[No, Emilia, to answer your unnecessary question. Furthermore, I rather dislike your emotions playing a part in any of this. Stand down and return to protocol. We will handle the rest.]

  The sudden disconnecting sound had Kaylen jump, leaving her with crushing radio silence she would remain sitting through for a long minute before finally stirring from her spot.

  “All they need is Rex gone…” she mumbled through her confusion and frustrated feelings from Enrai’s denial. “…Why do they need her when I can finish the job myself? I’ll be done with my end of the bargain and Enrai gets what he needed most…”

  She then let out a sigh and re-entered a different call command, leaning against one of the bare walls and stared out through one of the gaps in the slats covering the lone window that let in a tiny glimpse of the busy outside world. Once the line connected, she quickly asked the other side: [What’s Ella’s whereabouts?] And as she let her gaze fade into the distance, the response she got shook her back to reality in a snap. [To the surface?! Who the hell- which exit did she leave from!?] She then frantically paced around the cramped room, waiting for an explanation before quickly hanging up and leaving in a hurry.

  .

  .

  .

  ▽　▽　▽

  Across the other end from the subway-level compound’s reach across the city block, Sam emerged from the inconspicuous exit that spit her out into the backside of a busy street. Dark from the blocked sun by the towering high-rises surrounding her and dizzied by the swirls and echoes from the passing engines, rolling tires, and horns, she clumsily made her way for what should be, from her perspective, the end of the alley that could help her reset her bearings. She took each step carefully, pacing her breath, and eventually held her wooziness back enough to remember what she knew she risked coming to the surface.

  But this is what I have to do, she thought as she adjusted her jacket’s hood she had pulled over her head, being cautious of the side that might expose her pink highlights. She kept her arms forcefully to her sides and attempted to adjust her pace to a more casual one, finding the street corner that ended at a massive five-lane intersection. Fearful of looking too obviously lost to anyone, she struggled to access her short-term memory blocks for where her target location was as she nonchalantly scanned the two packed street corners across the intersection. Upon finally determining her direction, she took a few breaths to calm herself down while waiting for the crosswalk signal to change. And before the light changed, she then calculated her mode of safe travel, spotting what she saw as a good shield from the public eye.

  She timed each step along her tasked stroll to keep herself behind the young couple in front of her as their chit chat was loud enough to keep them from hearing her own footsteps, and the lovey-dovey aura they gave off should be enough of a distraction to others to keep their eyes on them. One more glance at her watch helped her confirm the three-block walk she had in front of her, feeling a bit more at ease as her trek seemed not as daunting as she feared, and the light yet talkative crowd that walked the same line around her provided just the right amount of attention buffer.

  A few slower, paced breaths later and she finally found the peace enough to focus on what she wanted to tell Sebastian, hoping to get the words in her head straight one last time. But as the block came to a pause at the next crosswalk light, she heard a soft hum and a chime from her earpiece, almost as if in sync with her arrival at that specific point. She knew exactly what it was, who it was, and also what Kaylen last spoke of about it.

  That’s Rex on a secure line, isn’t it. Persistent bastard…

  She ran her hands over her eyes as she looked down in conflicting thought, then reached over to her watch as she took in a deep breath.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Fine. Let me get this shit over with. I got more important things to worry about.

  “Samantha,” Rex wasted no time picking up where he left off. “You aren’t safe.”

  Shit! He’s watching me!?

  Her body tightened up as if ready to dart off, yet she didn’t know where to or how, or what he even meant. “Excuse me?” She feebly replied, careful not to look around and give anything away.

  “They’re looking for you, but in the wrong places. They don’t realize you’re headed for the San Cayetano Cathedral. When you get there, stay inside until the coast is clear.” He paused as if expecting a speechless response, waiting until the light changed. “Cross. Keep going as you planned.”

  “This is really unnerving,” Sam responded in forced casualness, struggling not to look around despite knowing she had no hopes of figuring out how she was being watched. “Who’s looking for me?”

