The air felt heavier.
Not because of the city.
Because of her.
Lia stood in front of Adam, but she wasn't truly "standing" anymore.
She was resisting.
Barely.
Her body trembled violently, as if two forces were tearing her apart from the inside.
Adam didn't move.
Not even when her claws fully extended.
Not even when her eyes stayed locked on him.
Gold.
No flicker.
No hesitation.
Only hunger.
But behind it…
Something was still there.
Still watching.
Still fighting.
"…Adam…" she whispered again.
But her voice broke halfway through.
Like it didn't belong to her anymore.
Adam stepped forward slowly.
"I'm here."
A pause.
Her breathing sharpened.
"Don't…" she said weakly.
"…come closer…"
But her body betrayed her.
She moved toward him again.
Then stopped.
Then shook violently.
Like she was losing control of even her own movements.
Adam saw it clearly now.
This wasn't a transformation.
It was a takeover.
A sharp sound echoed in the distance.
Lia flinched instantly.
Pain.
Visible.
Real.
Adam noticed immediately.
"Lia… what did they do to you?"
Her eyes widened slightly at the question.
For a second—
Clarity returned.
Just for a moment.
"…they didn't create me," she whispered.
Adam froze.
"What?"
Her voice cracked.
"…they broke me."
Silence.
Heavy.
A memory flashed in her expression.
Fear.
Real fear.
Not of Adam.
Not of the world.
Of something buried deep.
"They said I was unstable…" she continued, shaking harder now.
"…that I couldn't be controlled…"
Her hands curled.
Blood dripped from her fingers.
"I ran before they finished it…"
Adam's jaw tightened.
"So they're still chasing you."
She didn't answer.
Because suddenly—
Her body jerked forward.
Violently.
Uncontrolled.
Adam reacted instantly.
But she was faster.
Too fast.
She slammed into him again, sending him crashing to the ground.
This time—
She didn't stop.
She stood over him.
Shaking.
Torn.
Her hand raised slowly.
Claws aimed at his chest.
But she froze.
Mid-motion.
Her arm trembling.
"No…" she whispered.
Her voice returned for a second.
"I don't want this…"
Adam looked up at her.
Calm.
Even now.
"Then don't do it."
Her breath broke.
"I can't choose anymore…"
Silence.
Then—
Her eyes darkened again.
The fight inside her collapsing.
Adam understood something terrible in that moment.
This wasn't about willpower.
It was about loss of self.
And he was running out of time.
He grabbed her wrist suddenly.
Not to fight.
To anchor her.
"Listen to me," he said firmly.
"You are still here."
Her body froze slightly at the contact.
A flicker.
A reaction.
Small—but real.
Her lips trembled.
"…I feel it fading…"
Adam tightened his grip.
"No."
A pause.
"I won't let you disappear."
For a split second—
She stopped struggling.
Completely.
Her breathing slowed.
Her eyes softened.
Just a little.
"…why?" she whispered.
Adam didn't hesitate.
"Because you didn't leave me when I was broken."
Silence.
The world seemed to stop.
And then—
A sound above them.
Clap.
Slow.
Controlled.
Familiar.
Adam's eyes snapped upward instantly.
Lia tensed violently again.
And from the darkness above—
A voice.
Calm.
Cold.
"Touching."
The man stood there.
Watching.
As if he had been there the entire time.
Lia's breathing turned sharp again.
Adam slowly stood up.
Without taking his eyes off him.
The man smiled faintly.
"She's further gone than expected," he said.
Then looked at Adam.
"And you are still trying to save something that is already breaking."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
He stepped back into the shadows.
Not leaving.
Not attacking.
Just watching.
Waiting.
Lia collapsed to her knees.
Shaking violently.
"…run…" she whispered.
But Adam didn't move.
His eyes were cold now.
Focused.
Determined.
"No."
And for the first time…
Adam stopped reacting like prey.