My chest tightened.

  No. No, she wasn’t here to save me. She was—

  I wanted to scream, but my body froze.

  The cold metal. The barrel aimed directly at me.

  My mind flashed to every violent TV show my parents used to watch. To the images of blood soaking the floor, of lifeless bodies, of—

  She gestured sharply with the gun. A silent order.

  Move.

  I swallowed thickly, my feet dragging as I followed her through a side door.

  The next room was dimly lit, cold. The air smelled sterile, yet… wrong. A lab. Like something straight out of science fiction.

  Amy placed a hand to her earpiece. Her voice was flat, composed.

  "Agent Amy here. I have the piece. What do I do with him now?”

  The piece…? Is she referring to me? I’m not an object!

  “It looks like Omni-Corps was planning to take him to a facility. I don’t know why, but it seems this boy is very valuable to them."

  My blood ran cold.

  A facility? What were they going to do to me?

  This sounds like a science fiction nightmare!

  My heart pounded, my thoughts were spinning.

  Were they going to experiment on me? Use me as a test subject? Why? For what? What did they—

  A voice crackled through Amy’s earpiece.

  And then, she spoke into it. This time it went to my ears clearly.

  "Do we get rid of him?"

  “WAIT.”

  The word ripped out of me before I could stop it.

  Amy snapped towards me.

  In a blink, she was behind me—an arm wrapping around my chest, a hand clamping over my mouth.

  "Be quiet!" she whispered, her breath brushing against my ear. "You’re going to alert the people outside."

  My pulse was hammered. What the hell?

  I wasn’t supposed to shout, I knew that. But— "You tried to kill me," I whispered back.

  She didn’t answer.

  She simply exhaled, removing her hand and putting her gun away. Then, she returned to her earpiece.

  I leaned in slightly, trying to hear.

  A whisper. "I’ve disabled all cameras and hijacked the security system. You’ve got ten minutes to get to the top. Secure the piece at all costs. Jack will be at the rendezvous point."

  Cameras? Security system? Jack?

  This all sounds like a scene coming from a video game..!

  "Understood, Rex," Amy responded. "I’ll report back if I find anything new."

  She turned back to me.

  "Boy, you’re coming with me. You don’t have a choice."

  I hesitated. "Can you at least explain what’s going on? Why am I being kidnapped? Who is Omni Corps??"

  Amy’s expression didn’t change. "I don’t have that answer. But I know they’re after you. And I know that whatever their reason is—it isn’t good."

  I stared at her.

  Then, slowly, I exhaled.

  I surrendered to the moment. To her.

  My life couldn’t get any more mysterious than this.

  "I see..." My voice was small. "I really don’t have a choice then."

  Amy didn’t answer. She just turned to the door, scanning the area before giving me a sharp nod.

  "Let’s move."

  She slipped into the hallway, scanning her surroundings like a predator. I followed—until I realized how fast she was moving.

  Too fast.

  "Wait—" I panted. "I—can’t—"

  Amy hesitated. Her eyes flicked to me.

  I was far behind her. Struggling to keep up.

  "I wasn’t athletic. I wasn’t trained. I was just an 11-year-old boy trying to keep pace with someone who moved like a shadow."

  For a brief second, something flickered in her eyes.

  Then—without a word—she grabbed my hand.

  "We need to hurry."

  Her grip was firm. Secure.

  "Try to keep up. On my signal."

  As soon as the word left her mouth, Amy surged forward, dragging me along with her. Our footsteps echoed in the narrow hall. Up ahead, she fired her grappling hook at a ventilation duct, then grabbed my wrist and pulled me upward. My stomach flipped from the sudden force, my feet leaving the ground.

  A sharp kick sent the vent cover flying. Amy landed effortlessly, pulling me in behind her before quietly placing the cover back—making it look untouched.

  My head spun. Everything was moving too fast. I tried to crawl forward, but my balance was off, and I kept tilting side to side.

  At the same time, an uneasy feeling crawled up my spine. I felt the urgency, like a game of tag where the stakes were too high. I turned my head anxiously, scanning behind us, hoping—praying—no one was following.

