———Red———

I wake with a start, a single name escaping my lips: "Domnik!" My chest heaves as I sit upright, eyes darting around the room, searching for the remnants of my nightmare. But all I find is the cold, sterile silence of my new surroundings.

Another nightmare. That makes two nights in a row. It's always the same—visions of home crumbling into ruin. The daem reigning unchecked, chaos spreading like wildfire... and Domnik... dead. Because of me.

I press my palms to my face, trying to shake the guilt. How could I have left him behind?

Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet meet the cool floor. The faint hum of the city outside calls my attention, and I find myself gazing out the window. Lights stretch endlessly, a stark contrast to the skies of Naurus.

"If only I could be like Alyse," I mutter, barely audible. "Pretend this is home."

The thought lingers, heavy and unwelcome, as I force myself to move. A shower helps scrub away some of the weight, though the chill in my chest remains. Dressed and ready, I wrap my red scarf around my neck—a small piece of my old life—and step into the living room.

Alyse is already there, perched on the couch, her eyes locked on the glowing screen on the wall. She glances over her shoulder at me, waving me closer with a smile.

"Check this out," she says, excitement lacing her voice. "I learned a new word today—'television.' That's what this thing is called." She gestures toward the screen. "And this little box? It's called a remote. Kylen said people used to use it to control the TV, but now you can just talk to it."

To prove her point, she looks back at the screen and commands, "Television, set volume to zero."

The sound cuts off instantly. She turns back to me with a proud grin. "How'd you sleep?"

I shrug. "Alright, I guess."

"Liar," she says softly, but doesn't push.

"Where's Kylen?" I ask.

"He's already at the portal lab," she replies. "He flew Hail, Keegan, and Dylan there about an hour ago to start training."

I nod, processing the information. "What about Claire and Kat?"

"Oh right, Claire went with them—to heal anyone if they get hurt. Kat's downstairs, digging into something Dylan found last night."

"Found? About what?"

"M.V. Apparently, he's been sniffing around Smith Inc. right under Kylen's nose."

I frown. "And Kat's investigating?"

"Yep. She's in the lab. I'd go with you, but..." She pauses, her expression turning wistful. "I think I want to train, too. I haven't since we left Naurus."

"You should," I say, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at my lips. "I'll go talk to Kat."

She beams, rising from the couch. "Have fun with her."

I roll my eyes, feigning annoyance, and make my way to the elevator.

The elevator hums quietly as it descends, the faint glow of its panel illuminating the small space. My mind wanders to Kat as I lean against the wall. Despite her prickly demeanor, she's sharp, resourceful. If anyone could figure out this M.V. situation, it'd be her.

The doors slide open, and I step into the lab. The room is a blend of cutting-edge technology and chaos, with holographic displays lighting up the walls and scattered papers strewn across the workbenches. In the middle of it all, Kat sits hunched over a console, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

"Morning, Kat," I call out, my voice breaking the silence.

She doesn't even glance up. "What do you want, Red?"

"Nice to see you too," I say, stepping closer. "Alyse said you're looking into M.V. Thought I'd see if you've got anything."

Kat sighs, finally tearing her eyes from the screen. "I don't know what I was expecting, but this guy's a ghost. No digital footprint, no physical records, nothing. It's like he doesn't exist—at least not in a way we can track."

"That's... not comforting," I mutter, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the screen.

"Yeah, tell me about it." She gestures to a string of files and images displayed in front of her. "The only thing I've got are fragments—little breadcrumbs. Shipments rerouted. Payments made to shell companies. All of it ties back to Smith Inc. somehow, but nothing directly connects to M.V."

I frown. "So, he's covering his tracks."

"Or someone's covering them for him," she says, her tone sharp.

The screen flashes as she pulls up another file. It's a blurry photo of a man in a dark suit, his face turned away from the camera.

"This is the best I could find," Kat says, pointing at the image. "Surveillance footage from one of the warehouses Dylan mentioned. He's definitely involved, but who he is or what he wants? No clue."

I study the image, frustration bubbling in my chest. "Whoever he is, he's playing us. He wants us chasing shadows."

"Probably," Kat agrees, leaning back in her chair. "But I don't like being played. If he's messing with Smith Inc., he's messing with me. And that's a bad idea."

I smirk at her determination. "Glad to have you on our side."

She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get sentimental on me. You're here for answers, not a pep talk."

"Fair enough," I say, crossing my arms. "So, what's the next step?"

"Next step is we stop reacting and start making moves of our own," she says, her eyes narrowing. "If M.V. thinks he can stay hidden, we'll prove him wrong."

