I stood frozen in the doorway, my mind reeling as the stranger’s words echoed in my head. “You can’t keep running. They’re looking for you.” My gaze darted from Alex to this dark-suited man whose eyes held an urgency that both scared and intrigued me.Alex glanced at me, his face filled with a mix of regret and something else I couldn’t place. It was as though he wanted to explain, but couldn’t—like there was something wedged between us, something I was afraid to touch. I could feel the weight of every unanswered question, pressing in on me like the walls of the cramped apartment.“I need to know what’s going on,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair, his eyes pleading. “I came back because I wanted to see you, to…” His voice trailed off as he struggled to find the words.The stranger cut him off, his tone impatient. “Alex, we don’t have time for this.” He turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “I’m sorry to get you involved,

I awoke to the faint glow of dawn seeping through the cabin windows, casting a pale light over the room. For a moment, I forgot where I was, but the memories rushed back, heavy and inescapable. Alex was sleeping on the sofa across from me, looking worn but peaceful, while Marcus sat in a chair near the door, his back straight, eyes alert. He hadn’t slept at all.The fire had died down to a few glowing embers, and I shivered, pulling my sweater tighter around me. My mind churned with questions, doubts, and a gnawing anxiety I couldn’t shake. What was next? How long could we hide here? I knew we couldn’t stay hidden forever, but I didn’t know how to confront the dangers looming just outside these walls.Noticing I was awake, Marcus motioned for me to join him by the door. “Let’s talk outside.”I cast a glance at Alex, but he didn’t stir. I followed Marcus out, stepping into the chilly morning air. The forest around us was quiet, blanketed in mist, and the world seemed impossibly still.

We moved through the forest with a purpose now, the weight of our mission pressing against the quiet of our surroundings. The world seemed muted, every sound muffled as if the trees themselves were holding their breath, watching us pass. There was a certain power in the silence, a reminder that we were intruding on something ancient, something that existed beyond human agendas and secrets. And yet, with every step, I felt a strange kind of clarity settle over me. For the first time in days, I wasn’t just running—I was driven by a goal.Marcus led us along the narrow path beside the river, and we kept to the shadows, skirting the edges of Collective watchpoints. My eyes scanned the horizon, searching for signs of movement, while my heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation. The closer we got to our destination, the more real it all felt.At last, as dusk began to fall, we arrived at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the valley below. In the distance, tucked away in a seclud

Anna felt frozen as Marcus stood his ground, his face unreadable but resolute.“Take care of her,” Marcus said to Alex, his voice steady despite the chaos building outside.Alex grabbed her arm, his grip firm but gentle. “We can’t waste his sacrifice. We have to go now!”She wanted to argue, wanted to fight against leaving Marcus behind, but the blaring sound of approaching vehicles and the thudding of boots on the pavement snapped her out of her hesitation. Reluctantly, she allowed Alex to pull her toward the back exit.As they fled into the night, she cast one last glance over her shoulder. Marcus was already moving toward the front door, a defiant figure silhouetted against the cold, white lights of the advancing Collective agents.Marcus stood in the center of the safe house as the Collective agents stormed in. He raised his hands slowly, a calculated gesture of surrender.“You’ve been difficult to track, Marcus,” said a cold, detached voice. A woman stepped forward from the shado

The safe house was eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of old machinery and the occasional drip of water from a leaky pipe. Anna sat cross-legged on a worn cot, staring at the small device Dr. Evelyn Gray had given her—the kill switch that could end Project Echo. Its weight in her palm was heavier than it should have been, as if it carried the burden of every life it would affect.Alex paced the room restlessly, his sharp, deliberate steps a reminder of his growing frustration.“This plan is insane,” he said, breaking the silence.She looked up, her eyes meeting his. “You heard what Dr. Gray said. It’s the only way.”“The only way?” he snapped. “Do you realize what this will do? Crippling every major system across the globe? Millions of people—no, billions—will be thrown into chaos. And you’re just… fine with that?”“I’m not fine with it, Alex,” she said, her voice low but firm. “But what choice do we have? If we don’t destroy the core, The Collective will keep using Project Echo to