  Amy’s hand flicked in a sharp motion—sign language. I forced my gaze back on her.

  “Stay focused.”

  Then she stopped.

  It was so sudden that I crawled right into her, my face smushing against her hip. I recoiled, rubbing my nose.

  “Why’d you stop?!”

  For a moment, I flustered—but unease crept in just as quickly. My body tensed as I turned back, glancing over my shoulder—half-expecting someone to be behind us.

  She didn’t respond. Just stared ahead.

  Two pathways. A split in the vents. Amy’s gaze flickered to the touchscreen monitor on her wrist. After a tense moment, she spoke, her voice calm.

  "Come.”

  I obediently followed as we continued through the ventilation shaft. The path was getting narrower—and worse, sloping upward.

  The cold metal beneath my hands and knees began to shift. At first, the incline was barely noticeable, but soon, gravity started to pull at my body, forcing more weight onto my palms. Every movement felt like a climb, the smooth steel turning into an unforgiving ramp leading higher toward the top of the tower.

  I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep up. But I did it anyway, without saying a word.

  "Stop," Amy ordered.

  I froze, panting lightly.

  “The slope leads all the way to the top of the tower. I can’t have you falling." She turned her head slightly.

  "Grab onto me. We’ll grapple our way up."

  I hesitated for a moment, glancing down. The shaft stretched far below, a long, dark slide that almost looked… fun.

  "Don’t look down. You’ll break your focus," Amy warned.

  I blinked, then replied calmly. "I’m not scared."

  "Good. Then hold onto me. We need to move now."

  Carefully, I crawled forward, maneuvering onto her back. My arms wrapped around her shoulders, my chest pressed against her.

  "Are you comfortable?"

  I tightened my grip, bracing for the speed—just like before when we first entered the ventilation shaft.

  "I’m ready."

  The moment the words left my mouth, Amy fired the grappling hook. The line snapped taut, yanking us forward at blinding speed. My stomach lurched as we rocketed up the slope, wind rushing past my ears. I clenched my eyes shut, gripping onto Amy for dear life.

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  Then—I heard it.

  A deep, mechanical hum.

  Amy’s body tensed beneath me.

  Ahead, a massive ventilation fan spun violently, its metallic blades slicing through the air in a deadly blur. The opening was just large enough for a person to fit through—but at this speed, we’d be shredded if we hit it.

  “We have to let go!! We’ll die!!!” I screamed—loud.

  Amy pressed a hand to her earpiece. "Jack, the ventilation fan—shut it down!"

  A static-filled pause. Then—Jack’s voice, calm but urgent. "Already on it."

  The blades kept whirling—faster and faster, like a saw waiting to cut us in half.

  "Jack!!" Amy snapped.

  "Almost there," he muttered.

  I swallowed hard. If he didn’t disable it in time—

  But then, suddenly—a metallic groan.

  The fan’s speed slowed. The spinning blades stuttered, jerking to a stop just in time.

  "Done," Jack confirmed. "You’ve got ten seconds."

  Amy didn’t hesitate. The moment Jack confirmed the shutdown, she released the tension on the line, letting the grappling hook yank us forward.

  We shot through just as the blades gave a final, shuddering twitch—then roared back to life behind us.

  Light returned.

  We burst through the ventilation shaft, landing hard on the rooftop.

  For a moment, I just lay there, breathing. Eyes staring at the blue sky.

  We made it. Alive.

  -

  The sky stretched wide above us. Amy stood still, scanning the surroundings without pause.

  The rooftop was no safe haven.

  Metal vents jutted out at odd angles, rusted edges catching the sunlight. Thick industrial pipes snaked along the ground, some leaking faint trails of steam. Storage crates, weathered and dented, were stacked haphazardly near the perimeter.

  At the center stood the helicopter landing pad, its faded yellow markings barely visible beneath a layer of grime and dust. Beyond it, protective walls lined the rooftop’s edges—some climbable, others topped with barbed wire.

