Chapter 14 - The Patterns We Fail to See

  Ezra took Ciarra’s advice to heart—for once. Spring came, and for the first time in years, he did something he never thought he would do. He sat this one out.

  No labs.

  No Silent Legion.

  No graviton research.

  Just home.

  And to keep himself from spiraling into the abyss? He went back to an old comfort. Video games. Bruiser, ever the helpful bastard, had a recommendation. Not just any game.

  Dark Souls.

  "Bro, you’ll love it," Bruiser had said. "It’s about suffering." Ezra should have known better.

  "Are you serious?!" Ezra slammed the controller onto his desk, running both hands through his hair.

  "Bro, you’re getting folded by a skeleton with a stick." Bruiser wheezed through voice chat.

  Ezra gritted his teeth as his character died. Again. This game was bullshit. Total, unfiltered bullshit. "This is some 1990s arcade scam bullshit," Ezra growled. "The hitboxes don’t make sense, the enemies are cracked out of their minds, and I’m getting ratio’d by a fucking zombie knight."

  "Skill issue," Bruiser quipped.

  "I will uninstall this game."

  Just as he was about to rage quit, Bruiser spoke up. "Hang on, hang on, let’s beat this boss first."

  They were stuck on a particularly nasty level, a massive armor-clad monstrosity with unpredictable attacks. Ezra’s usual "rush in and swing until it dies" strategy wasn’t working. Bruiser, meanwhile? He made it look easy. "Watch its movement patterns," Bruiser said. "There’s always a pattern."

  Ezra grumbled. But fine. He tried again. Died. Tried again. Died. Then—Something clicked.

  He started seeing it. The way the boss’s sword lingered in the air before a swing. The way it faked left before dashing right. The pattern.

  It was difficult. Frustrating. But with Bruiser’s help—he finally overcame it. Ezra sighed loudly in relief, putting the controller down. "Jesus Christ," he muttered.

  Bruiser, smug as ever, chuckled in his headset. "Told you, man. There’s always a pattern."

  Ezra rubbed his face, still processing the stupid amount of relief he felt over a damn video game. "Thanks for the lesson, Sensei Dickhead," Ezra muttered.

  "Anytime, student Dumbass." Ezra rolled his eyes, but for the first time in weeks, he actually felt a little lighter.

  Spring passed slowly. Ezra checked in on Adam every chance he got. He was patching things up with Julie, slowly but surely. But his son… His son was showing signs.

  ADHD? ASD? Something else entirely? The doctors couldn’t pinpoint it yet. The ABCs of diagnoses were murky at best. Only time would tell.

  Ezra didn’t know what the future held. Didn’t know if his son would struggle the way he had. Didn’t know if he’d even be around to help. But one thing was clear. There was always a pattern. And one day? He was going to figure it out.

  Ezra noticed the cough first. It was sporadic—just a clearing of the throat here, a short rasp there. At first, he didn’t think much of it. It was allergy season, after all. But as spring progressed, the cough didn’t fade—it got worse.

  By the end of the season, it was persistent, deeper, settling into his dad’s chest like it belonged there. Seth, being Seth, waved him off. "It’s fine. Don’t start with your doctor crap, boy. I’m good."

  Ezra wasn’t buying it. He turned to Ciarra instead. She had noticed too. She was keeping tabs on him, but it wasn’t their place to force treatment. Seth had to make that decision himself.

  Ezra grumbled, reluctant. Ciarra just sighed and gave him one of those patient, knowing looks. "You can lead a horse to water, Ez," she murmured, "but you can’t make it drink."

  Ezra crossed his arms. "Yeah? Well, what if the horse knew what glue was?"

  Ciarra chuckled, ruffling his hair like he was a kid. "Then that’s just natural selection."

  He huffed, but let it drop. For now.

  Nonna was in good health, but her spirit? She was worried. Worried about Seth. Worried about the family. Worried about Ezra.

  She didn’t say it outright, but Ezra could see it in the way she watched him when she thought he wasn’t looking.

  The quiet glances. The gentle hand on his shoulder for just a second longer than necessary.

  She knew.

  She always knew.

  One afternoon, Ezra needed out of the house. Too many thoughts, too much restlessness. He decided to go for a walk into the mountainous countryside, hoping to clear his mind. Ciarra, ever perceptive, asked to tag along.

  They hiked up a steep trail, breathing in the crisp mountain air, feeling the tension of the past months ease slightly. It wasn’t until they reached a peaceful spot overlooking Turn, its skyscrapers barely a glimmering mirage in the distance, that Ezra finally sighed. "Got any more skeletons in your closet I should know about?" he asked, only half-joking.

  Ciarra exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. "After everything we’ve been through?" she murmured. "I just want to spend some quality time with my da—"

  She caught herself. Ezra’s brow arched slightly. He didn’t react immediately—just let the moment hang. But he’d heard it. And she knew he’d heard it. Ezra smirked to himself. He had to lure the kitty out with catnip. "You bring the good stuff?"

  Ciarra snorted, rolling her eyes. "Of course I did."

  Ezra grinned. "Atta girl."

  She pulled out her peace pipe, and together, they smoked in the quiet woods, the only sound the distant chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. Ezra rested against a tree, sighing. He wrapped an arm around Ciarra, pulling her closer in a lazy side-hug. She didn’t resist, curling up against him, purring softly as he petted her hair.

  "You know," Ezra murmured, "you can tell me anything. If you feel like it."

  Ciarra nuzzled into his side, letting his warmth and scent soothe her. For a moment, it was peaceful. Then—Ezra pushed. "So. Your dad."

  Ciarra’s purring stopped.

  Ezra took another hit of the pipe, exhaling slowly. "He worked with gravitons, right?"

  Silence. Ezra smirked slightly. "Why won’t you share his story with me?"

