They spent the next three days moving.
Safe houses that weren't safe. Hotels that asked no questions. The homes of friends who owed favors.
Rohan helped, even though he didn't fully understand.
"You're in some serious trouble," he said when Aarav showed up at his door at 2 AM with Kavya in tow.
"Yes."
"Like, serious serious."
"Yes."
"Is it because of the mind thing?"
Aarav froze.
Rohan shrugged. "Dude, I've known you since we were kids. You think I didn't notice? The way you always knew what I was thinking? The way you always had the right answer before I asked the question?"
"You never said anything."
"Because you're my friend. And friends don't out friends."
Aarav felt something loosen in his chest.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. Tell me what's going on."
So Aarav told him.
Everything.
The abilities. The hunters. Sharma. The warehouse.
Rohan listened without interrupting. When Aarav finished, he let out a long breath.
"So you're like... X-Men."
"Not exactly."
"But kind of."
"Kind of."
"And there are people hunting you because of it."
"Yes."
"And you need a place to hide."
"Yes."
Rohan looked at Kavya, who had been silent throughout the conversation.
"Can you read my mind right now?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I'm blocking myself. It's rude to read without permission."
"Can you teach me how to block?"
"Why?"
"Because if these hunters come looking for Aarav, they might come looking for me too. And I'd rather not have strangers in my head."
Kavya almost smiled.
"Okay," she said. "I can teach you."
Over the next two days, while Aarav slept, Kavya taught Rohan the basics of mental blocking.
He wasn't a natural—he had no ability of his own—but he learned enough to create a simple barrier. A wall that would keep out casual intrusion.
"It's not perfect," Kavya admitted. "But it's better than nothing."
"Better than nothing is my whole life philosophy," Rohan said.
On the third day, Kavya found something.
She was using Rohan's laptop, searching through encrypted forums and hidden databases—skills she had learned during her years on the run.
"I found something," she said.
Aarav looked up from the bed where he had been staring at the ceiling.
"What?"
"The hunters. They're not government. They're not military. They're... private."
"Private how?"
"They're funded by a corporation. A big one. Biotech."
Aarav sat up. "Biotech?"
"They're trying to isolate the gene responsible for abilities. They want to replicate it. Sell it."
"Sell it to who?"
"Anyone with money." Kavya's voice was flat. "Governments. Militaries. Terrorists. Whoever pays the most."
Aarav felt sick.
"They're not trying to help humanity. They're trying to monetize it."
"Yes."
"And Sharma?"
"He's not the leader. Just a... recruiter. There are others. Higher up. We've never seen their faces."
"But they've seen yours."
"Yes."
Aarav stood up. Walked to the window. Looked out at the street below.
"We need more information," he said.
"How?"
"We go back."
Kavya stared at him. "To the warehouse?"
"They have files there. Computers. Records. If we can get in—"
"We'll be captured again."
"Not if we're smart about it."
"And if we're not smart about it?"
He turned to face her.
"Then at least we tried. I'm tired of running, Kavya. Aren't you?"
She held his gaze.
"Yes," she whispered. "I'm tired."
"Then let's stop."