When Trust Shatters
The safehouse erupted into chaos.
Metal shrieked as the outer walls reinforced themselves, panels sliding into place just as the first pulse blast slammed into the building. The impact threw Aria off her feet. She hit the floor hard, pain shooting up her side.
"Get up!" Kieran shouted.
He hauled her upright as the lights flickered violently. Outside, drones circled like predators, their mechanical hum vibrating through the structure.
"I didn't know," Luna cried from the doorway. "Aria, I swear—I didn't know!"
Aria's chest tightened painfully. "Luna…"
"Don't," Kieran snapped. "She's compromised."
Luna's eyes darted between them. "They said it was a safety implant. For staff. Everyone has one."
Kieran keyed commands into the wall console, fingers moving fast. "Project Chronos doesn't use safety implants. They use leashes."
Another blast hit.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling.
"We can't stay," Aria said, panic clawing at her throat.
"I know." Kieran's jaw clenched. "I underestimated how fast they'd adapt."
Luna stepped forward. "Let me help. I can jam the signal—I helped design the neural interface."
Kieran hesitated.
Aria grabbed his arm. "Please."
For a split second, time seemed to hold its breath.
"Two minutes," Kieran said coldly. "If this goes wrong, we leave without you."
Luna nodded rapidly and dropped to her knees, tearing open a panel at the base of the wall. Sparks flew as she worked, hands shaking.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should've told you they questioned me."
Aria knelt beside her. "You didn't know."
A sharp tone echoed.
"Signal dampened," Luna said breathlessly. "Not gone—but weaker."
Kieran swore under his breath. "That buys us seconds, not freedom."
The back wall exploded inward.
Smoke and debris filled the room as armored figures surged through the breach. Red targeting beams cut through the haze.
"Move!" Kieran yelled.
He pulled Aria toward the emergency passage hidden behind the console. Luna scrambled after them as shots rang out, scorching the walls.
The passage dropped steeply, spiraling downward into darkness. The door slammed shut behind them just as another blast rocked the building.
They ran.
Their footsteps echoed wildly through the tunnel as emergency lights flickered on, illuminating old maintenance rails and abandoned transport lines.
"What now?" Aria demanded between breaths.
Kieran didn't slow. "Now we disappear properly."
A sharp crack echoed behind them.
Luna cried out.
Aria spun just in time to see Luna collapse, her leg buckling as blood soaked through her pants.
"No!" Aria rushed back.
Kieran cursed and turned, scanning the tunnel. "Sniper drone. Long-range."
Luna grabbed Aria's wrist. "Don't stop," she gasped. "They'll track the blood."
Aria shook her head violently. "I'm not leaving you."
Luna smiled weakly. "You always say that."
Another shot rang out, striking the wall inches from Aria's head.
Kieran dragged her back. "Aria. Look at me."
She met his eyes, tears blurring her vision.
"If you stay," he said, voice tight, "this timeline ends here."
Luna squeezed Aria's hand one last time. "Live," she whispered.
Kieran pulled Aria away as the tunnel forked. They disappeared into the left passage just as armed boots thundered into the darkness behind them.
Aria sobbed silently as they ran, the weight of the future crushing down on her chest.
For the first time, she understood the true cost of knowing tomorrow.