked at Selene.

“Where?”

The First pointed toward her.

“She killed me.”

Silence.

Riven stared at Selene.

“Is that true?”

Selene shook her head.

“No.”

The First laughed.

“She always says that.”

Riven stepped closer.

“Tell me the truth.”

Selene’s eyes filled with tears.

“I didn’t kill her.”

“Then who did?”

Selene looked at the First.

“She doesn’t know.”

Riven frowned.

“What?”

“The First Memory has no beginning.”

Selene looked at Riven.

“That’s why she’s dangerous.”

The First girl smiled.

“I am not dangerous.”

Riven looked at her.

“Then why is everyone afraid of you?”

The girl pointed at him.

“Because you remember me.”

Riven froze.

“I don’t.”

“Not yet.”

The First stepped closer.

“Your mother remembers.”

“Your father remembers.”

“Kael remembers.”

“Even Selene remembers.”

Riven looked at Selene.

“What do you remember?”

Selene didn’t answer.

The First smiled.

“Ask her about the night your family died.”

Riven’s heart stopped.

“My family didn’t die.”

The First looked at him.

“Didn’t they?”

Riven stepped backward.

“Tell me.”

Selene shook her head.

“Riven…”

“Tell me!”

Selene closed her eyes.

“Your family died six years ago.”

Riven froze.

“What?”

“You.”

“Kael.”

“Your mother.”

“Your father.”

“All of you.”

Riven couldn’t breathe.

“No.”

Selene continued.

“You died in the accident.”

Riven shook his head.

“I’m alive.”

“Your body is.”

Riven stared.

“Then what am I?”

Selene whispered:

“A memory.”

Riven’s world disappeared.

He remembered the accident.

The rain.

The car.

The headlights.

His mother screaming.

His father reaching for him.

Kael beside him.

Then darkness.

Riven fell to his knees.

“No.”

The First Memory stood beside him.

“Now you remember.”

Riven looked up.

Tears filled his eyes.

“Why am I here?”

The First answered.

“Because you refused to disappear.”

Riven stared.

“What?”

“Everyone else accepted death.”

“But you didn’t.”

“You were afraid.”

“You wanted to live.”

Riven remembered.

The Heart.

The question.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

His answer.

I WANT MY FAMILY TO BE SAFE.

The First Memory continued.

“The Heart gave you what you wanted.”

“It created a world where your family could continue.”

Riven looked at Kael.

“Then why is Kael here?”

Kael answered.

“Because I refused to stay in the memory.”

Riven looked at him.

“What?”

Kael stepped forward.

“I knew we were dead.”

“But you didn’t.”

“So I came here.”

“To find the truth.”

Riven’s voice became quiet.

“How long have you known?”

“Six years.”

Riven looked away.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because every time I tried…”

Kael touched his head.

“The Heart erased it.”

Riven looked at the First.

“Why did it create Nocturne?”

The First Memory smiled.

“It didn’t.”

Riven frowned.

“Then who did?”

The First pointed at him.

“You.”

Riven froze.

“No.”

“You created the city.”

“How?”

“With your memory.”

Riven looked around.

The endless Archive.

The dead.

The forgotten.

The Heart.

All of it.

The First explained.

“When you died, your final memory became powerful.”

“Your last wish became the foundation.”

“You wanted a place where nobody could die.”

Riven stared.

“So I created Nocturne?”

“Yes.”

“But why does it erase people?”

The First’s expression changed.

“Because you were afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Being forgotten.”

Riven looked at the photographs.

The First continued.

“So you created a city that could remember everyone.”

“But there were too many memories.”

“The Heart couldn’t hold them.”

“So it began removing people.”

Riven’s voice became quiet.

“To make space.”

The First nodded.

“Every person the city forgets becomes part of the Heart.”

Riven stared.

“Then I’m responsible.”

Kael stepped closer.

“No.”

Riven looked at him.

“I created this.”

“You were a child.”

“I still did it.”

“You didn’t know.”

“But I chose.”

Kael shook his head.

“You chose to live.”

Riven looked at him.

“And what did it cost?”

Kael didn’t answer.

Riven turned toward the First.

“How do I stop it?”

The girl smiled.

“You can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because the Heart is you.”

Riven froze.

The black lines suddenly appeared on his hands.

Riven looked down.

“What is happening?”

Selene stepped backward.

“It’s beginning.”

“What?”

“The connection.”

Riven’s eyes widened.

“Between me and the Heart?”

Selene nodded.

Riven felt something inside his mind.

A heartbeat.