  “I can’t determine that, but it’s not my circle. The next thing I have to tell you is to beware of your partner.”

  “No,” Sam suddenly spoke in a stronger tone. “You’re not about to suggest I start doubting even a shred about him-”

  “-Not Mr. Navarre, Samantha,” Rex cut her off. “Mrs. Rodgers. You don’t know of the things she says when you’re not around.”

  Sam took a moment to fight through the flurry of guesses that cropped up all at once. She had been conscious of how she never once felt completely at ease around her, yet at the same time, she pondered if Kaylen ever once said something she should have taken caution toward. “What am I supposed to do with that information?” She asked with her voice back to her previously hushed volume.

  “Her goals do not align with yours. I can’t say for certain what all that entails, but be aware. Pay extra attention to her tone and her actions as you move forward with your new assignments. Additionally, we don’t know how much we can trust anyone with Infinity or with Hexa at this point, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Not sure if I doubt anyone at Hexa- my father and Mr. Lucian would say otherwise.”

  “You might just be a tool, serving their goals and not yours, and that is in direct correlation with Mrs. Rodger’s predicament if you recall. Speak to Mr. Navarre and determine if your path is the one you choose to take, then call me back to determine the safety of your path back.”

  Sam remained silent, allowing the other side to disconnect, feeling heavier more than ever.

  Am I a tool for Infinity? Or am I a tool for Rex at this rate?

  She kept pace, eyeing the last crosswalk ahead as she allowed her mind to wander further off into deeper thought.

  Sebastian might have a point. This may never end, even if I do find a way to get back at him.

  A loud rumble of an older internal combustion engine bumbled by, momentarily catching her attention. The sight of the truck reminded her of the trucks Dani and Renzo drove, sinking her heart even further into the darkness she tried to avoid earlier before setting out to talk to Sebastian.

  And this all hits me in waves. I can’t imagine how suffocating this is for Sebastian.

  Her thoughts then reverted back to where they started, wishing she could remain by his side to keep him comforted. But once more, as her steps slowed to a halt at the last intersection, the thoughts began cracking and crumbling behind the fears, fed by recurring nightmares, of bullets and rockets pounding down on them from any thinkable safe-haven. She felt it coming; she was going to have to beg him to let her end this, and beg him to wait for her.

  And behind it all was the glow of her helmet’s visor and the hum of the fuel cell converters and the hiss of the N-catalyzers, calling her stronger by the day.

  I know what I should do, but… I know exactly how this ends…

  .

  ▽　▽　▽

  .

  Sam knew to enter as quietly as she could, and upon passing through the narthex of the antiquated cathedral, there she saw him in the distance, kneeling, face deep in his clasped hands. And she could feel it all from there; a deep, hollow, reverent silence weighed down on Sebastian’s shoulders. Only the ensuing clacks of a lone visitor’s shoes to another of the pews kept what had to have been his prayers and internalized raging company. And Sam could only watch, paralyzed now by what she couldn’t truly offer him. Conflicting thoughts rendered her previously clearer predetermined words into mush, now fighting the urge to retreat into the safety net of the chaos that was the outside world.

  She knew he’d be here, though, and it took a moment to realize how correct she was, and that meant she might be the only one left who knew who he really was and what he really needed. Gathering the strength enough to move her feet even just an inch, she now felt his gaze fall upon her as their eyes met.

  It was a sight that still had her shaken, never seeing him so vulnerable until recent, and his weary, crestfallen eyes pierced through her soul the same way it had earlier that morning.

  And as she finally put a foot forward, he stood up from his pew, dragging himself out towards her as if to preserve the sanctity of the still-quiet nave. And after what felt an eternity until he arrived within whisper distance, the words she desperately wanted to say vanished more and more with each step, leaving her feeling choked and strangled by her own panic.

  “Let’s step outside, please,” Sebastian mumbled through his cracked voice as he went on ahead, not waiting for her as he normally would have.

  Damn it, she faltered, struggling to find the strength and courage to turn around, much less follow behind.

  I feel like I’ve already fucked this up completely.