  Ciarra took a deep breath, her voice softer this time.

  "Trust is a brittle thing, Ezra," she murmured. "Mine’s been broken so many times, it’s practically dust."

  Ezra didn’t stop petting her hair. "Do you trust me?" he asked.

  Ciarra swallowed, then nodded against his chest. "But… I’ve seen what your stress is doing to you." She hesitated. "I don’t want to burden you more than you’re already carrying."

  Ezra exhaled, staring at the clear blue sky above them. "Lay it on me, Ciarra," he said, voice bold, firm. "What doesn’t kill me will probably piss me off." He grinned slightly. "But I’ll deal with it."

  Ciarra laughed softly, shaking her head. "Fine," she whispered. She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "You’ve seen the core already, haven’t you?"

  Ezra’s expression twitched. "Yeah," he admitted. "And—" Wait. His eyes narrowed slightly. "How do you know about the core?"

  Ciarra’s gaze turned serious. "Because," she said slowly, "I know what it is."

  Ezra didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. "What is it?" he asked.

  Ciarra took another long drag of the pipe, her eyes locking onto the horizon. "It’s a prison," she whispered.

  Ezra’s stomach turned cold. Ciarra continued, her voice low, distant. "The thing inside it… it has the power to destroy humanity." Ezra’s grip tightened slightly around her.

  "It’s been dormant for thousands of years," she continued. "Waiting for someone to set it free."

  Ezra groaned. "For fuck’s sake, Ciarra," he muttered, rubbing his face. "This is starting to sound like some foreshadowing type bullshit."

  Ciarra laughed, her purring returning slightly.

  Ezra threw up a hand. "Next thing you’re gonna tell me—there’s a legendary hero, with stereotypically main-character white hair, destined to free the beast so he might slay it!"

  Ciarra giggled.

  Ezra threw his arms up dramatically. "O’ Oracle Ciarra, before you tell me thy prophecy, tell me the winning lottery numbers tomorrow!"

  Ciarra cracked up, burying her face into his shoulder.

  Ezra grinned. "You do have a White-Card, you know," she teased. "Why do you need the lottery?"

  Ezra shrugged. "I dunno, just hoping my winning numbers are 13, 42, 69, and 420."

  Ciarra wheezed, kicking her legs slightly. Ezra held her close, petting her absently. For now? This was enough.

  Ezra was lounging on the living room couch, halfway through a lazy afternoon nap, when Julie nudged him awake. "Ezra," she said, holding up her phone. "It’s for you."

  Ezra squinted. "For me?"

  Julie sighed, nudging him harder. "You forgot to get a new phone, dumbass. Mr. Key’s been trying to reach you. For weeks."

  Ezra groaned, rubbing his face. "Shit. Alright."

  Julie plopped the phone in his hand and walked off. Ezra sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Mr. Key?"

  "Boyo."

  Ezra winced. "Shit. Sorry, I—"

  "Forgot to buy a new phone. Yeah, yeah, we gathered."

  Ezra could almost hear the amusement in Mr. Key’s voice.

  "Everything alright?"

  Ezra sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "No."

  Mr. Key was silent for a moment. Then, calmly—"Talk to me, kid."

  Ezra exhaled, leaning his head back. "My job…" he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "I dunno if I’m cut out for it." Mr. Key hummed. "Too much spooky shit," Ezra admitted. "The core duty trip—it wasn’t just rough. It was… fucked."

  Mr. Key didn’t interrupt. Just listened. Ezra let out a humorless chuckle. "The Silent Legion? The way they test people? The way they just watch?" He shook his head. "I feel like a rat in a really fucked up experiment."

  Mr. Key finally spoke, his voice measured. "I hear you."

  That was it. Not dismissal. Not condescension. Just understanding.

  Ezra was about to thank him, maybe even admit he felt relieved, when Mr. Key added something curious.

  "When you return to work," he said slowly, "next time you go through the core duty protocols…" Ezra frowned. "Take a closer look at the safety protocol console." Ezra’s entire body froze.

  His breath caught. What? "The safety protocol console?" Ezra repeated.

  Mr. Key chuckled softly. "You heard me."

  Ezra sat straighter, fully alert now. "What the fuck did I miss?" The tour had been brief, sure, but it was detailed. Every protocol. Every fail-safe. Every emergency measure. He hadn’t been rushing through it. Hadn’t been skimming.

  And yet—he missed something? Mr. Key’s voice was cryptic, amused. "Don’t worry about it," he said. "You’ll figure it out in due time."

  Ezra’s fingers tightened around the phone. He wanted to press him for details. To demand answers. But deep down? He knew Mr. Key wouldn’t give him any.

  At least, not yet.

  Mr. Key exhaled, shifting the conversation. "In the meantime," he said, "don’t forget you have a White Card."

  Ezra blinked. "…Okay?"

  "Go get a new phone, boyo."

  Ezra groaned loudly, dragging a hand down his face. "Fuck."

  Mr. Key chuckled. "You keep forgetting you’re rich now, don’t you?"

  "It’s cheaty," Ezra grumbled. "I’m not used to prosperity."

  "You say that," Mr. Key mused, "and yet you literally have the ability to book a luxury private jet to anywhere in the solar system." Ezra grumbled louder. Mr. Key just laughed.

  "Fine," Ezra muttered. "I’ll get a burner phone instead. The cheapest, most bottom-tier model I can find."

  Mr. Key sighed. "Christ, Ezra."

  "That way, I’m not an inconvenience."

  "To who?!"

  "The universe."

  There was a long pause. Then—Mr. Key wheezed out a laugh. "Goddamn it, boyo," he muttered. "You never change."

  Ezra finally cracked a smirk. "Yeah," he muttered. "And yet… everything else does."

