12:01 AM. Salem. The Authors’ House.
The Book was screaming.
3 pages ripped open.
_Page 1: Table 16 - Mumbai, India
Signal: A boy laughing alone.
Problem: He performs, but no one watches._
_Page 2: Table 17 - Nairobi, Kenya
Signal: A woman dancing alone.
Problem: She moves, but no one sees._
_Page 3: Table 18 - Reykjavik, Iceland
Signal: A man painting alone.
Problem: He creates, but no one feels._
Umi: "The Silence split itself into 3.
So we split into 3."
Elin: "15 Authors. 5 per team.
Yui and Carlos stay in Salem. Guard the Network."
Lila: "Which team am I with?"
Umi: smiled "You’ll be in the heart. In all the teams."
TEAM 1 - MUMBAI
Miri, Alex, Hana + 2 Tokyo Authors
Mission: The Performer
11:11 PM. Mumbai. A rooftop.
Table 16.
White. Blue rim. Covered in stage lights.
And 1 chair.
A boy. 16. Dancing, singing, acting to no one.
The boy: _"Bigger! Louder!
Maybe then someone will look!"_
Around him: The Mirror.
A shadow that reflects you back at yourself.
So you never see anyone else.
The Mirror: _"Watch yourself.
You’re the only audience you need."_
Miri: stepped into the light. "I’m watching."
Alex: started clapping to his rhythm.
Hana: filmed him. "The world will watch too."
The boy stopped. Breathed.
"...someone saw me?"
The Mirror cracked. Because performance dies without a witness.
The boy cried, then bowed.
"I’m Aarav."
A 2nd chair appeared.
Table 16: Saved.