  Amy’s gaze swept across the rooftop. Every structure was both an advantage and a liability. Cover meant safety, but also blind spots. A perfect balance of danger and opportunity.

  She analyzed the terrain. This was their rendezvous point, but if a fight broke out, she needed to use the environment to her advantage.

  Then—footsteps.

  Heavy and rushed—coming straight toward them.

  Amy reacted instantly, grabbing me and pulling me behind the nearest vent. I held my breath as long as I could while she peeked around the corner.

  Guards.

  "They should be somewhere around here," one barked. "Spread out and find them. Kill the agent. Retrieve the piece."

  The piece… They kept referring to me as the piece…

  Amy’s eyes narrowed. Guards? Up here? That wasn’t part of the intel. They shouldn’t know we were here.

  No time to hesitate.

  Amy turned to me, giving a sharp signal—“duck and run, but keep close to me.”

  I obeyed—reluctantly. Anxious—my breath quickened.

  My life was now completely in her hands.

  I tried keeping up with Amy, weaving between the metal structures while staying low.

  This was really like a video game. It’s scary and intense. But also… fun.

  I looked at Amy. She was staring straight—

  at the ladder to the landing pad. Their rendezvous point. The place where she would finally meet up with Jack.

  She climbed first, peeking over the edge and then, she reached her hand down to me.

  “I’m okay, Amy. I can climb on my own. Please double-check if we’re clear of any enemy agents.”

  I mimicked that cheesy line straight out of a video game.

  Amy blinked, mildly surprised.

  She said nothing—just turned back and continued scanning.

  Then—silence.

  The wrong kind of silence.

  "Wait."

  Amy lifted a hand, stopping me from walking towards her.

  Something wasn’t right.

  "This isn’t what I was told. Jack should be here already."

  Then—

  Blinding light.

  Two massive searchlights mounted on nearby towers whipped toward them, locking on like a predator finding its prey.

  A voice followed.

  "Well, well, well~ looks like you made it, Agent Amy."

  Amy’s blood ran cold.

  A figure stepped forward, illuminated by the harsh glow.

  And then—she saw his face.

  Jack.

  The lead attacker stepped fully into the light, his features now unmistakable.

  Amy’s stomach twisted.

  Jack was supposed to be standing at her side. He was supposed to be her partner—her backup. One of the few agents she trusted.

  But the man before her now—he wasn’t that person anymore.

  Jack stood with multiple armed guards flanking him, their rifles locked onto her.

  A complete betrayal.

  "Jack?" Amy’s voice was calm, but edged with steel. "What the hell is this?"

  Shock hit her for a few seconds. Then, it was gone.

  She forced herself back into the Void.

  Three years. Three years working with him. And yet—had he always been a double agent? Had he been feeding information about Sanctuary to Omni Corps all along?

  There was no time for answers.

  Jack tilted his head, smiling.

  And the guards lifted their guns.

  Amy's expression hardened. Cold. Calculated.

  She glanced at me beneath the ladder for a moment. I was fidgeting, feeling slightly uneased.

  Amy’s eyes scanned through the surroundings again, like a bolt.

  Nine of them, including Jack. I should be able to make it out on my own. But with the piece with me…

  Amy thought, her gun remained steady, her mind rapidly assessing every possible escape route. She needed to be fast.

  Jack’s smirk was easygoing, as if he believed he'd already won.

  "Surrender now, Amy. You’re outnumbered. Your pesky handler Rex can’t hear a thing. And, well…" He stood unarmed, relaxed—yet entirely in control.

  "I know you from the inside and out. So I came prepared."

  Is he bluffing? Amy’s gaze flicked around the rooftop.

  Her fingers tensed on the trigger.

  Find the right timing.

  A precise, clean strategy. Grab Kou and run.

  Until—

  A blur of movement.

  Amy twisted just in time as a figure lunged from behind, aiming to tackle her. She moved again, twisting her body and countering with a smooth, forceful motion—sending the attacker stumbling back.

  The figure rolled into a crouch, her breath steady.

  A predator’s stance like a tigress.

  She tilted her head slightly—sticking her tongue out deliberately.