  Mr. Key didn’t respond to that. Ezra let out a slow breath. He didn’t realize it before—but for the first time in weeks, he felt just a little lighter.

  Ezra returned to work that summer, but something was off with Haru. The kid was quieter. More reserved. And most telling of all? Haru had been grounded from having his own cellphone. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why. The Silent Legion had a talk with his parents.

  Ezra had a bad habit of making the worst decisions against his better judgment—so naturally, he pulled out his cheap-ass burner phone and handed it over to Haru. "Here," Ezra muttered. "It’s shit, but it runs apps. Nobody’s gonna suspect a kid with a flip-phone-tier brick."

  Haru beamed like he’d just been given a million credits. "This is the worst piece of technology I’ve ever seen!" he grinned. "I love it!"

  Ezra rolled his eyes. "Just don’t get caught."

  Hours passed. Ezra was working on some basic calculations, keeping his head down, when his burner phone rang. Before he could reach for it, Haru—being Haru—snatched it up.

  He accidentally put it on loudspeaker. "Yo, this is Ezra—”

  “give me that back, you little shit!" Ezra started after him, but stopped in his tracks after what came next.

  "-gasp- Hoi KI-KI!!" Ezra froze. Haru grinned at the phone. "It’s so good to hear you again! ?"

  The voice on the other end? Ciarra. And she sounded delighted. Ezra’s soul left his body. "Oh my, Haru!" Ciarra chuckled warmly. "It’s been a while. Have you been behaving?"

  "Eh," Haru mused. "I’ve been more or less Ezra’s responsibility, so I think you already know the answer to that." Ciarra laughed.

  Ezra snatched the phone back so fast Haru barely had time to react. He took it off loudspeaker, pressed it to his ear, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Auntie."

  Ciarra giggled on the other end. "Oh, don’t sound so defeated. I was just checking up on you." Ezra sighed.

  "Family’s good?"

  "Yeah, the family is doing well," she said. "Your dad, though? His cough’s gotten worse."

  Ezra’s grip tightened around the phone. Ciarra kept talking, as if she hadn’t just sent a knife through his chest. "I’m keeping tabs on him," she reassured. "But what about you, Ez? How are you holding up?"

  Ezra exhaled sharply. And that was all she needed to hear. Ciarra hummed knowingly. "Keep your chin up," she murmured. "The Silent Legion isn’t as ‘silent’ as they want you to think." Ezra blinked. "They’re easy to avoid if you know how."

  Ezra’s breath caught. He suddenly felt very, very aware of the lab around him. His peripheral vision sharpened. His senses focused. Ciarra kept talking, her voice casual, slow. "The White Coats taught you, didn’t they?"

  Ezra almost scoffed. Taught him what? The White Coats didn’t teach him shit—Except how to play along. Except how to look deeper. Except how to—Oh.

  Oh, fuck.

  Ezra’s breath slowed. His muscles locked. His stomach twisted. Something was in the corner of the lab. Something imperceptible. He hadn’t noticed it before. Hadn’t thought to look. But now that Ciarra had nudged him in the right direction? He saw it.

  A space where the air was just slightly displaced. Like someone was standing there. For too long. Ezra’s body went cold. Ciarra’s voice softened. "Now do you get it?"

  Ezra forced himself to breathe normally. He relaxed his shoulders, forced a chuckle. "Yeah, Auntie," he said smoothly, "I get it."

  "Good boy."

  Ezra hung up. The game was afoot. Literally.

  His eyes flickered back to the untouched dust in the corner. There was a faint outline of footprints. Someone had been standing there for a long time. Too long. They were watching.

  Ezra needed to test his hypothesis. He motioned Haru over. "Never you mind how in the chicken-foot fuck you know Ciarra," he muttered. "I need you to do something for me."

  Haru tilted his head. "What’s up?"

  Ezra leaned in. He whispered in Haru’s ear, keeping his voice carefully layered with gibberish. Among the nonsense, he spoke clearly, precisely, in between the noise.

  "They’re watching…" gibberish

  "Go away…" gibberish

  "Go to the core elevator…" gibberish

  "Don’t enter…" gibberish

  "Come back in an hour…" gibberish

  "Make it look like I have a surprise waiting for you." gibberish

  Haru’s expression flickered between confusion, amusement, and realization. But the kid was sharp. He got the message. Breaking away, Haru grinned mischievously. "Race ya!" He bolted for the door, laughing.

  Ezra shook his head, smiling—playing the part.

  He turned back to his workstation, pretending to focus. And then—He waited.

  His peripheral vision locked onto the corner of the lab. At first, nothing. Then—an ever-so-slight shift. A barely perceptible tuft of air movement. No sound of footsteps. No physical shape.

  But the dust in the air stirred. Someone was there. Someone was moving.

  And Ezra had just let them know that he knew.

  Ezra waited.

  And waited.

  And waited some more.

  An hour passed. Still no sign of Haru. Ezra’s stomach twisted, but he kept his movements calm, measured. He walked over to the dust spot from earlier, took a random crate, and placed it right in the middle of the footprints.

  If someone had been standing there—they’d have to move it to return. He waited a moment. Nothing. Good. Whoever had been watching him was gone. That meant only one thing. Haru was in trouble.

  Ezra made a beeline for the elevator, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He wouldn’t have to go far. Halfway to the checkpoint, there she was. Clover. And she had Haru in tow, dragging the poor kid by the ear. Haru whimpered, trying not to squirm.

  "Apparently," Clover said smoothly, "you didn’t get the memo."

  Ezra tilted his head. "What memo?"

  "No cellphones. Around the core."

  Haru looked at Ezra, then at his own feet, too scared to talk. Ezra exhaled slowly. Right. Right. Time to play dumber than the time Ciarra drugged him up on painkillers.

