Abandoned Warehouse — Night
Rain hits the broken windows.
Dripping.
Echoing.
Christina stands in the center of the empty space.
Alone.
Waiting.
Her hands flex slightly.
Still healing.
Still aching.
But steady.
A slow clap echoes.
Bianca steps out of the shadows.
"…You actually came."
Christina smirks.
"You left a very dramatic note."
Bianca tilts her head.
"I figured you'd be curious."
Christina shrugs.
"I figured you'd be annoying."
Bianca smiles.
"…Still confident."
Christina's eyes narrow.
"Still fake."
Silence stretches.
Tension sharp.
Bianca steps closer.
"…You don't get it, do you?"
Christina doesn't move.
"Explain it to me."
Bianca's voice softens—but it's worse that way.
"You walked into their lives and everything changed."
Christina's jaw tightens.
"Not my fault."
Bianca shakes her head.
"It is."
She gestures vaguely.
"Ray? Distracted. Henry? Reckless. The whole team? Off balance."
Christina laughs once.
"Sounds like they needed me."
Bianca's smile drops.
"You made them weak."
Christina's eyes flash.
"No."
A beat.
"I showed them what matters."
Bianca's voice sharpens.
"And what happens when that gets taken away?"
That hits.
But Christina doesn't show it.
"…You won't."
Bianca steps closer.
"Won't I?"
Christina steps forward too.
Now they're inches apart.
"No."
Her voice is low.
"Because I'm not the girl you think I am."
Bianca studies her.
"…Prove it."
The Fight Starts Instantly
No warning.
Bianca swings first.
Fast.
Christina blocks.
Barely.
Bianca is stronger than before.
Faster.
Trained.
Christina stumbles back.
"…You've been practicing."
Bianca smirks.
"You weren't the only one getting better."
Christina wipes blood from her lip.
"Good."
She charges.
Across the City — Rooftop
Henry paces.
Frantic.
"She's been gone for an hour."
Charlotte is tracking signals.
"I'm trying!"
Ray stands still.
Too still.
"…She knew."
Henry turns.
"What?"
Ray's voice is quiet.
"She knew I'd follow."
Henry exhales.
"…Then why didn't she tell us?"
Ray's jaw tightens.
"Because she wanted to do this alone."
Henry shakes his head.
"…That's stupid."
Ray mutters—
"…She's my daughter."
Back to the Warehouse
Christina gets slammed into a pillar.
Hard.
The impact knocks the air out of her.
Bianca steps closer.
"You're strong."
Christina coughs.
"Thanks."
Bianca crouches slightly.
"But not enough."
Christina looks up.
Smiling.
"Yeah?"
She kicks Bianca's legs out.
Bianca hits the ground.
Christina stands.
Breathing hard.
"Still learning."
Bianca rolls back up instantly.
Faster than before.
"…So am I."
They collide again.
Punches.
Blocks.
Dodges.
Raw.
Messy.
Personal.
Bianca Grabs Christina
Pins her against the wall.
"…You don't belong with them."
Christina struggles.
"…You don't decide that."
Bianca's voice drops.
"You're a liability."
Christina freezes.
Just for a second.
That word.
Again.
Bianca leans closer.
"They'll lose everything because of you."
Christina's breathing shakes.
Then—
She stops fighting.
Bianca frowns.
"…What are you doing."
Christina looks at her.
Eyes clear now.
Focused.
"…I'm done listening."
And then—
She moves.
Faster than before.
Cleaner.
Controlled.
Ray's training.
Henry's chaos.
Her own instinct.
She flips Bianca over her shoulder.
Slams her down.
Hard.
Bianca gasps.
Christina stands over her.
"…I'm not their weakness."
Bianca laughs breathlessly.
"…Then what are you?"
Christina answers without hesitation—
"…I'm the reason they fight harder."
The Doors Slam Open
Henry bursts in.
"CHRISTINA—"
Ray right behind him.
Ready for war.
They stop.
Because the fight is already over.
Bianca on the ground.
Christina standing.
Unshaken.
Ray's chest tightens.
"…You handled it."
Christina doesn't look at him.
"…Yeah."
Henry walks closer.
"…You didn't wait for us."
Christina glances at him.
"…I needed to know."
Henry's voice softens.
"…What."
She meets his eyes.
"…That I'm not going to break everything."
Henry steps closer.
"You didn't."
A beat.
"…You make things better."
Christina's breath catches.
Ray watches them.
Quiet.
Then—
Bianca laughs from the ground.
"…You really believe that?"
Christina looks down at her.
"…Yeah."
Bianca's smile fades.
For the first time—
Uncertain.
Police sirens echo outside.
Bianca mutters—
"…This isn't over."
Christina shrugs.
"It never is."
Outside the Warehouse
Rain still falling.
Christina stands under it.
Letting it hit her face.
Ray steps beside her.
"…You scared me."
She glances at him.
"…You'll survive."
Ray huffs slightly.
"…I don't want to survive."
A beat.
"I want to be there."
Christina looks at him.
Really looks.
"…Then stop hesitating."
Ray nods slowly.
"…Okay."
Henry walks up.
"…You could've told me."
Christina smirks.
"You would've followed."
Henry shrugs.
"…Yeah."
She steps closer.
"…You still would."
Henry smiles slightly.
"…Always."
The tension lingers.
Unspoken.
But real.