  A strange, unsettling grin making a very creepy and uncomfortable face.

  The attacker—a woman in a sleek, midnight-black bodysuit. She paused, eyes narrowing.

  The suit was cutting-edge—glossy material reflecting streaks of light from the searchlights, silver seams enhancing every feline-like movement. It was designed for speed. Flexibility. Lethal precision.

  "We finally met…" The woman’s voice carried a dangerous lilt.

  "Amy Silver. The VOID!"

  Something inside Amy froze.

  Jack grinned, waving his hand like he was introducing a grand performance.

  "I’d like you to meet my new partner… Touko." His smirk widened.

  "Isn’t she lovely? I know how formidable you are, Amy. So I prepared her just for you."

  Amy's grip on her gun remained firm, her gaze locked onto Touko.

  Jack’s voice turned sharp, his amusement still present but his commanding presence unmistakable.

  "You may be able to take on many guards at once, but with Touko here, well…" His smirk deepened.

  "Surely even The Void must have her limits?"

  The situation was worse than she thought.

  Then—Touko took a slow step forward.

  She raised her left hand.

  The guards around Jack lowered their weapons—momentarily.

  Jack raised an eyebrow, arms crossed.

  Touko didn’t look at him. Her sharp gaze stayed locked on Amy.

  “Before we capture them, would you give us a moment, Jack?”

  “This is my once-in-a-lifetime chance to face the ‘Void’ fair and square.”

  She looked at him this time, face twisted with excitement.

  “May I?”

  "You’ve got three minutes. No more." said Jack.

  Touko’s lips curved, her tongue gliding across her lips.

  "Plenty."

  I was holding onto the tip of the ladder—hands cold and arms shivering, I stuck my head out a little while I watched the whole exchange. This wasn’t pleasant.

  I can’t see how Amy could win this.

  Immediately, she fired a harpoon chain straight at Amy without warning.

  Amy dodged—sidestepping in a low sprint, her body nearly skimming the ground. She recoiled and sprang forward, launching herself toward Touko.

  Touko immediately unleashed a blade from the tip of her shoe, aiming a sharp upward kick at Amy.

  Amy raised her arm to block, deflecting most of the impact—but the blade still grazed her forearm, slicing through her suit. A thin line of blood appeared, soaking into the torn fabric.

  Amy didn’t waste the moment. Using the force of Touko’s kick to her advantage, she shoved Touko’s leg aside and drove a hard punch straight into her face. The impact sent her skidding backward across the rooftop.

  But Touko was far from defeated. She dug her heel into the ground mid-slide, lowering her body into a crouched, spring-loaded stance—the kind used by sprinters just before they explode off the starting line.

  Her fingers grazed the ground for balance, her eyes locked sharply on Amy.

  Touko laughed frantically.

  "This is what I was looking for! This is the thrill!! Survival of the fittest!!”

  “The silent yet deadly Void! I WANT MORE OF IT!!!" Touko roared.

  She exploded from her crouch, launching her entire body forward—a violent double-legged airborne kick aimed straight at Amy.

  Amy weaved to the side, narrowly avoiding the kick.

  Touko’s kick slammed into the large container, metal bowing inward and leaving a deep concave dent.

  She landed on the dented surface, using it as a foothold, then sprang up onto the top of the container.

  Their eyes met again for a brief moment—

  Until she launched herself into the air, hurling multiple shuriken at Amy with precision—before unleashing a second wave.

  The shuriken descended, curving low as they spiraled toward Amy.

  Reading Touko’s finger movements, Amy charged forward anyway, her head lowered, eyes tilted up, legs bent.

  The first wave went over her head, slicing through strands of her hair.

  The second wave curved in from the side, aimed for her ribs.

  She spun instinctively, the shuriken slicing past in close proximity—and just like that, she was back in pursuit.

  Amy pulled out her gun as she closed the gap. Touko was still airborne.

  "Oh no you don't," Touko immediately launched herself toward Amy, tackling her gut before she was able to fire. The gun fell off. They rolled backward as Amy kicked Touko off, dashing toward her fallen gun.