The fire in her voice sparks something in me. Whoever this M.V. is, he won't stay in the shadows for long—not if Kat has anything to say about it.

I nod, her confidence igniting a spark of determination in me as well. "Alright, what do you need from me? How can I help?"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Kat leans forward, her fingers flying across the keyboard again. "For starters, keep your ears open. If M.V. has been snooping around Smith Inc., there's a chance Kylen might know something, even if he hasn't connected the dots yet." She pauses, glancing at me. "And maybe get him to loosen up on the secrecy. Half the time, I feel like we're digging through a haystack while he's sitting on the damn needle."

I chuckle. "Good luck with that. Kylen doesn't exactly hand out information like candy."

Kat smirks. "Well, you're his brother. If anyone can get through that brick wall of his, it's you. Or maybe Alyse. People tend to like her more."

"Gee, thanks," I say, shaking my head.

Kat grins, but her expression quickly turns serious. "One more thing: if Dylan or Keegan dig anything up in training—or if they start acting weird—you let me know immediately. M.V.'s interest in this team is suspicious. I don't like the idea of him watching us, and I sure as hell don't like the idea of him pulling any strings."

"I'll keep an eye on them," I promise, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders.

"Good." Kat nods, her focus already shifting back to the screen. "Now get out of here, Red. I've got work to do, and you're distracting."

I raise an eyebrow. "Distracting? I'm just standing here."

"Exactly. Now go."

I shake my head with a small smile and turn to leave, her words lingering in my mind.

As I step into the hallway, my thoughts churn. M.V. was no ordinary adversary. If Kat was right—and she usually is—then he wasn't just watching us. He was waiting. For what, though?

I make my way back to the elevator, the tension in my chest tightening. Whatever his plan is, he's not going to catch us off guard. Not if I can help it.

The elevator hums softly as it takes me back to the main floor. When the doors open, I'm greeted by the faint sound of Alyse's laughter drifting from the living room. For a moment, the heaviness in my chest eases.

"Aren't you supposed to be training?" I ask, leaning against the doorframe as I spot Alyse fiddling with the remote for the television.

She looks up, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. "Oh, yeah... got a little distracted. Why don't you and I head to the roof and practice instead?"

I raise an eyebrow. "You sure? Kylen might throw a fit if he finds out you skipped the official training."

She waves off my concern. "Please, like he's paying attention. Besides, I've been itching for some real practice—not the 'follow Hail's rules' kind."

I smirk, her excitement contagious. "Alright, I could use a break anyway. Might help clear my head."

Alyse nods and stands, cracking her knuckles. "Cool, but try not to space out while I'm throwing lightning bolts, okay? Claire's not here to patch you up if you get fried."

I laugh, wrapping my scarf tighter around my neck. "Deal. Just don't complain when you end up singed."

Her grin widens. "Guess we'll see who gets fried first."

With that, she grabs her jacket, and we head for the elevator. There's an edge of anticipation in the air, the kind that always comes before one of our sparring matches. It's familiar, and for a moment, it feels like home—like Naurus. And I could use a bit of that right now.

-

We step onto the rooftop, the cool morning air brushing against my skin, and the city lights stretch out before us, twinkling like distant stars as the rainy sky casts fog over the streets.

Alyse paces a few steps ahead, her movements fluid, almost like she's already in the zone. Her eyes flicker toward me, a spark of mischief dancing in them. "Alright, Red, let's see if you can dodge this."

Before I can respond, she raises her hand, a crackle of electricity building in the air. The lightning arcs from her fingers, illuminating the dark sky for a split second. My heart races as I instinctively leap to the side, narrowly missing the bolt that scorches the space where I'd been standing.

I grin, heart pounding. "Is that the best you've got?"

Alyse chuckles, her stance shifting as she prepares another strike. "You're quick, I'll give you that." This time, she throws a series of smaller, quicker bolts, each one coming faster than the last. I dodge, weaving between them with ease, but the thrill of the challenge pushes me harder.

"Not bad yourself," I say, breathing a little heavier, but there's a lightness to it, a sort of clarity I hadn't felt earlier.

She pauses, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Come on, you're not going to stand there all day, are you? I thought you wanted to clear your mind."

I tilt my head, considering her words for a moment. "You know, you're right."

Without warning, I rush toward her, concentrating on my movements and letting my instincts take over. I feel the pull of the air around me, the shift in my energy. As I close the distance, I reach out with a surge of fire in my palm, aiming to test my control over it.

