The world around me blurs, each step an effort I can’t seem to keep up with. My legs feel like they’re made of stone, stiff and unresponsive. I’m too tired, too weak to go any further on my own. The exhaustion isn’t just physical anymore; it’s mental, deep in my bones.

  Azuria has been carrying me for what feels like hours now. Her arms are firm around me, holding me close, keeping me steady as we move. Her pace is steady, never faltering, though I know she’s just as tired. We both are.

  Every time I blink, the world feels a little further away. My head spins, and I fight the pull of unconsciousness. I don’t want to let go. I can’t let myself slip. But I’m so close to the edge.

  I glance up at Azuria, her expression hard, focused. She doesn’t show any sign of tiring, but I know it’s there. She’s carrying not just me, but the weight of everything that’s happening right now. I can feel her tension, her vigilance.

  "Azuria..." I murmur, my voice rough. "How much farther?"

  She doesn’t answer immediately, her gaze scanning the horizon ahead. Her jaw tightens for just a moment, and she shifts her grip on me, making sure I’m secure in her arms.

  "Not much longer," she says, her voice calm but with a hint of urgency. "We’re almost there."

  I try to focus, to stay awake, but it’s becoming harder to keep my eyes open. The sounds of the world around us are muted, everything blending together as my thoughts start to slip.

  "Azuria... I..." I trail off, my words fading as I lose track of them.

  She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t need to. Her movements are steady, unwavering, as though she’s carrying more than just my weight. Her steps are determined, no hesitation in her stride.

  After what feels like an eternity, we reach a small clearing surrounded by dense trees. It’s not much, but it’s enough. Azuria stops, her eyes scanning the surroundings one last time, then she gently sets me down on the ground, her arms never leaving me until she’s sure I can stay upright.

  I blink slowly, trying to clear the fog in my mind. I look up at her, grateful, but also unable to ignore the weight of the situation.

  "This is it?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

  Azuria doesn’t answer right away. She takes a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she surveys the area. Her expression softens just slightly, though it’s hard to read.

  "This will have to do for now," she finally says. "We can’t keep moving until you’ve rested."

  I nod, though I can feel the unease crawling beneath my skin. I know we can’t stay here forever. I know this is only a temporary respite. But for now, it’s enough.

  Azuria kneels beside me, checking me over one last time. "Stay here," she tells me, her voice soft but firm. "I’ll make sure we’re safe."

  She moves off to the edge of the clearing, her figure blending into the shadows as she keeps watch. I close my eyes, allowing myself a brief moment of peace.

  I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting there, but the silence feels wrong. The gentle rustling of the trees should be comforting, but instead, it amplifies the tension in the air. My mind is still clouded, my body aching from the exhaustion. And that’s when I feel it—someone’s watching me.

  I stiffen, my senses alert, but I don’t react immediately. It’s too late to run now. Whoever this is, they’ve already made their presence known.

  A figure steps out from the shadows at the edge of the clearing, his silhouette dark against the fading light. He’s wearing a long coat, the kind that blends into the night, and his movements are deliberate, as if he’s been standing there for a while.

  I squint, trying to make out his features, but there's something familiar about him, though I can’t place it. My heart skips a beat as I feel a strange déjà vu washing over me.

  Azuria’s voice suddenly cuts through the air, tense and alert. "Who are you?"

  The man doesn’t flinch at the question. He just smiles, though the expression feels odd—almost like a recognition. He tilts his head slightly, studying me as if he’s been waiting for this moment. His eyes gleam in the twilight, an unsettling sense of knowing behind them.

  "I’m surprised you don’t remember me," he says, his voice smooth but laced with a hint of amusement. "We’ve met before."

  I blink, confusion clouding my thoughts. "Met? Where?"

  He steps closer, but Azuria doesn’t move, keeping herself between me and him, her posture defensive, calculating.

  The man’s smile softens, but there’s a touch of sadness in his gaze. "I’m... not surprised, I guess. You wouldn’t remember. Not like this."

  I swallow hard, trying to make sense of the situation. "How was I when we met?" I ask, the words leaving my mouth before I can stop them. "Was it... was it me, or someone else?"

  The man’s gaze flickers to the ground for a moment, his expression unreadable. When he speaks again, his voice is low, almost nostalgic.

  "You were different," he says, as if searching for the right words. "It was a long time ago. You were a lot younger, a lot more... you." His smile falters. "Not like now. You were April’s side of you, all the way."

  The name hangs in the air like a weight. April.

  I feel my pulse quicken. April’s side of me. The words strike a chord deep within me, but they don't make any sense. How does this man know about her? How did he know about me, before... before all of this?

  He notices my confusion and steps a little closer, his face softening. "It’s me. You... you don’t recognize me, do you? We met years ago. I was a friend of April’s. Of yours."

  My heart stirs with recognition, but I can’t place the memory. "April’s friend?" I murmur, my mind reeling. "You knew April? How—what happened?"