  Auntie was a thoughtful woman. She had packed Ezra a lunch for his flight. And a little surprise. A THC vape. Perfect.

  Ezra pulled it out casually, took a long, slow hit, and exhaled directly in Clover’s direction. She didn’t even flinch. But her eyelid twitched.

  Gatcha, bitch!

  Hot damn, maybe White Coat University did teach him something after all. "Whaaaat?" Ezra asked lazily, taking another drag. "I can’t watch my favorite cat videos while doing mundane tasks? Oh, this is so unfair."

  Clover stared at him. Then, without a word, she took his burner phone. And crushed it in her hand. Ezra barely blinked. "Oh no," he said dryly. "My phone." He paused dramatically. "Anyways. Is that all?"

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  Inside? His heart was racing. Just as fast as when he put a taser to Clover’s neck. Outside? Oh, God bless weed and how much it helped him keep his shit together.

  Clover shoved Haru toward Ezra. "One more misstep," she warned, "and you’re going to need a voice box to even use a phone."

  Ezra whistled lowly, tilting his head. "Noooooo, not my throat…" he muttered deadpan. He placed a hand over his chest in mock despair. "I can’t lose my chances at being the world’s next deep-throat champion…" Took another slow puff. Clover’s brow twitched.

  Despite all their bravado, their animal parts, their mutations… They were still human. Somewhere, deep down.

  Clover took a step forward. Ezra realized something. She was shorter than him. About six inches. The thought made him grin internally. "Is this a game to you?" she asked, voice low, measured.

  Ezra pointed at Haru. "It’s a game to him." Clover’s nostrils flared slightly. "Where’d you find the lil’ gremlin anyhow?" Ezra mused. "I was looking for him all over."

  She knew damn well Ezra understood where she found him. Her eyes narrowed. "Do you have a death wish?"

  Ezra smirked. "Yeah," he admitted. Then, after a thoughtful pause—"…But Santa hasn’t replied to my letters yet. Or wait—" he tilted his head. "Was it Satan I wrote to…?"

  Clover breathed in deeply. Ezra had officially tested her patience. She snapped her fingers. Ezra didn’t even bother looking this time. He took another hit of weed, standing there unbothered like he was at the DMV.

  Inside?

  Holy shit.

  He could hear movement behind him. The Silent Legion guards were ready. Ezra held up a hand. "Wait, wait, wait…" He reached into his pants. Dear God. He pulled out his cup. His groin protection cup.

  Ezra was one for safety. After the last incident, he came prepared. But this time? He sniffed it. Haru gagged. Clover’s entire face contorted in disgust. Even the guards hesitated. Ezra pocketed it calmly. "Don’t wanna ruin someone’s steel toe, do we?"

  Clover exhaled slowly through her nose.

  "Okay," Ezra muttered, flexing his neck. "Back to business. Try not to hit the face. I still need to see when I’m in the core." He gestured toward the guards. "Which one of you lucky fellas is tickling my pickle this time?"

  Haru’s entire soul left his body. Clover’s hand twitched. Then—A sound. A small, terrified voice. "Ezra…?" Haru.

  Ezra turned—And his stomach dropped. The guards weren’t going for him. They were going for Haru. Ezra had a choice. Grovel like a little bitch or—Take one last incredibly insane gamble.

  Well. If the White Coats were insane… Maybe it was time to play along. Ezra exhaled, cracking his neck. "Ohhh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you," he muttered calmly. The guards paused. "Poor Haru’s gonna have to sit out duty," Ezra continued, voice smooth, casual. "Who else was gonna play hide-and-seek with me at the core?" He pointed at one of the guards. "You?"

  The skinnier of the two tensed. "Nah, you’re too dummy thicc," Ezra mused, grinning. "The clap of your ass cheeks is gonna spoil it."

  The guard shifted, uncomfortable. Something in the air shifted. They were tense. Ezra’s heart pounded. "Besides," he shrugged, "good luck replacing a guinea pig as brilliant as Haru."

  Haru’s entire world shattered. Had Ezra finally gone insane? Nope. -SCHWACK-

  Ezra collapsed instantly. Clover had personally kicked him in the nuts. Ezra gasped for air, wheezing. He fought to breathe, but not to beg. "Seems like you didn’t just miss the memo," Clover muttered, towering over him, "but also my note." Her eyes narrowed. "Tread carefully, Ezra Key."

  Ezra groaned. He looked up at Haru, his face a mix of pain and mischief. "She… kicked me…" Ezra wheezed, grinning. "Senpai.. noticed me!"

  Haru desperately fought laughter. Clover turned on her heel and left. The Silent Legion guards vanished.

  That…

  Just happened.

  Back at the lab, Ezra was sprawled out in his chair, legs spread, head tilted back, ice pack firmly pressed against his crotch. Haru had fetched it for him, but the kid was struggling. Not because he was worried. Oh no.

  Because he was desperately trying not to burst into laughter.

  Ezra cracked an eye open. Haru’s cheeks were puffed out, his entire body shaking. His hands were clenched at his sides, his breath coming out in sharp little gasps, as if he were holding back a dam of hysteria. Ezra exhaled. "Just do it."

  Haru blinked. "H-Huh?"

  Ezra waved a lazy hand. "Just laugh, already. I can see you about to die from internal hemorrhaging."

  Haru squeaked. Then—He wheeze-laughed so hard he fell over. "PFFF—" He collapsed onto the floor, kicking his legs, tears in his eyes. Ezra rolled his eyes, shifting the ice pack slightly.

  "Yeah, yeah, get it all out, you little gremlin."

  Haru gasped for air. "Y-YOU REALLY SAID—" He wheezed. "‘SENPAI NOTICED ME’—"

  Ezra smirked. "Well," he muttered, adjusting the pack, "she did."

  Haru slapped the ground, howling. Ezra leaned back, groaning.

