Reboot My Heart

Chapter Five: The Trap

The old subway station was eerily silent, save for the faint drip of water echoing through the tunnels. Darius stood before them, his crimson implant casting an ominous glow that illuminated his cold, calculating smile. Behind him, a group of armed rebels emerged from the shadows, their weapons trained on Kian, Elena, and Selene.

Kian stepped forward, his golden implant flickering to life as he positioned himself protectively in front of Elena. “Darius,” he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. “Let us go. This doesn’t have to end in violence.”

Darius chuckled, a low, mocking sound that sent a chill down Kian’s spine. “Oh, Kian. Always the hero. But this time, you’re out of your depth.”

Selene stepped up beside Kian, her weapon raised and her crimson implant glowing fiercely. “You’re not walking out of here, Darius. Not this time.”

Darius’s smirk widened. “Brave words, Captain. But you’re outnumbered. And outmatched.”

Before anyone could react, Darius raised his hand, and a surge of energy shot from his implant, slamming into Selene and sending her crashing into the wall. She groaned, her weapon clattering to the ground as she struggled to get up.

“Selene!” Kian shouted, his heart pounding.

Darius turned his attention to Kian, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Your turn.”

Kian didn’t hesitate. He charged at Darius, their implants colliding in a burst of light and energy. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the station, the ground trembling beneath their feet.

Elena crouched behind a crumbling pillar, her hands trembling as she watched the fight unfold. She felt helpless, her mind racing as she tried to think of a way to help.

Kian and Darius exchanged blow after blow, their implants flaring with each strike. Kian’s movements were fueled by desperation and determination, but Darius was faster, stronger, his crimson glow intensifying with every attack.

“You can’t win, Kian,” Darius taunted, dodging a strike and countering with a brutal kick that sent Kian sprawling. “You never could.”

Kian gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet. “I don’t have to win. I just have to stop you.”

Darius laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “And how do you plan to do that?”

Before Kian could respond, a voice rang out from the shadows.

“Enough.”

The rebels parted as Marcus Hale stepped into the light, his presence commanding and cold. His eyes locked onto Elena, and a cruel smile spread across his face.

“Elena,” he said, his voice dripping with false warmth. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Elena’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as she stepped out from behind the pillar. “Marcus… please. This isn’t you. You don’t have to do this.”

Marcus’s smile faltered for a moment, but then his expression hardened. “You don’t understand, Elena. This is bigger than you. Bigger than me. The System is broken, and I’m going to fix it.”

Kian stepped forward, his golden implant glowing brighter than ever. “You’re not fixing anything, Marcus. You’re destroying it.”

Marcus’s eyes flicked to Kian, his lip curling in disdain. “You’re still here? I thought I made it clear—Elena is mine.”

“She’s not yours,” Kian shot back, his voice firm. “And she never will be.”

Marcus’s expression darkened, and he raised his hand, signaling to the rebels. “Take them.”

The rebels moved in, their weapons trained on Kian and Selene. Kian braced himself, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way out. But before the rebels could act, a loud explosion rocked the station, sending debris raining down from the ceiling.

“What the—” Marcus started, his voice drowned out by the chaos.

Kian grabbed Elena’s hand, pulling her toward the nearest exit. “Run!”

As they sprinted through the crumbling station, Kian glanced over his shoulder to see a group of Elite Division agents pouring into the station, their weapons blazing. Leading the charge was Commander Ryker, Selene’s superior and one of the Federation’s most respected leaders.

“Kian! Elena! This way!” Ryker shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Kian didn’t hesitate. He pulled Elena toward the commander, their footsteps echoing in the chaos. Behind them, the rebels and Elite Division agents clashed, the station filling with the sounds of gunfire and explosions.

“We need to get you out of here,” Ryker said as they reached him, his expression grim.

“What about Selene?” Kian asked, his voice filled with concern.

Ryker’s jaw tightened. “She’s tough. She’ll hold her own. Right now, you two are the priority.”

Kian nodded, though his heart ached at the thought of leaving Selene behind. He tightened his grip on Elena’s hand, and together they followed Ryker through the chaos.

Back at the Elite Division’s temporary command center, Kian and Elena were ushered into a secure room. Ryker stood before them, his expression serious.

“We’ve been monitoring Marcus and Darius for months,” he explained. “But they’ve been one step ahead of us. Until now.”

“What do you mean?” Kian asked, his brow furrowed.

Ryker’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Thanks to you, we’ve finally got a lead. Marcus’s base of operations—it’s in the old System Control Center. If we can take it out, we can cripple his plans.”

Kian’s heart raced. “Then let’s do it.”

Ryker nodded. “We’re assembling a team. But it’s going to be dangerous. Are you in?”

Kian glanced at Elena, who met his gaze with a determined nod.

“We’re in,” Kian said, his voice firm.

As the team prepared for the mission, Kian found himself alone with Elena in a quiet corner of the command center.

“Kian,” she said softly, her eyes filled with emotion. “I… I need to tell you something.”

He turned to her, his heart skipping a beat. “What is it?”

She took a deep breath, her hands trembling. “When I was with Marcus… I found out something. Something about the System. About… us.”

Kian’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Elena’s eyes filled with tears. “The System… it didn’t just assign us a high Compatibility Score. It… it manipulated us. Our feelings, our choices. Everything.”

Kian’s heart sank, but he reached for her hand, his touch gentle. “Elena, it doesn’t matter. What we have—what we feel—it’s real. No System can change that.”

Elena’s tears spilled over, but she nodded, her grip tightening on his hand. “I love you, Kian. No matter what.”

Kian’s heart swelled, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “I love you too, Elena. Always.”