Chapter 3
Sylvie thought it would feel different. She thought freeing reality would give her some kind of closure. But she’d felt nothing. Plunging her sword into the man behind it all had been the last step, and it felt hollow.
She didn’t know if Loki had been right, but she couldn’t allow herself to think like that. Free will was worth everything and she had to cling to that in the wake of the emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.
Looking at the advanced TemPad, Sylvie hoped Loki was safe. She didn’t know exactly how it worked, but in her mind she had thought only of sending him back to the relative safety of the TVA. That was where Mobius was, and she hoped that he would keep anyone from pruning Loki until she could find him.
Sylvie closed her eyes and touched the pad to open a portal, focusing her energy on getting to the same place she had just sent Loki.
The portal opened and she looked around the room one last time, telling herself she had done what she needed to. She struggled not to think of the confusion and hurt Loki must have felt.
“Is that what you think of me…?”
The honesty in his voice when he’d tried so hard to make her stop.
“I don’t wanna hurt you…”
The vulnerability and conviction in his eyes when he looked at her.
“I don’t want a throne…”
It all echoed in her mind and brought tears to her eyes.
“I just want you.”
Sylvie stared at the orange portal as her eyes burned and she doubted if she even deserved to find him. He had looked so hurt when she said she couldn’t trust him. So ready to die at her blade should she really be past reaching.
She needed to fix this. She had to find Loki and make things right, even if it killed her. Sylvie took a deep breath and stepped boldly into the orange light.
Seeing the empty corridor of the TVA, Sylvie’s first reaction was relief. She had gotten it right—she hadn’t sent him to some burning hellscape—but she still didn’t see him.
“Loki?” She whispered loudly.
There was no answer.
“Shit.”
Sylvie deflated and started to walk down the hall, cautious of any TVA agents who might still be around, but finding none.
The place seemed empty, every Hunter out fighting the rapidly spreading branches.
She searched the lobby, walking down corridors and seeing no one but hearing distant shouting. Sylvie bit her lip nervously and headed in that direction telling herself any sign of life was a good thing. She could handle any chaos the universe sent her, she just needed to find the one impossible variant who made everything seem worth it.