  Touko fired her harpoon chain, aiming to ensnare Amy’s legs—but at that moment, Amy paused abruptly—her hand snapped away from her fallen gun. The harpoon chain passed in front of her.

  In a blink, a second pistol materialized in her grip. A perfect feint.

  Lock and load. BANG!

  A moment of silence.

  I gasped, both palms pressed to my face.

  I saw Amy staggering, and then her body collapsed to the ground.

  Blood seeped through her side. I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. The sight of blood—flashes of past horrors—

  I was frozen in place.

  It was Jack who shot her an instant before she could fire.

  Touko was clearly not amused—she wanted the fight without intervention.

  "Jack!!!"

  "Touko, you were clearly outmatched. If I hadn’t pulled the trigger, you’d be dead." Jack’s voice was measured—practical.

  "I’ve worked with Amy for years. She doesn’t hesitate. That shot would’ve gone straight through your skull. I’m not about to waste my men for the sake of your little spectacle.”

  “Be grateful—I only immobilized her."

  Jack’s demeanor was firm and precise. With a single glance, he dismissed Touko and turned to Amy.

  Touko, dissatisfied with his answer, could not argue—because he wasn’t wrong. She clenched her fist in frustration. She hadn’t been strong enough to win outright.

  “Get the agent and the piece. We’re out of here.” Jack ordered, then slowly turned away.

  I was still shivering, frozen, as I watched everything just unfold. It was exactly like those movies.

  Overwhelmed, I wasn’t sure what to do.

  I don’t understand! I don’t get it! None of this makes sense!

  This was just beyond me, beyond anything I could imagine.

  And yet—

  Somewhere deep inside, a voice pushed against me.

  Do something, Kou! Do something!!!

  I forced my legs to move, jogging toward Amy’s collapsed body, my breath shaky.

  "A-Amy!! Amy!! Please wake up!!”

  “Please!!!"

  A shadow loomed over me. I turned around. A guard extended his arm—reaching for me, slowly.

  Then—

  Amy moved.

  In an instant, she shot up from the ground, her leg snapping into a ruthless kick, sending the guard falling backwards.

  Before I could process what just happened, her arm was already around me—I felt my back pressed tight against her chest.

  And then, something cold pressed against the side of my head.

  A click.

  I recognized that sound.

  The guards froze.

  Jack turned—his eyes widened. For the first time, he hesitated.

  Touko, however, grinned in excitement. This was the Void she deeply admired.

  "Hey, hey—he’s just a kid, you know," Jack tried to speak calmly, but he could feel his tension creeping into his voice.

  "Surely, you still have the heart of a human being?”

  “You’re not going to shoot a child, right?"

  Amy didn’t respond. Her eyes remained steady and unmoving. Her cold ocean blue eyes fixed onto Jack.

  Jack’s expression wavered ever so slightly—but the sweat on his temple hadn’t been there before.

  He realized he had misplayed.

  Amy’s grip on me was firm.

  "Make one move," she said coldly, "and you can kiss your precious asset goodbye."

  The way she said it sent a chill down his spine.

  Despite everything, despite the gun against my head—I felt… surprisingly calm.

  My body should have been reacting violently, but it didn’t.

  Somewhere deep inside me, I trusted Amy.

  ”Are you gonna shoot me, Amy...?” I whispered quietly, glancing upwards towards her face.

  Amy didn’t bat an eye at me, her eyes were still fixed forward.

  But she kept walking backwards—one step, another step, and another.

  And then—

  "Hey.."

  She whispered to my left ear, her voice so soft only I could hear it.

  "Trust me on this. Don’t be afraid."

  For some reason…

  That simple whisper gave me peace.

  I exhaled.

  And slowly, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the moment, allowing myself to fully entrust my life to her.

  Amy continued backwards—step by step—toward the edge of the rooftop.

  Jack’s eyes sharpened.

  No.

  He knew that stance. He knew that movement.

  "Stop her—"

  But before anyone could react—

  She let herself fall. Gravity yanked her down, the wind tearing at her cloak.

  And then—

  She was gone.