Emily and Daniel moved cautiously through the dense forest, the early morning mist curling around their feet like ghostly fingers. Every sound a snapping branch, a distant birdcall—made Emily's pulse spike. Her muscles were tense, ready for a fight, ready to flee, ready for anything. She clutched the USB drive so tightly it burned her palm, the small device heavier than any weapon. It was the key to her past, her mother's secrets, and possibly the very heart of the Knight family empire.
"They're tracking us," Daniel whispered, his voice rough from exhaustion. "The Knight family doesn't miss."
Emily swallowed hard, her mind racing. Every time she thought she had a plan, every time she thought she could put space between herself and Alexander, a new threat appeared. Extraction teams, the Blackwood mercenaries, Voss's insane contingencies… they were relentless. But she couldn't run forever. Survival meant action, meant strategy, meant using her powers when necessary.