  The man nods slowly, his expression darkening for a moment. "Yeah. I was around when she was just starting to... become herself. When you were still... you."

  A chill runs through me as the puzzle pieces begin to shift in my mind. I suddenly remember fragments—fragments of a past that’s been buried under layers of confusion, of shifting identities. A name, a face, a feeling of something familiar. I try to dig deeper, but it’s like trying to grasp at smoke.

  The man gives me a soft look, his eyes filled with something close to sympathy. "You don’t remember much, do you? I guess that’s to be expected, after everything you’ve been through. But... it wasn’t just her you lost. It was you, too."

  My chest tightens at his words, and I take a shaky breath, trying to stay grounded. "You... you knew April? She... she was here, with me? Before all of this?"

  The man’s lips twitch into something between a smile and a grimace. "Yeah. She was here. She was with you, even before you were forced to confront... him."

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Him. The word hangs in the air like an accusation.

  Azuria shifts behind me, clearly on edge, but I can see the tension in her shoulders ease just slightly. The man seems... less dangerous than I first thought. Or maybe it’s just that I don’t feel like I can run from anything anymore.

  He steps forward a little, his gaze steady on me. "We all have masks we wear," he says, as if it’s the simplest truth in the world. "But sometimes, those masks become so real, we forget what we were underneath. I’m here because I don’t want you to forget."

  I look at him, still trying to wrap my head around this. "Forget what?"

  The man doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he watches me carefully, almost like he’s waiting for me to understand something that I haven’t yet.

  And then, just as quickly as he appeared, his figure fades back into the darkness.

  "Don’t lose yourself again," he says, his voice barely a whisper on the wind.

  I sit there, alone again, the words lingering in the air. Don’t lose yourself again.

  For a brief moment, the world feels like it’s shifting under my feet. The man’s words cling to me like a memory I can’t recall.

  I glance over at Azuria, who’s still watching the shadows, her expression unreadable.

  "Did you... did you know him?" I ask, the question hanging between us.

  Azuria looks at me, her eyes flickering with something—concern, confusion, maybe even a bit of fear. "I don’t know," she admits softly. "But I think... I think he knew April."

  I swallow hard, the weight of it all settling in my chest. Everything is coming undone, and I don’t know if I’m ready to face it.

  But I don’t have a choice.

  I close my eyes, focus. I’ve been trying to keep her at bay, but now? Maybe it’s time. Maybe April needs to take the reins again, and I need to let her speak. I need answers, and she might be the only one who can get them.

  I don’t speak aloud, but I reach out in my mind, searching for that connection we share.

  “April…?”

  There’s a long pause, a stillness before I feel a stirring within me, something familiar. A warmth. It’s her, I know it is. My heart pounds a little faster, the apprehension clawing at the back of my thoughts, but I let go of the hesitation.

  “I think you should talk to him. The man who just appeared. I need you to handle this. You knew him, didn’t you?”

  The answer comes almost immediately, a burst of warmth and confidence that floods through me like a wave. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”

  A moment later, she’s here—beside me, her presence undeniable and stronger than ever. The world around us shifts slightly, the shadows seeming to lean in closer, drawn to her energy. April’s eyes lock onto mine, her expression serene but resolute. It’s as if she never left.

  She glances at Azuria, who, though she’s still watching the surroundings, seems to notice the change in the air. Her posture shifts subtly, but she doesn’t comment.

  April doesn’t say a word to me. Instead, she steps forward, her figure flickering for a second, as if she’s still adjusting to the full control again. But once she’s steady, she faces the shadows where the mysterious man had stood. The air feels charged, waiting for something to happen.

  “Just stay with me, okay?” Her voice resonates in my mind, reassuring and calm, a contrast to the storm of thoughts I’m still struggling with.

  April steps forward, confident in a way I can only ever be when I’m watching through her. The moment she takes over, something in my body shifts—looser, more grounded. She calls out with a grin, “Hey, Luca! Long time no see!”

  The man’s face lights up with surprise. “A.P?” He steps closer, squinting at her. “What’s up? How are you?”

  April laughs, casual. “No so funny story, we’re on the run from the big guys. Not the cops don’t worry… but we could use some help.”

  “I live here,” he says, motioning around the forest edge. “This land’s mine. Family farm, about a kilometer that way.” He jerks a thumb behind him. “I come down this trail to check the fences sometimes. Figured I’d be alone out here.”

  “Oh it’s certainly remote, but soon you may or may not have some more visitors.”

  Luca looks to Azuria, then back at April. “You remove its tracking chip?”

  “Yes, a long time ago. Never been an issue until we hacked the CEO though.”

  “So that was you huh.”

  Azuria chimes in, “I am still just as capable, everything I need has been downloaded so even if I am cut off from their networks I’ll still be fully functional.”

  Luca nods. “Well if you were looking for somewhere remote here’s the place. No one comes out this far, not even the local hunters. If you’re looking to lay low, this is the place.”

  April’s smile softens just a bit. “Appreciate that. We’ll be out of your hair soon.”