Slow.

Deep.

Ancient.

THUMP.

The Archive shook.

THUMP.

The photographs began falling.

THUMP.

The First Memory smiled.

“He’s coming.”

Riven looked around.

“Who?”

A voice answered.

“Me.”

Seraphine appeared.

She walked through the photographs as if they weren’t there.

Selene immediately raised her weapon.

“You can’t be here.”

Seraphine smiled.

“Neither can you.”

Riven stared.

“What do you want?”

Seraphine looked at him.

“To wake you up.”

“Why?”

“Because the city is dying.”

Riven looked around.

“Good.”

Seraphine laughed.

“You think that’s a victory?”

“If the city disappears, the people it erased can finally rest.”

Seraphine’s expression became serious.

“You’re wrong.”

“How?”

“Because the people you think are dead…”

She pointed toward the Archive.

“Are still alive.”

Riven looked at the photographs.

“How?”

“Because they are memories.”

“That’s not living.”

Seraphine shook her head.

“Isn’t it?”

Riven stared.

“Memories can think.”

“Memories can feel.”

“Memories can love.”

“Tell me…”

Seraphine stepped closer.

“What makes them less real than you?”

Riven had no answer.

Seraphine looked toward the First Memory.

“She knows.”

The First smiled.

“Everyone is real.”

Riven looked at her.

“Then what happens if the Heart dies?”

The First became silent.

Riven understood.

“What happens?”

The First whispered:

“Everyone disappears.”

Riven looked at Kael.

His brother’s face was filled with fear.

“Kael?”

He nodded.

“She’s telling the truth.”

Riven stepped backward.

“Then I can’t destroy the Heart.”

Seraphine smiled.

“Exactly.”

Riven looked at her.

“But I can’t let it continue either.”

“Correct.”

“Then what do I do?”

Seraphine looked toward the deepest part of the Archive.

“Find the First Page.”

Riven frowned.

“What is the First Page?”

“The beginning.”

“Beginning of what?”

Seraphine pointed toward the First Memory.

“Her.”

Riven looked at the girl.

The First smiled.

“The first person who died…”

“was you.”

Riven froze.

“What?”

The First stepped closer.

“You were the first.”

Riven couldn’t speak.

The girl touched his chest.

“You died before Nocturne existed.”

“Before your parents.”

“Before Kael.”

“Before the Heart.”

Riven stared at her.

“Then who am I?”

The First smiled.

“The first memory.”

Riven’s entire body became numb.

Seraphine spoke.

“And now you have a choice.”

Riven looked at her.

“What choice?”

“You can remain a memory.”

“Or…”

Seraphine’s eyes turned black.

“You can become human.”

Riven stared.

“How?”

“By giving up the Heart.”

Riven looked toward the black tower.

“And everyone inside it?”

Seraphine smiled.

“They come with you.”

Riven’s heart stopped.

“You mean…”

“Yes.”

“They can live?”

“Yes.”

Riven looked at Kael.

His brother smiled.

For the first time in years, Riven saw hope in his eyes.

Then a scream echoed through the Archive.

Riven turned.

Mira appeared from the darkness.

She was covered in blood.

“Riven!”

He ran toward her.

“What happened?”

Mira grabbed his arm.

“Your mother.”

Riven froze.

“Where is she?”

Mira pointed toward the exit.

“Seraphine took her.”

Riven turned toward Seraphine.

She was gone.

The First Memory was gone too.

Only one photograph remained on the floor.

Riven picked it up.

It showed his mother.

His father.

Kael.

Mira.

Selene.

And Riven.

But there was one more person standing behind them.

A figure with no face.

Riven stared.

“Who is that?”

Mira looked at the photograph.

Her face became pale.

“The person who created the Heart.”

Riven looked at her.

“Who?”

Mira whispered:

“Your mother.”

Riven stared.

“No.”

Mira nodded.

“Your mother didn’t build the Heart to save your father.”

Riven’s heart stopped.

“Then why?”

Mira looked toward the darkness.

“She built it…”

“To bring someone back.”

“Who?”

Mira’s eyes filled with fear.

“Your father wasn’t the person she wanted to save.”

Riven’s voice became barely audible.

“Then who?”

Mira looked directly at him.

“You.”

The Archive suddenly went silent.

The photographs all turned black.

And deep beneath the city…

the Heart began to beat.

THUMP.

THUMP.

THUMP.

Riven looked toward the darkness.

And somewhere inside the Heart…

his mother’s voice whispered:

“I’m sorry, my son.”

TO BE CONTINUED…