Liv didn't return to the main area.
Her steps stayed measured, her pace unchanged, as if she was simply moving from one point to another like always. Nothing about her movement stood out. Nothing that would raise any doubts about her.
But the direction she chose… wasn't the same.
She moved away from the main path, toward the quieter side of the building. An area not entirely abandoned, but far enough from the center to escape constant monitoring. A place where the system didn't function with the same precision.
A place where… gaps could exist.
Liv didn't stop right away. She kept walking until the only sound left was her own footsteps. The air felt colder here, emptier, as if this place wasn't meant to be occupied for long.
Her hand lifted. One small motion. The comm went offline.
The silence shifted. Deeper. More real.
And for the first time, Liv didn't feel it as a threat.
She waited. Not anxiously. But knowingly.
She wasn't searching anymore. She was drawing him out.
—
A few seconds passed. No sound. No movement.
Liv stayed where she was, not turning, not moving, but her entire body already knew — the room was no longer empty.
The change was subtle. It didn't come from footsteps, but from presence. As if the space itself shifted slightly, as something had entered without making a sound.
Liv exhaled slowly.
"It's been a while," she said. Not loud. Not uncertain.
She wasn't asking if he was there. She already knew.
"Longer than it should have been."
The answer came from behind her.
Leon.
Liv closed her eyes for a brief second before turning.
And there he was. Unchanged. Standing at the same distance — not too close, not far enough to ignore.
"You haven't changed," Liv said, watching him for a long moment.
Leon didn't answer right away. His gaze stayed calm, but there was something more restrained in it now.
"You have," he said quietly.
Liv let out a small breath.
"Yeah," she replied. "Because I've been living with something that never changed."
A pause. Her eyes didn't leave his.
"You died."
Leon didn't interrupt. Didn't deny it. He just stood there. And somehow, that made everything feel more real.
Liv stepped closer. Slowly.
"I'm not going to ask why you're alive," she continued. "I'm asking… why you chose not to come back."
Leon looked away for a moment.
"I didn't have a choice."
Liv let out a faint smile. Not because it was funny.
"We always have a choice," she said softly. "You just chose one that didn't include me."
Leon looked back at her.
"I chose to keep you alive."
Liv didn't answer immediately.
Her hand lifted, grabbing the front of his shirt, pulling him slightly closer.
"Don't do that again," she said, her voice lower now. "Don't show up… then disappear like it's your decision alone."
Leon didn't pull away.
"I never really left."
Liv let out a short, hollow laugh.
"Don't," she cut in. "If you didn't leave… I wouldn't have stood at that grave for three years."
Silence fell between them. Heavier this time.
Liv exhaled slowly, then asked — "Why me?"
Leon answered without hesitation.
"Because this isn't random."
Liv's gaze sharpened.
"I'm the target."
"More than that," Leon said.
"What does that mean?"
"Not now."
Liv pulled him closer again.
"Don't," she said. "I've lived without your answers long enough."
Leon paused for a second. Then said quietly —
"They're not going to kill you." A beat. "They're going to use you."
Liv's breath caught.
"Who?"
Leon shook his head.
"The less you know right now… the longer you stay alive."
Liv stared at him.
"You're part of them."
Leon didn't answer. And that was answer enough.
Silence returned.
Then Liv asked softly — "Then whose side are you on?"
Leon's gaze shifted. Deeper. Closer.
"I'm not with them," he said.
Liv didn't move. Didn't fully believe him. But didn't reject it either.
Leon stepped closer.
"I'm with you."
Liv's breath faltered.
The words were simple. But heavier than everything he hadn't said.
"Don't say that if you can't stay," Liv replied quietly. "I don't need someone standing beside me… if every time I turn around, they're gone."
Silence. Closer. More honest.
Liv held his gaze.
"Is that why you came back?" A pause. "Or is this just part of whatever you're doing now?"
Leon didn't answer. And Liv didn't let him stop there.
"Say it, Leon."
Her voice didn't rise. But it left no room to escape.
"You came back to protect me."
Leon looked at her. Longer than before.
Then finally — "I never went far from you."
The words came out quietly. No defense. No explanation.
And that was what made them real.
Liv held her breath. A part of her wanted to believe him. And that was the most dangerous thing.
Leon stepped back. Distance returned.
"Liv," he said softly. "You need to stop going into that system."
"Why?"
"They're starting to see the same pattern Kai is."
Liv understood immediately.
"You know."
"I always do."
Liv let go. Stepping back.
"You've been watching me."
"Protecting."
"You choose comfortable words."
"And you choose to stay alive."
That stopped her.
—
Footsteps echoed from afar.
Leon noticed first. He stepped back.
"If Kai finds me before you do…" he said quietly. He paused. Then looked at her. "I won't be someone you recognize."
Liv didn't respond. Didn't stop him.
Leon turned. And walked away.
Not disappearing. Just leaving. Like someone choosing not to stay.
Liv remained there. Not chasing. Not calling. But her eyes followed him until he was gone.
And even after — she didn't move.
Because something inside her hadn't left with him.
—
Another set of footsteps approached. Faster. Certain.
"Liv."
Kai. Close.
Liv didn't turn immediately. Only after a few seconds did she look back.
Her expression was calm again. Closed.
"You're here."
Kai stopped a few steps away. His gaze swept the area. Searching for something unseen.
"Or… with someone."
His tone was quiet. But sharp.
Liv met his eyes.
"The air inside was suffocating."
Simple. Too simple.
Kai didn't believe it. His gaze lingered. Reading.
And Liv knew — this wasn't over.
Because this time — Kai was too close.
And she wasn't sure how much longer she could stand in the middle without losing something.
---