  "Goddamn, Haru," he muttered. "At least have some respect for the dead."

  "You're not dead!" Haru choked between gasps.

  "My future kids are."

  Haru died all over again. Ezra just sat there, ice pack pressed firmly against his pride, waiting for him to recover. Eventually, Haru wiped his eyes, grinning ear to ear. "You really are insane," he giggled.

  Ezra smirked. "Buddy, I just convinced a bunch of Silent Legion guards not to kill you by talking about dummy-thicc ass cheeks." He gestured to himself. "I think we’ve already established that."

  Haru just wheezed again. Ezra exhaled. "Now be a good minion and go fetch me some snacks," he muttered. "I just survived war crimes."

  Haru snorted and got up, heading toward the snack cabinet.

  Ezra just laid back, ice still in place, letting himself breathe.

  He won this round. For now.

  The night before duty call, Haru showed up to Ezra’s lab, looking uneasy. "Something’s wrong," he said.

  Ezra glanced up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I got kicked in the nuts last time, so I’d say something’s definitely wrong."

  Haru didn’t laugh. Ezra’s smirk faded. "What is it, kid?"

  Haru hesitated, then muttered, "It’s Ki Ki."

  Ezra exhaled sharply. "Haru, if you tell me your imaginary—"

  "Ki Ki says something bad is coming."

  Ezra froze. His stomach twisted. Ki Ki. The AI that wasn’t an AI. The thing that shouldn’t have existed—but did. Ezra had learned his lesson. This wasn’t a joke. He slowly put down his wrench, looking Haru in the eyes. "Alright," he said evenly. "Stick close to me in the core. Whatever happens, we’ll get through it."

  Haru nodded, relieved. Ezra then leaned forward, lowering his voice. "But while we’re down there, I need you to keep your eyes open."

  Haru blinked. "For what?"

  Ezra ran a hand through his hair. "I’ve got a hunch," he admitted. "The protocol might not be what it seems. I need to confirm something."

  Haru’s brows furrowed, but he nodded. "Got it."

  The next day, they descended into the core as usual. Ezra had the checklist, going through each point with meticulous detail—but slower this time. He was watching. Waiting.

  Looking for anything out of place. At first? Everything seemed fine. Then—He noticed it.

  The graviton extractor. A machine that worked at a steady pace, releasing heat in regular intervals. It pulsed. A small LED bulb flickered, showing it was operational. But there was a pattern. Ezra’s stomach tightened.

  Three short pulses.

  Three long pulses.

  Three short pulses.

  SOS. His mind raced. He had always assumed it was just capacitors discharging heat. But now? Now he knew better. How had he not seen it before? How long had this machine been calling for help?

  His hands tightened around the checklist. He concluded the report, his mind still reeling. Then—He turned. And Haru was gone. Ezra’s blood turned ice cold. "Dammit, Haru—" Not now. Of all times, not now. Ezra clenched his jaw. He couldn’t risk raising the alarm. Couldn’t risk another infiltration. He had to play it safe.

  So he did what any sane adult would do. He marched back to the security checkpoint, handed over his report, and said, calmly, plainly—"Haru is missing." The guard nodded. Picked up a phone. Relayed a command.

  No urgency. No panic. Just another day at work. Ezra stepped into the elevator. His pulse was pounding. This was too easy. Suspiciously easy. And that?

  That meant he was already in deep shit.

  Hours passed. Ezra kept himself busy, grinding through work, calculations, anything to keep his mind occupied. But the pit in his stomach wouldn’t fade. How long did it take to comb a facility and check the exits? By the end of his shift, his pulse was hammering in his ears.

  Then—Clover summoned him. Ezra exhaled sharply. Here we go.

  She met him in one of the upper-level security rooms, her arms crossed, expression unreadable. "What’s your game this time, Ezra?" she asked, her voice even, too calm.

  Ezra blinked. "Game?"

  She leaned forward, eyes sharp. "You raised a false alarm."

  Ezra felt his pulse spike. "False alarm?" he repeated, incredulous.

  Clover stared him down. Ezra’s hands curled into fists. "Lady, Haru was your responsibility the moment I put in that missing persons report."

  Something in Clover’s face twitched. A flicker of hesitation. There it was. She was worried. She just wasn’t showing it outright. Ezra knew better now. He could read her. "Records indicate there were only two uses of the elevator today." Her voice was deadly quiet now. Her golden eyes burned into him. "Do not lie to me, Ezra Key."

  Ezra’s breath hitched. His brain raced.He wasn’t lying. He and Haru went down together. He came back up alone. Which meant…Fuck.

  Something bad happened. Haru tried to warn him. Clover’s gaze hardened. "You have ten minutes."

  Ezra tensed. "For what?"

  Clover stepped forward, voice low, clipped. "To get your ass down to the core," she said. "You’re not leaving until we find him."

  Ezra was escorted down. The moment he stepped into the core prep room, they shoved lead armor onto him again. But this time? This time, he wasn’t walking alone. The Legion moved with him. And for the first time? Ezra could see the full scope of the underground facility. It wasn’t just a facility.

  It was a goddamn city.

  As they traversed the hallways, Ezra’s mind was racing. The sheer size of this place…

  He had never seen this level of the core before. But what stopped him in his tracks—What sent his stomach plummeting—Were the explosives.

  Three levels below the core chamber. Ezra’s breath hitched. They weren’t just bombs. They were graviton bombs. And there were ten stories of them. Stacked in a perfect column. Like the core was a bullet tip. And this? This was the powder.

  Theoretically… If they detonated, they could propel something past relativistic speeds. Faster than light. Beyond known physics. Ezra’s entire body went cold. What the fuck was down here? What were they trying to launch? His mind reeled as they continued forward.