Alyse's eyes widen just before she's forced to sidestep, the heat from the fire grazing the edge of her jacket. "Close one" she says, her voice a little more serious now.

I exhale sharply, a sense of pride rising in my chest. "Sorry, controlling it has been weird since I um, well—"

"I get it." she replies, a hint of understanding in her voice.

The elevator doors slide open, and Kat steps onto the roof, her bow in hand, her Spectra outfit fitting her form like a second skin. Her presence is sharp, purposeful—something's wrong.

Alyse and I exchange a glance, our earlier sparring momentarily forgotten. We turn back to her.

"What's wrong?" I ask, my tone guarded.

"The alarm in the lab went crazy. I figured there was something wrong up here," Kat replies, her eyes scanning the rooftop as if expecting danger to spring from the shadows.

Alyse opens her mouth to respond but is cut off.

A loud, bone-chilling screech cuts through the air, like nails dragging across glass. Alyse and I whip around in unison, and Kat instinctively knocks an arrow, her focus laser-sharp.

It's the wraith.

Its dark, shadowy form hovers in the misty, rain-soaked sky, its outline barely distinguishable from the storm swirling around it. A sickening aura clings to it, the air growing colder in its presence.

"Phoenix!" The wraith's voice cracks through the tension, its eyes locking onto me with malicious intent.

Alyse's hand sparks with electricity, ready to unleash a bolt, but I hold up a hand, stopping her.

I take a step forward, my heart pounding, a mixture of frustration and anger building within me. "What do you want?" I call out, my voice steady despite the dread gnawing at my insides.

The wraith's shadowy form sways in the air, its malice radiating in waves, growing stronger with each passing second. Its words linger in the charged atmosphere, chilling my bones. "For you to pay for your crimes."

Before I can respond, the wraith screeches again, a sound so piercing and unnatural that it echoes in the very core of my skull, sending a ripple of pain through my head. My vision wavers, but I keep my footing, locking my gaze on the creature before me.

Kat tightens her grip on her bow, her arrow now aimed directly at the wraith's center mass. Her fingers tremble slightly, but her focus doesn't waver. "We need to end this, now," she mutters, the urgency clear in her voice as she draws the bowstring back, her eyes narrowing.

Alyse steps forward, her fingers crackling with electricity, but she casts a glance at the wraith, her brow furrowed in frustration. "We couldn't kill it earlier when there was all eight of us, how are we supposed to fight it now?"

I grit my teeth, heart racing, but I don't let fear take hold. Alyse's words ring in my mind, though, a painful truth. We fought this wraith before, and it nearly killed us. The odds are stacked against us—but there's no way we're letting it take me.

"We don't have a choice," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "We fight now, or we risk everything."

The wraith lets out a low, menacing growl, its form shifting in the air like smoke swirling around a dying flame. Its voice, guttural and mocking, drifts back to us. "You cannot escape your fate, Phoenix."

My hand instinctively clenches into a fist. I know what it's after. The wraith's intentions are clear now. It's not just hunting us; it's hunting me.

"We need a plan," I say, my eyes flicking to Alyse and Kat. "Kat, can you get a clear shot?"

Kat hesitates, her eyes flicking to the wraith, calculating. "It's too fast. It'll dodge—"

"I can distract it," I interrupt, the words escaping before I've fully thought through them. "Alyse, give me a clear opening. I'll keep it focused on me."

Alyse hesitates but then nods, her eyes filled with determination. "Just don't get yourself killed."

I take a deep breath, eyes locked on the wraith. Every instinct in my body is screaming at me to run, to escape, but I push it aside. If I don't face this now, it'll keep coming, and next time, it might be too late.

"On three," I say, voice hard.

Kat readies her bow. Alyse charges her hands with a crackle of lightning.

"One..."

The wraith's figure shifts, and it turns its hollow gaze toward me once again.

"Two..."

I can hear its voice, barely above a whisper, as it floats closer. "You cannot hide forever, Phoenix."

"Three!"

In that instant, I charge toward the wraith, my heart pounding in my chest, my every muscle screaming with the power of my flames. I'll distract it, keep it on me. It's the only chance we have.

As I move, Alyse's lightning crackles to life, slicing through the air with an electrifying roar, and I see Kat's arrow fly, trailing a streak of light as it arcs toward the wraith.

But the wraith is faster than we anticipated. It dodges, spinning mid-air like a whirlpool of darkness, and the arrow sails right through where it had been. My heart sinks. We're running out of time.