Darkness. Not complete, just enough to hide everything. A soft light flickered, barely illuminating the space.
A figure lay on the floor. Still. Unmoving. Her breathing is slow. Unconscious. Slow. Measured.
Someone approached. No rush. No hesitation. Like they already owned this place. The figure stopped beside her. Looked down. Silent. Then, a faint chuckle. "…Still the same." The voice is low. Familiar.
The light shifted slightly, revealing his face. MIKE. Now, no longer the boy from the past. Cold. Sharp. Dangerous.
"…Always running ahead of everyone." He crouched down, resting his elbow on his knee. Studying her. "…And still getting yourself into trouble." A pause. His gaze softened, just a fraction. Then gone.
"…You should've stayed out of this." His hand reached out, lifting her chin slightly. "…But you never listen. " A faint smirk. "…Just like before."
A child. A gunshot. Blood. Someone standing in front, protecting him. Then, his father's voice. "…This is your fault, Mike."
Mike's jaw tightened. "…Yeah…" A whisper. "…Everything is always my fault, right?" His grip tightened slightly, then released.
Behind him, Sera stood near the door. Watching. Her arms were crossed, but her face was uneasy. "…Sire…" A pause. "…That's your sister." Mike didn't look back. "…I know." Silence.
"…Which is why…" He stood up slowly. "…No one else gets to touch her. " A beat. "…Except me."
Sera blinked. "…That sounds wrong in so many ways…" Mike smirked faintly. "…Then don't think too much."
He looked down at Vex again. "…Welcome back…" A pause. "…Ran."
---------------------
Soft light filtered through the curtains. Warm. Peaceful. Too peaceful. Rania's eyes slowly opened. Her vision blurred, then slowly cleared. A ceiling. White. Clean.
She blinked. "…Where…" Her voice weak. She pushed herself up slightly, looking around.
The room was neat. Organized. A bed. A table. A window. Nothing threatening. But something felt wrong. "…Where am I…?"
A soft click. The door opened. A woman stepped in. Calm. Composed. "…Good morning, miss." Rania frowned slightly, "…Who are you?"
Sera blinked, just once. "…I'm Sera." A small pause. "…Liam Mossberg's assistant." Silence.
Rania's brows furrowed deeper. "…Liam…?" A beat. "…Do I know him?" Her hand slowly moved to her head, "…Ah.." Pain. Sharp. "…My head…"
Her breathing quickened slightly. "…Do you know who I am?" A pause. Her voice uncertain now. "…I can't remember…"
"…anything." Sera froze. Eyes widening. "…What?" A step closer. "…You don't remember…?" Rania shook her head slowly, confused. "…No…"
"…I don't even know my own name…" Silence. Heavy. Sera swallowed. "…Okay…"
"…Stay here." She stepped back quickly, pulling out her phone. Hands slightly trembling. "…Sire…" Her voice lowered.
"…We have an abnormal situation." A pause. "…Miss…" She glanced back at Rania, still sitting there, lost.
"…She can't remember herself." Silence on the other end.
Mike stood still, phone in hand. Then, slowly a smile formed. "…Is that so…" A quiet chuckle. "…Interesting."
Rania sat there, alone. Confused. Empty. She lost the mission. She lost her past. And now, she didn't even know who she was.
[COTTAGE – LIVING ROOM | MORNING]
The room was quiet. Too quiet. Specter lay resting on the couch, still unconscious.
Blitz sat nearby arms crossed. Eyes tired. No one spoke. Until Raven broke it. "…Hey, pumpkin."
Blitz didn't look at him. "…What?" Raven tilted his phone slightly. "…You might want to see this." A pause. Blitz frowned, then grabbed the phone.
"…What is it now?" Her voice stopped. The screen displayed,
"URGENT: INTERNAL ORDER – AGENT VEX DECLARED TRAITOR"
Blitz's eyes widened. "…What…?" She scrolled fast. Details flashing,
Unauthorized infiltration
System sabotage
Loss of control unit
High-level breach
"…Oh my god…" Her grip tightened on the phone. "…What is happening…?"
Noxis stepped closer, reading over her shoulder. "…They moved fast." A pause. "…Too fast."
Helen looked at her screen, expression darkening. "…This wasn't just a report…" A beat. "…It's a decision."
Blitz stood up suddenly. "…No." Her voice shook, anger rising. "…No way." She threw the phone onto the table. "…That's not true!"
"…She was trying to STOP them!" Her chest rose, breathing uneven. "…How can they call her a traitor?!"
A faint movement. Specter's fingers twitched. Blitz turned instantly. "…Lisa?" But Specter didn't wake yet. Raven leaned back slightly arms crossed. "…This changes thing."
Blitz snapped at him. "…What do you mean 'changes things'?!"
"…It means…" A pause. "…we're next." Silence. Helen spoke quietly, but clearly. "…Anyone connected to her…"
"…is now under suspicion." Noxis exhaled slowly, "…So, we're not a team anymore." A beat. "…We're targets."
Blitz clenched her fists. "…Then let them come." Her eyes burned fierce. "…I'm not leaving her." A pause. "…Traitor or not."
The organization had spoken. They made their choice. But so did Blitz. And this time, she wasn't backing down.
[UNKNOWN LOCATION – PRIVATE ROOM | NIGHT]
Silence. A large screen lit the room. News feed scrolling. Cold. Official.
"INTERNAL ORDER: AGENT VEX DECLARED TRAITOR."