  The search took hours. Hours of walking, sweating under the heavy armor, heart pounding in his chest. Still no signs of Haru. The whole facility was on lockdown. This was not good. Not good at all.

  After the search, Ezra was eventually escorted to central command. Straight to Clover’s headquarters. Her office? It was exactly what he imagined it would be.

  Minimalistic. Brutal.

  The kind of place where bad decisions were made on a daily basis. She sat at her desk, fingers steepled, her expression unreadable. But Ezra? Ezra could see the tension in her shoulders. She was pissed. And she was waiting.

  Ezra was shoved into a chair across from her. Clover didn’t even let him get comfortable. "No more games," she commanded.

  Not asked. Commanded. Her voice was low, deadly. "What happened."

  Ezra met her gaze, expression unreadable. He had no choice. So he told her. Everything.

  He kept his voice calm, steady. Not too rehearsed. Not too detailed. Just enough. He went down. Took the readings. Followed protocol. Turned around—And Haru was gone.

  So he did the only thing he could do. He filed a report. End of story.

  Yet…

  Something tugged at the back of his mind. A nagging feeling. Like he missed something. A pattern. Something crucial he didn’t notice before. Clover was talking. Telling him how they swept the whole damn facility top to bottom.

  But Ezra? Ezra wasn’t listening anymore. His mind was somewhere else. The scene kept replaying behind his eyes. Every detail. Second by second. What did he miss?

  Without breaking eye contact, he pulled out his THC vape. Took a slow, deliberate hit. Clover’s eyelid twitched. She was saying something-something funeral, something-something telling the Kim family of their loss…

  But Ezra? Ezra was in his head. Watching. Replaying.

  Again.

  Again.

  And then—He remembered.

  "Wait…"

  Clover stopped mid-sentence. She narrowed her eyes. Ezra’s grip on the vape tightened slightly. "The feedback loop."

  Silence. Clover leaned forward. Ezra exhaled smoke, speaking carefully. "The LED," he murmured. "The one confirming the core’s operational status. Panel 4B." He glanced at her. "I think… there was a spike."

  Clover’s expression didn’t change. But he saw it. The flicker of hesitation. She was listening now. Ezra wasn’t stupid enough to tell her about the SOS pattern. But even beyond that, something felt off. He could feel the replay running smoother now. Like his brain was sharpening the memory.

  He closed his eyes. Let the moment play again. The loop. The pulses.

  Three short blips.

  Three long blips.

  Three short blips again.

  Then—the cycle repeats.

  But wait. One of those cycles wasn’t right. Instead of six blips when the cycle should repeat—There was a seventh. A glitch. A slip-up. Ezra’s eyes snapped open. Clover exhaled slowly.

  Her fingers tapped the desk once. Then—"You’re dismissed."

  Ezra didn’t argue. Didn’t press. Didn’t ask questions. He just stood up. And walked the fuck out. But deep down? Deep down, he knew. Something was very, very wrong.

  Ezra stepped out of Clover’s office, his body on autopilot. His mind was still reeling. The seventh blip. A break in the loop. What did it mean?

  Why had Clover hesitated? He could still feel her eyes on him, even long after she dismissed him. They were hiding something. And now? Now, Haru was missing. Ezra exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. One thing at a time. One nightmare at a time.

  As he walked through the silent hallways, heading toward the exit, he spotted them. A man and a woman. Haru’s parents. They had just arrived.

  Ezra stopped in his tracks. His stomach turned to lead. The Kim family had come to pick up their little boy. But there was no boy to pick up.

  Ezra clenched his jaw. It had to be him. It had to come from him. Not some stoic Silent Legion goon. Not some bland report. It had to be Ezra. He took a deep breath—And walked toward them.

  Haru’s father was the first to notice him. "Ezra?"

  His voice was warm, familiar, but Ezra could hear the edge of confusion. Haru’s mother turned as well, smiling lightly. "Where is he?" she asked, glancing behind Ezra as if expecting Haru to pop out from behind him.

  Ezra’s chest tightened. He had faced horrors. He had faced Clover, the Silent Legion, the goddamn core itself. But this? This was so much worse. There was no way to soften it. No way to lie.

  Ezra’s throat was dry. He had no idea what to do with his hands. But he kept his voice calm, steady. Even though it felt like he was shattering inside. "Haru is missing."

  The words hung in the air. For a moment, it was like they didn’t process.

  Haru’s mother blinked. "I’m sorry?"

  Ezra swallowed. "He’s missing." This time, his voice was firmer.

  Haru’s father’s face darkened. "What the hell do you mean, missing?"

  Ezra inhaled deeply. And then, he told them everything.

  The words came out too fast, too mechanical. He explained how he and Haru went down to the core together. How everything seemed fine. How he turned around— And Haru was just… gone. How he immediately reported it. How they searched for hours. How the facility had been on lockdown. But there was still no sign of their son.

  Haru’s mother started shaking. Her face went pale, her hands trembling. Haru’s father took a step forward, his breath shallow. "What do you mean, gone?" His voice was low, dangerous.

  Ezra stood his ground. "I mean," Ezra said evenly, "that we don’t know where he is."

  Haru’s mother covered her mouth, her eyes already glassy. "This isn’t happening," she whispered. "This isn’t real."

  Haru’s father’s fists clenched at his sides. "You were supposed to watch him."

  Ezra didn’t move. "I did."

  "You were supposed to protect him."

  Ezra’s jaw tightened. "I did."

  Haru’s father’s voice cracked.

  "Then where is he?" Ezra had no answer.

  Silence. Thick. Suffocating.

  Haru’s mother turned away, gripping her head, pacing, trying to breathe. Haru’s father stared at Ezra, barely holding himself together. "You’re lying."

  Ezra exhaled. "You think I’d lie about this?"

