THE FIRST MEMORY BREAKS FREE...
Velena sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands.
They were shaking.
No matter how tightly she clenched them, the tremors wouldn't stop.
She had been fine an hour ago.
Fine, until she closed her eyes.
And then—the visions hit her like a storm.
A cold metal table. Bright overhead lights.
The sound of voices—calm, clinical.
"Subject 07 has stabilized. Initiating next phase."
Pain. White-hot, searing pain.
A sharp gasp left her lips as reality slammed back into place.
She pressed her palm against her forehead, struggling to breathe.
Her heart was racing.
She had been here before.
Not in a dream. Not in a nightmare.
In reality.
And she didn't know what was worse—the fact that the memories were returning…
Or the fact that she wasn't sure she wanted to remember.
She forced herself to breathe slower. In. Out. Steady. Calm.
But nothing about this was calm.
Her skin burned where invisible hands had restrained her once upon a time. Her ears still rang with the mechanical whir of the machines.
She clenched her teeth.
If she gave in to this fear, she'd never crawl her way back out.
The past was dead. Buried.
And yet, it refused to stay there.
She exhaled shakily.
Then—
A knock.
No.
Not a knock.
The soft click of a door handle turning.
CEIL NOTICES EVERYTHING...
She barely registered the knock at the door before it opened.
Ceil.
Velena stiffened, willing herself to look composed. She didn't want him to see her like this.
But Ceil wasn't the type to ignore things.
He walked in, closing the door behind him. Not asking permission. Just taking space like he belonged there.
Velena exhaled shakily. "Do you ever knock?"
Ceil leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Studying her.
"Didn't think I needed to."
She forced a small smirk. Good. He hadn't noticed.
"You always look this pale at night?" he asked casually.
Velena's smirk faded.
Damn it.
His gaze flickered to her hands.
Even in the dim light, the tremors were obvious.
Velena clenched her fists, tucking them under the folds of her blanket. "I said I'm fine."
Ceil didn't move. "Lying doesn't suit you."
Her jaw tightened.
"And what, you suddenly care?" she bit out.
Ceil raised an eyebrow. "I've always cared."
The air between them shifted.
She didn't realize she had stepped closer. Didn't realize how close he was until she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze.
He was watching her again. The way he always did.
Like he saw things about her she wasn't ready to admit.
Velena swallowed.
"I don't need your concern, Ceil."
Ceil exhaled softly. Then, without a word, he reached out.
His fingers brushed against her wrist—light, barely there.
She tensed.
Ceil's voice was quieter this time.
"You're shaking."
Velena stared at his hand against hers.
Her pulse wasn't steady anymore.
She had spent years avoiding touch, avoiding weakness.
But Ceil? He didn't let her hide.
He wasn't even trying.
And that was the problem.
A LINE CROSSED...
Before she could say anything, the door swung open.
Lucian.
Velena jerked back. Ceil didn't move.
Lucian's gaze flickered between them. "Am I interrupting something?"
Velena folded her arms. "No."
Ceil's smirk was barely noticeable. "You always have bad timing."
Lucian snorted. "You say that like I care."
Then, his expression darkened.
"We have a problem."
Velena's stomach dropped.
Lucian never said things like that unless it was serious.
Ceil straightened. "What kind of problem?"
Lucian hesitated. Then—
"Alexander isn't the only one after Velena."
Silence.
Velena's breath caught.
Ceil's entire demeanor changed. Lethal. Focused. Dangerous.
Lucian exhaled. "We need to leave. Now."
And just like that—the moment between her and Ceil was gone.
Replaced by something much worse.
A threat neither of them saw coming.
THE PAST DOESN'T FORGIVE....
Velena barely registered her own movements as she grabbed her jacket and followed them out the door.
The corridors of the safe house were dimly lit, the cold seeping into her bones. Or maybe that was just fear.
Ceil was already moving ahead, steps quick, calculating.
Lucian walked beside her, his usual smirk replaced by something grim.
"How bad?" Ceil asked without looking back.
Lucian exhaled sharply. "Bad. We intercepted a transmission. They're closing in on this location."
Velena's pulse spiked.
"They know where we are?"
Lucian hesitated. "Not yet. But they will. Soon."
Velena's breath came faster.
This wasn't happening.
Not again.
Ceil's voice was cold. "Then we don't give them the chance."
Lucian nodded. "There's an extraction point four miles west. If we leave now, we can make it."
Velena forced her legs to move. Forced herself to focus.
She could panic later.
Right now, they had to survive.
THE HUNT BEGINS....
The night air was crisp and merciless as they slipped through the shadows.
Velena's heart pounded against her ribs. Every step felt like a countdown.
Ceil was in front, leading them through the alleyways. Lucian covered their rear, scanning for any sign of movement.
Velena tried to push down the rising dread in her throat.
The last time she had been hunted… she hadn't escaped alone.
She still remembered the screams. The blood.
The ones who didn't make it.
Her stomach twisted.
Not this time.
Not again.
She clenched her fists and forced her legs to move faster.
Then—
Ceil froze.
Velena barely stopped in time before colliding into his back.
"What—"
He lifted a hand, silencing her.
Then she heard it.
Footsteps.
Not theirs.
From the other end of the alley.
Lucian inhaled sharply. "Damn it."
A figure emerged from the darkness.
No—figures.
Velena's breath caught.
Black combat suits. Masks. Weapons.
She didn't need to see their faces to know.
They had found her.
Ceil's voice was calm. Deadly.
"Run."
Lucian grabbed her wrist. "Go!"
Velena's body obeyed before her mind could process it.
She turned, sprinting into the night.
The sounds of gunfire shattered the silence behind her.
She didn't look back.
She couldn't.
Because if she did—
She wasn't sure if she'd survive what she saw.
ESCAPE IS NEVER EASY...
They ran until the cold air burned her lungs.
Velena's legs screamed in protest, but she didn't stop.
Lucian was beside her. Ceil was just behind them, covering their backs.
Then—
A sharp whistle through the air.
Velena ducked.
The bullet grazed the wall beside her.
Ceil cursed. "Move!"
Lucian yanked her forward as another shot rang out.
Too close.
Too fast.
They weren't going to make it.
Velena's chest tightened.
Then—a sudden explosion.
The shockwave threw them forward. Velena hit the ground hard, pain blooming across her ribs.
The world spun.
Voices. Shouting.
She tried to move.
Tried to breathe
Strong hands grabbed her.
Not to hurt.
To pull her up.
Ceil's voice, urgent. "Velena—stay with me."
She forced her eyes open.
Lucian was ahead, covering their escape. Ceil's grip was steady.
They were still alive.
Barely.
Ceil's jaw tightened. "We're not done yet."
Velena swallowed.
No.
They weren't.
Because this wasn't over.
Not even close.