Mike sat on the couch; legs crossed. Calm. Too calm. His eyes fixed on the screen. "…Traitor…" A faint chuckle escaped him. "…They really did it."
The door opened softly. Sera stepped in, holding a tablet. "…Sire." She hesitated. "…You've seen it?"
Mike didn't look at her. "…Of course." A pause. "…It was only a matter of time." Sera frowned slightly. "…You don't seem surprised."
Mike leaned back, relaxed. "…Because I know how they think." A beat. "…Blame the one who moves differently."
"…Erase the one who breaks the system." His eyes narrowed slightly. "…Classic."
The screen changed, showing Vex's file.
Wanted status.
Danger level: HIGH.
Mike's gaze softened, just slightly. "…Look at you…" A quiet murmur. "…Ran."
"…Now they're all against you." A pause. "…Good." Sera blinked. "…Good?"
Mike smiled. Slow. Dangerous. "…That means…" He stood up walking toward the window. "…No one will come looking for you properly." A beat. "…Except me."
Sera shifted slightly. "…Sire…"
"…What are you planning?" Mike didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked outside. Dark.
"…I'm going to fix something." A pause. "…Something that was broken a long time ago."
He turned back eyes cold. "…And this time…" A faint smirk. "…she won't run away again."
Rania sat quietly, still confused. Looking at her own hands, like they didn't belong to her.
[RANIA ROOM]
The room was quiet. Too quiet. Rania sat by the edge of the bed, hands resting on her lap. Her eyes lost. "…Who am I…?" A whisper. The question, still unanswered.
A soft click. The door opened slowly. Footsteps. Rania looked up. A man entered. Tall. Composed. His presence cold. Mike. But to her, a stranger.
"…You're awake." His voice calm. Rania frowned slightly. "…Who are you?" A pause.
Mike didn't answer immediately. He stepped closer, studying her. Carefully. "…Do you remember anything?" Rania shook her head slowly. "…No…"
"…Not even my name." Silence.
Mike's eyes flickered, just slightly. Then he smiled. Soft. Fake. "…Then let me help you."
"…My name is Liam." A pause. "…Liam Mossberg." Rania blinked. "…Liam…" Trying to process. "Do I… know you?"
Mike shook his head gently. "…Not directly." A step closer. "…But I know you."
Her eyes searched his face, confused. "…You were found injured."
"…Alone."
"…I brought you here." A pause. "…To keep you safe."
Rania's expression softened slightly. "…Safe…?"
"…Yes." His tone reassuring. "…From people who were trying to hurt you." A beat. "…People who might still be looking for you."
Rania's brows furrowed. "…Hurt me…?" Her hand touched her chest, instinctively. "…Why…?"
Mike leaned slightly closer. "…Because you were involved in something dangerous." A pause. "And now…" His eyes darkened slightly. "…you're being hunted." Silence.
"…But don't worry." He straightened. "…You're safe here." A faint smile. "…With me."
Rania looked at him, uncertain. Confused. "…I…" A pause. "…I don't remember anything…" Her voice softened. "…But…" She hesitated. "…Thank you."
Mike turned slightly, hiding his expression. Because behind that calm face, a smile formed. Cold. You're welcome."
She trusted him. Without knowing, who he really was. And that was exactly what he wanted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rania sat by the window now, watching the outside. Snow falling slowly. Peaceful. But her mind, not. "…Why does it feel…" A pause. "Like something is missing?"
A soft knock. Then, the door opened. Mike stepped in. "…Mind if I come in?" Rania turned. "…No…"
She hesitated, then added softly, "…Liam." Mike paused for a second, then smiled faintly. "…Good." He walked closer, calm. "…How are you feeling?"
"…Better…" A pause. "…But still confused."
Mike nodded slightly. "…That's normal." He pulled a chair, sitting across from her. "…Let's try something." Rania tilted her head slightly. "…What?"
"…Close your eyes." A pause. Rania hesitated but did it anyway. "…Tell me…" His voice lowered. "What do you see?" Silence.
Rania's breathing slowed. Then, a flicker. A rooftop. Wind. A voice, deep. "…You hesitate when you lie…" Her brows tightened. "…I…"
"…I see someone…" Mike's eyes sharpened. "…Who?"
"…I don't know…" Her breathing became uneven. "…But…" A pause. "…He feels familiar…"
Mike leaned back slightly, thinking. "…A man?"
"…Yes…"
"…Can you see his face?" Rania shook her head slowly. "…No…"
"…It's blurry…" Another flash, louder. Gunshot. A child's scream. "…Brother!" Rania's eyes snapped open. "…Ah!" Her hand gripped her head, pain sharp.
"…What was that?" His voice calm but intense. "…Say it." Rania shook her head, panic rising. " I don't know…"
"…I don't know!" Mike stood up slowly. "…That's enough."
He stepped closer; his voice softer again. "…Don't force it." A pause. "…You're safe." Rania's breathing slowed, but her eyes still shaken.
"…Sometimes…" Mike continued calm. "…memories aren't worth remembering." A beat. "Especially painful ones."
Rania looked at him, uncertain. "…So, I should… forget?" Mike smiled faintly. "…Yes." A pause. "Let me handle everything for you."
Rania nodded slowly, not fully convinced but too lost to argue. "…Okay…" Mike turned away, walking toward the door. His expression changed instantly. Cold.
"…So…" A whisper to himself. "…You still remember him." A faint smirk. "…Interesting."
She forgot her past. But not everything. And Mike just found the crack.
TBC