  Haru’s father’s face twisted. He looked like he wanted to punch something. But there was nothing to punch. Nothing but air. Nothing but the weight of his own helplessness.

  Haru’s mother let out a strangled sob. She turned to Ezra, grabbing his coat. "You’re lying," she pleaded. "Please. Tell me this isn’t real." Her voice broke.

  Ezra’s breath was shaky. He had nothing to offer her. Nothing but the same, horrible truth. Haru was gone. She collapsed against his chest, sobbing.

  Ezra closed his eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, silent. Haru’s father looked away, his hands shaking, his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. The three of them just stood there. In the middle of the hallway. Not knowing what else to do. Not knowing where to go from here.

  Because for the first time? There were no answers. And that? That was the worst part.

  Ezra returned to Nonna’s house for the winter. For once, everything felt normal. Adam was quiet, but the kid showed promise. He was walking now, hardly talking, but Ezra loved him all the same. Julie had been raising him well. She had done so much without him.

  Ezra wasn’t sure if that made him grateful or guilty. Maybe a bit of both.

  Julie could tell something was off. She had seen it before—the way Ezra’s shoulders carried invisible weight. So, when he was alone in the kitchen, she joined him. "Ezra."

  He looked up from where he was leaning against the counter.

  Julie crossed her arms, brows furrowed in quiet concern. "Talk to me."

  Ezra exhaled, running a hand down his face. He told her everything. About Haru. About how he mysteriously disappeared. About how nothing made sense. They were still looking into it, but—"Julie, it just doesn’t add up."

  His voice was quieter now. Softer. "This job—" He hesitated. "—it’s not just brutal. It’s insane." Julie listened. Let him speak without interruption. Then, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him. Ezra let himself lean into the warmth.

  "You’re doing good," she murmured, voice soft.

  Ezra scoffed. "I don’t feel like it."

  Julie pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. "Ciarra’s been worried about you," she admitted.

  Ezra sighed. Speaking of Ciarra…He needed to have a word with the house cat.

  Ezra searched around the house for Ciarra. He found her outside in the backyard, standing in the cold winter air. She was wrapped in a thick coat, smoking a peace pipe, staring at the snow-covered trees. Ezra stepped out onto the porch. Ciarra didn’t look at him, but she felt his presence.

  "How’s Dad?" he asked first.

  Ciarra took a slow inhale. "He’s hanging in there."

  Ezra leaned against the railing. "That’s what you said last year."

  Ciarra exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "That’s what I’ll keep saying until it’s not true anymore." She glanced at him now, eyes sharp. "But that’s not why you’re here."

  Ezra hesitated. Ciarra tilted her head. "Alright, boyo," she muttered, taking another slow hit. "Out with it. What’s on your mind?"

  Ezra took a breath. And then—"How the hell did you know Haru?"

  Ciarra blinked. She exhaled the smoke, shaking her head. "Isn’t that the kid you work with?" she asked. "The one you’ve told us about the past few holiday get-togethers?"

  Ezra crossed his arms. "That’s not what I meant."

  Ciarra’s brows furrowed slightly. "Then what do you mean?"

  Ezra’s jaw tightened. "Why did he call you Ki Ki?"

  Ciarra tensed. There. Right there. The hesitation. Ezra caught it immediately. She tried to find an excuse. Tried to stall. But Ezra was glaring at her now. Waiting.

  Ciarra opened her mouth to respond— Then—"Ezra?"

  Julie stepped out onto the porch, searching.

  Ezra turned, brows raising slightly. "You’ve got a call," she said.

  Ezra blinked. "Who—?"

  Julie put a hand on her hip. "Who else? My dad."

  Ezra groaned, rubbing his face.

  "Jesus Christ, Julie—again with the no phone?" Julie gave him a look. Ezra sighed deeply. "Fine, fine. I’m coming."

  He glanced back at Ciarra. But she was already looking away. Already retreating back into herself. Ezra’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

  Mr. Key’s voice came through the phone, crisp and direct. "Pack up. Be in Tokyo by tomorrow."

  Ezra blinked. "What? I just—"

  "Yeah," Mr. Key cut him off. "And they just scheduled Haru’s funeral. Next weekend."

  Ezra froze. His breath caught.

  "You’re expected to show up," Mr. Key continued. His voice wasn’t harsh, but there was no room for argument. Ezra didn’t say anything. Didn’t know what to say.

  So Mr. Key sighed. "Dear god, boyo, say something nice." He let that hang in the air. "You only get to bury a friend once."

  Ezra’s stomach dropped. His chest felt hollow. As much as he wanted to protest… Mr. Key was right. Ezra exhaled sharply. "I’ll be there."

  Ezra arrived in Japan the same day. He had time to prepare, pick out a suit, and brace himself for what was coming. The service was to be held near Mt. Fuji, in a quiet, secluded forest. Many people came. Too many.

  More than Ezra expected. More than he realized Haru had touched. He spotted Haru’s parents, standing in silence. They looked exhausted. Hollow.

  Like they had cried until there was nothing left. Ezra could barely breathe. Then— It was time. One by one, people spoke.

  Haru’s father stepped up first. His voice was steady, but his hands shook. "Haru was…" he started, taking a breath. "He was our world."

  His mother pressed a hand over her mouth, shoulders trembling. "He was brilliant. Too brilliant. He saw the world in ways we couldn’t." He swallowed thickly. "But no matter how smart he was…" His voice cracked. "He was still just a boy."

  His mother let out a small sob. "A child." A painful silence lingered in the air. "We were supposed to protect him." Another deep breath. "And we failed."

  Other people spoke. A few scientists from Key Industries. Some of Haru’s extended family. The words blended together. Each one was a dagger twisting in Ezra’s chest.

  Then—It was his turn.

