The explosion didn't stop inside the building.
Minutes later, sirens filled the air, breaking the silence of the night. Blue and red lights reflected off what remained of the structure, cutting through dust that hadn't fully settled. The smell of smoke mixed with footsteps, overlapping commands, and a growing crowd being pushed back beyond the perimeter.
The area was sealed off immediately.
Local police arrived first, followed by fire units and emergency teams moving quickly to secure the scene. No one was allowed close. Everyone was pushed back.
Including them.
Liv stood a short distance from the ruins, her gaze fixed on the building that had been their command center just minutes ago. Her expression was calm, but her mind wasn't.
Too fast. Too clean.
Like this wasn't an accident — but something designed.
"This area isn't safe. Everyone needs to move back."
An officer approached, his tone firm but controlled. His eyes assessed without asking.
Kai was already there.
"We just need a few minutes."
"You don't have that," the officer replied. "We're clearing the entire area."
A pause.
"You're not civilians."
Kai didn't deny it. That was enough.
"There's a temporary facility arranged by the city police. Not ideal, but safer than this."
Kai gave a small nod. Not because he agreed. But because there was no other option.
—
They were relocated before the night fully settled.
The building was an old administrative facility owned by the local police. Still functional, but never meant to handle something like this. The system was active — but shallow.
Liv felt it immediately.
This wasn't protection. Just delay.
—
Kai stood in front of the screen as soon as communication stabilized.
"Connect me to Directorate."
The screen flickered on.
General Victor Crowe appeared, unchanged.
"Report."
"Our base was compromised from within. System locked. Structure destroyed. We lost the entire operation point."
A pause.
"We need a new location. And authorization to continue the hunt for Volkov."
Silence.
"Request denied."
No explanation. No reason.
Kai held his breath for a second.
"We've been exposed. Staying increases risk."
"That is exactly why you don't move."
The answer came too quickly.
"You wait."
"General —"
Colonel Voss appeared, trying to step in.
"Temporary relocation would be more —"
"That's enough, Colonel."
The tone remained calm. But final.
Voss went silent.
Kai noticed.
"Volkov is hunting us," Kai said. "If we stop, we give him time."
"You stay in position."
No space for argument.
"Focus on system recovery."
A pause.
"The hunt for Volkov is suspended."
The connection cut. And something felt wrong.
—
"We keep moving."
Kai turned.
"We don't leave this place. But we find out who got into our system."
"Rian."
"I'm on it."
The screen flickered as data was pulled from whatever remained of their system.
Liv stayed behind. Watching.
"They didn't brute force it," Rian said. "The system recognized them."
Access patterns appeared.
"This one is attacking."
The display shifted.
"This one… was already inside."
Silence.
Two systems. Similar. But not the same.
One forced entry. One moved like it knew the limits.
"Every time I get close to the source, it shifts," Rian added.
Liv didn't need to step closer. She already knew.
Leon.
Everything was starting to align. And it kept her silent.
Because if she spoke — Kai would start searching.
And if Kai found him — Leon would have nowhere left to go.
—
Night settled slowly. The building grew quieter.
Liv stood alone by the window.
Footsteps approached.
Kai.
"You're pulling away."
"I'm thinking."
"There was someone there earlier."
Liv paused. "Yes."
"That wasn't one of them."
"No."
"You're protecting him."
Liv didn't deny it.
Kai stepped closer.
"I don't care who he is. But I care about one thing."
A pause.
"You."
The word wasn't held back.
"If something happens to you… I don't know how I'm supposed to stand here and keep going."
He stepped closer. Closing the distance. And leaned in —
Liv turned her face away.
Silence.
"This is because of him."
Their eyes met.
"Major Leon Archer."
"He's dead. And he's not coming back."
Liv held everything in.
"Give me a chance."
She almost answered.
—
The comm buzzed.
"I found something," Rian's voice cut in.
Kai looked at her once. Then left.
—
Kai was gone. Silence returned.
Liv remained where she stood, but this time, nothing inside her held back anymore.
Her thoughts moved toward something she had been avoiding.
Two people. Two directions.
Kai had always been there. Real. Clear. Never holding back when it came to her. What he felt never changed, even when Liv never truly gave him space.
That should have been enough.
But it never was that simple.
Leon never truly came back. Always half-present, half-gone. Never explaining. Never asking to be believed.
And somehow — that was what kept him there. Deeper than he should be.
Liv closed her eyes for a moment.
For three years, she had learned to accept one thing — that it was over.
Then he came back. And ruined everything.
The most honest part of this — she never truly wanted him to leave.
Her hand clenched slightly.
Kai gave her something real. Leon gave her something unfinished.
And between the two — there was one truth she couldn't deny.
It wasn't Kai she had been waiting for.
Her eyes opened again.
The choice was never spoken. But it had always been there.
And the longer she delayed it — the clearer the direction became.
The problem wasn't who she would choose.
The problem was — what she would lose when she finally did.
For the first time, Liv realized —
She wasn't just being hunted by enemies.
But by a choice she could no longer avoid.
---