  He waves it off. “You’re fine. Just—good to see you again. It’s been what… five years? Six?”

  “Something like that,” she says, though I can feel her quietly counting.

  “You’re welcome to stay if you like. If you follow the path about twenty minutes west, there’s an old shed near the creek. You can use it for now—long as you need.”

  April nods. “Thanks, Luca.”

  He smiles again. “Glad I came out here today. Weird kind of luck, huh?”

  April shrugs. “I don’t believe in coincidence.”

  As Luca turns to head back toward his land, I feel her glance in my direction—mentally, in that quiet space where we overlap. She's calm, but I know she’s thinking the same thing I am: whatever we’re walking into, at least for tonight… we’re not running. Not yet.

  April watches Luca disappear into the tree line, hands in his coat pockets, whistling something tuneless but warm. The moment he’s gone from view, she exhales through her nose—something between relief and quiet caution.

  Azuria steps up beside her. “Old friend?”

  April nods, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “From before all this. We were kids. He moved away, and I didn’t think I’d see him again. Especially not here.”

  Azuria glances in the direction of the farm, scanning the tree line. “Do you trust him?”

  April thinks for a second. “Enough. He was always kind. A little oblivious, maybe—but kind.”

  Azuria doesn’t look fully convinced, but she lets it sit. “Well… we’ll take what we can get. He’s not part of any of this.”

  April looks at her now, more directly. “You’ve been holding up well.”

  Azuria scoffs softly. “Define ‘well.’ You saw how far I had to carry him.”

  April grins. “Hey. He’s not built for this. But he’s still moving, isn’t he?”

  Azuria gives a small nod. “Barely.”

  They both share a quiet moment. Then April’s smile softens, and she closes her eyes. “Alright. I think it’s time.”

  She takes a slow breath, and then in the blink of an eye, I’m back.

  The shift is always strange. Like coming up for air after floating just beneath the surface. I stagger a bit, feeling the weight of everything settle into me again. April’s gone from the outside, but still there, lingering in the back of my mind. Watching. Always watching.

  Azuria steadies me with one hand. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” I breathe. “Just… adjusting.”

  She nods and glances toward the path Luca mentioned. “We should move soon. Storm’s coming.”

  I follow her gaze, the air already heavy with moisture and the distant grumble of thunder. My legs ache. My lungs feel like they’ve been lined with sandpaper. But at least now… I’m walking again. One foot after the other.

  And April’s still with me. Just quieter now.

  The shed creaked when Azuria pushed the old door open, hinges groaning against years of quiet. Inside, dust hung in the air like fine mist, caught in the afternoon light slipping through gaps in the wood. It wasn’t much—bare floorboards, a half-collapsed workbench, an old generator in the corner—but it was shelter. More than we’d had all day.

  Azuria dropped her bag with a heavy thud and cracked her knuckles, already scanning the space for makeshift power and signal. I sat down on a low wooden beam, catching my breath. The air was thick with the scent of soil and rust, and my legs were trembling again. But my mind… my mind was stirring.

  “Azuria,” I said, breaking the silence. “How long does it take to hack one of the top 0.1 percenters?”

  She didn’t look up from her task—already checking cords and pulling her deck from its case—but she paused just enough to let the weight of my question settle.

  “That depends,” she replied, pulling a wire through her fingers. “You talking biometric spoofing? Neural intercept? Behavioral override?”

  “Any of it,” I said. “All of it. Someone who’s protected top to bottom. Military-grade protocols. Auto-learning firewalls. The works.”

  She finally looked up, brushing a strand of hair from her face, eyes sharp. “You trying to get into someone specific?”

  “Just curious,” I said. “Say one of the elite. Someone untouchable. Someone who’s never had to worry about being watched, because they’ve always been the one watching.”

  Azuria folded her arms, resting her back against the wall.

  “With the right tools and access?” she said. “Could take months. Years if they’re deep. But if they slip—even once—if I get a backdoor? A moment of carelessness?”

  She held up her deck.

  “An hour. Maybe less.”

  I nodded, the gears turning in my head.

  She narrowed her eyes. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking someone up top had to greenlight Artebot working with AzuriaCorp. That’s not a field commander decision. That’s boardroom. Maybe higher. And we’ve been running. Ducking. Hiding. But…”

  I paused.

  “What if we stopped running for just a moment—and found out who exactly gave the order?”

  Azuria didn’t answer right away. She just stared at me, expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smirk played across her lips.

  “Dangerous thought, Oskar.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “But we’re already in the fire. Might as well know who’s holding the torch.”

  She turned back to her gear and powered it up, the low hum of the deck beginning to pulse.

  “Get some rest,” she said. “If we’re going to go fishing for titans… we’ll need you sharp.”

  I leaned my head back against the wall, eyes drifting to the crack in the roof above, where clouds were gathering.

  April whispered in the back of my mind, soft and curious.

  You're done running, then?

  Not yet, I thought.

  But maybe soon.