  Ezra stepped forward. And for the first time in his life— He didn’t know what to say. He took a deep breath. Looked over the people watching. And in the far distance, standing in the background— Were the Silent Legion. Watching.

  Ezra clenched his jaw. Fine. He’d rub it right in their goddamn faces. He stepped closer to the podium, adjusting his suit. "Haru was a pain in my ass." A small chuckle rippled through the crowd. "But he was my friend."

  Ezra exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "He loved games," he said. "But one game, in particular." He glanced toward the Silent Legion. "Hide and seek."

  The air in the crowd shifted. "He always told me he was the best at it." Ezra smirked softly. "But by god, I am not going to let him keep that title."

  A few light chuckles. Then, Ezra sighed. His smirk faded. "But jokes aside…" His throat felt tight. "He was a good kid." His voice was quieter now. "He didn’t deserve this."

  A heavy silence fell over the crowd. Ezra swallowed the lump in his throat. "Wherever he is…" His voice nearly cracked. "I hope he’s out there. In the woods. Living the dream he always wanted." Ezra’s hands clenched into fists. "Godspeed, Haru."

  He stepped away. Let the next speaker take the podium. But as he walked back to his seat… He could still feel the Silent Legion’s eyes on him. Watching. Waiting. He wasn’t done here. Not by a long shot.

  The service was over. Ezra thought that meant he could breathe. He was wrong. Haru’s parents approached him. Ezra braced himself, his stomach twisting into knots. But they didn’t accuse him. They didn’t blame him. They just… thanked him.

  "Thank you for being here, Ezra."

  Ezra swallowed hard. Haru’s mother’s voice was soft, but tired. Worn thin with grief. She offered him a small, shaky smile. "Haru always spoke so highly of you," she continued, voice thick with emotion.

  Haru’s father nodded, clearing his throat. "He looked up to you," he admitted. Ezra’s chest tightened. "He talked endlessly about the projects you two worked on."

  "He adored the lab," his mother added, her eyes distant, lost in memory. "He called you his best friend."

  Ezra’s lungs wouldn’t expand properly. His breath felt shallow. Like he was sinking into quicksand. The more they spoke, the deeper he sank. He should’ve protected him. Should’ve done something. But he didn’t.

  And now? Now Haru was gone.

  Haru’s father reached into his coat pocket. "We have something for you," he said, pulling out a small box. Ezra blinked, caught off guard.

  "A gift," his mother said gently. His fingers hesitated before taking it. "He begged us to get it for you," she murmured. "After your father’s phone was stolen."

  Ezra’s throat felt tight. He could barely nod. He carefully opened the box. And then—He froze.

  Inside, nestled in a sleek, high-end protective case—Was a phone.

  But not just any phone. Not just the latest tech. This was not available on the civilian market. This was something else entirely. Ezra’s breath caught.

  50 petabytes of storage. Built-in AI assistant. Induction wireless charging—No exposed port-holes. No external weaknesses. This thing was built to last. To survive.

  Ezra felt his heart shatter. This was too much. Too goddamn much. His hands shook. His vision blurred. And before he could stop himself—He started crying.

  The Kims didn’t say anything. Didn’t try to console him. They just let him break. Ezra clenched his jaw, trying to hold back the sob that was threatening to rip out of him. He had always stuck to cheap burner phones. He wasn’t used to the high life.

  Didn’t want to be.

  But this? This wasn’t just a phone. This was a final gift. A last thread of Haru’s existence, now in his hands. A piece of a friend who should still be here. Ezra wiped at his face furiously, trying to pull himself together.

  He wanted to thank them. Wanted to say something. But then—His stomach dropped. Because this wasn’t just any phone. This… This was familiar.

  Ezra stared at it. His mind was racing. Had he seen this model before? The sleekness. The lack of ports. The induction charging.

  Wait.

  Wait, wait, wait—

  OH, FUCK.

  Ezra snapped back through memories. Back to Ciarra. Back to her phone. She said it was old. But now that he really thought about it… Now that he was replaying patterns in his mind…

  Hers had no port-holes either.

  And this case. Haru’s phone case. The same color as Ciarra’s. The same shape. The same—Ezra’s head spun. What the hell was going on?

  He looked back at Haru’s parents, who were still watching him. They didn’t know. They just saw a grieving friend. They had no idea they had just handed Ezra another piece of the puzzle. A puzzle that was starting to look way bigger than he ever imagined. He clenched his jaw.

  Held the phone tighter. Something wasn’t right. And he was going to find out why.

  Ezra sat in his first-class seat, staring at the high-tech phone in his hands. He had already personalized the UI, setting the background to something simple, dark, minimalistic. Then, he opened up the AI assistant.

  The screen flickered to life. A smooth, feminine voice greeted him. "Hello, Ezra. My name is Ki Ki."

  Ezra exhaled sharply. "Nice, Haru," he muttered."Reeeal smooth."

  Ezra skimmed through the instructions. Apparently, Ki Ki wasn’t just some basic virtual assistant. She worked off data stored on the phone itself—not just an online connection. That meant even offline, the AI was still functional.

  It could predict, calculate, assist without needing to pull real-time data. Which meant… Even if the Silent Legion tried to scrub her from existence—She was already baked into the system.

  Ezra smirked slightly. Smart kid.

  He allowed the phone to update. For an hour, he watched as it downloaded over 10 petabytes worth of history, science, mathematics, physics, engineering—Basically, the entire foundation of human knowledge. 10 petabytes.

  That was about what you’d need for an AI of this scale. When he got home… Fuck it.

  He needed a distraction. Something to take his mind off things. So, he started downloading more. Memes. Videos. Useful fun-fact junk.

  Anything to binge-learn when he was stressed. By the time he was done? 500 terabytes of nonsense. And for once? For once, Ezra was actually looking forward to turning off his brain.

  "I should have seen it coming?"