Chapter 9

The Safehouse was silent when Alina and Kade returned. The others watched them enter, eyes wide with relief and dread, taking in their soot-streaked faces and the hollow look in Alina’s eyes. She could feel their questions pressing down on her, a torrent of words left unspoken as the truth of what had happened settled over them all. Lila was the first to step forward, her face pale. “Where’s… where’s Jarek?” Alina felt the weight of her loss settle deeper, an ache that threatened to consume her. She forced herself to meet Lila’s gaze, her voice quiet but unyielding. “He didn’t make it.” A stunned silence fell over the group. Rowan closed his eyes, his jaw clenched in pain. Lila’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp, and Kade looked down, his expression dark, his fists clenching at his […]

Chapter 8

The night was thick with tension as Alina and her allies moved through the city, every footstep measured, every shadow studied. They were a silent storm creeping through the darkness, armed with purpose and resolve. Their destination loomed ahead—the Central District facility, a cold fortress of steel and stone that harbored the device threatening to erase everything they had fought to protect. Jarek led the group, his movements confident as he guided them through the maze of alleyways and abandoned passages he had memorized. Each turn brought them closer to the heart of the regime’s control, and the weight of their mission bore down on them with every step. Alina kept her mind focused, her senses alert, but she couldn’t ignore the thrum of energy she felt whenever she thought of the core. Her visions had been growing stronger, more […]

Chapter 7

Days passed in a tense whirlwind of planning and preparation. Lila worked to track down her contact, the former regime scientist who might hold the key to understanding the device. The others honed their skills, training and gathering supplies for the mission ahead. Every hour was spent fortifying their knowledge, their bodies, and their minds for the battle that loomed closer with each passing moment. Alina spent most of her time with the device, probing its mysteries under Lila’s guidance. She grew accustomed to the strange, disorienting visions that came to her in flashes whenever she touched it—a blur of memories that weren’t hers, of dark rooms, steel tables, and voices she could almost recognize but couldn’t place. She had learned to stay calm through the onslaught, trying to let the visions flow over her, sifting through them for any […]

Chapter 6

The blaring alarm echoed through the facility, the shrill sound slicing through Alina’s thoughts as she tightened her grip on the device. Jarek fought beside her, skillfully fending off the guards, but they both knew that their time was running out. Reinforcements would arrive soon, and escape would become impossible. “Alina!” Jarek’s voice was urgent, his eyes darting toward the exit. “We need to go. Now!” She nodded, holding the device close to her chest. It pulsed with energy, an unnatural warmth radiating from its core, sending waves of nausea and clarity through her in equal measure. She could sense the power it held—a power meant to subdue her, control her. She needed to destroy it, but there wasn’t time, not here. They bolted out of the lab, Jarek leading the way as they tore through the narrow corridors. Behind […]

Chapter 5

The Safehouse was tense when Alina and Jarek returned. The others sensed the urgency in their movements, the unspoken weight of a new mission. Alina could feel their gazes on her as she moved through the room, some curious, others wary. They all knew the stakes. They understood that whatever she was about to do would ripple through their lives, challenging the regime in ways few dared to imagine. Jarek pulled her aside, his voice low. “We’ll need a team. We can’t just waltz into the Central District without backup.” Alina nodded. She had expected this, but the thought of involving others—risking their lives for her own mission—sat heavy on her heart. She didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s fate, but if they were to stand a chance against the regime, she couldn’t do it alone. As if […]