Chapter 39

Maura

I turned to where Corwin was pointing, my heart racing as I spotted a shadow shifting in the distance. “Hey! Who’s there?” I called out, but before I could get a response, the figure melted back into the darkness. Without a second thought, I took off after it. “Let’s go, Byte!”

The world around me blurred as I sprinted, fueled by a mix of guilt and worry. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had ignored Abzx’s warning, and now Corwin was paying the price for my recklessness. The weight of the nanobots integrating into his being, the implications of him becoming a Machina, pressed heavily on my mind. What had I done? I pushed myself faster, dodging between tents and weaving through the camp.

“Hold on!” I shouted, my voice barely echoing over the chaos of my thoughts. Each step propelled me forward, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I chased the figure. I could hear Byte whirring beside me, his small, feline form keeping up easily.

The shadow darted between structures, quick and agile, but I was determined. Guilt spurred me onward; I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. Whoever was lurking in the darkness might hold answers to the nagging questions clawing at my mind.

I rounded a corner, and for a moment, I lost sight of the figure. I skidded to a halt, scanning the area with frantic eyes. Suddenly, from the corner of my vision, I caught a glimpse of movement. With renewed energy, I charged in that direction, calling out again, “Stop! I just want to talk!”

Finally, I cornered the figure behind one of the supply tents. As I drew closer, my breath came in heavy bursts, and the shadow finally materialized into a familiar face. “Jessica?” I exclaimed, disappointment and relief washing over me.

She stood there, a sly smile on her lips. “Well, well, if it isn’t Maura, the girl who’s been causing quite a stir.” Her tone was light, almost teasing, but the air between us felt heavy with tension.

“What were you doing lurking in the shadows?” I demanded, still catching my breath. “You scared me half to death! I thought the raiders were back.”

“Oh, I was just observing,” she replied, shrugging nonchalantly. “You know how it is. Keeping tabs on the competition.” Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

“Competition?” I echoed, my suspicion rising. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve got an offer for you,” she said, stepping closer, her voice lowering conspiratorially. “From my sponsor. They’ve been watching you, Maura. They see potential. They want to help you… and your little group.”

“Help? Or manipulate?” I shot back, crossing my arms defensively. I didn’t trust Jessica, not after everything that had happened.

She held her hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just the messenger here. They believe you can be a powerful ally and want me to pass along their messages.”

“I don’t need your help,” I snapped, but doubt flickered in my mind. My thoughts raced back to Corwin and the new arm we were crafting, the lingering worries about the race change, and the shadows lurking just beyond our camp. The answers he would want— answers that I didn’t have.

“But think about it, Maura. Resources, knowledge, support—everything you need to build something amazing. All I’m asking is for you to consider it.” Her eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I found myself wavering.

“Just leave me alone,” I said, forcing the words through clenched teeth. I turned to walk away, but she stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

“Just think about it. You’re going to need all the help you can get in this tutorial,” she pressed, her voice smooth and persuasive. “Especially if you want to find that little girl who is desperately missing her dear brother. What exactly did you do to that boy, Maura?”

My mouth moved, but no sounds came out. What had I done to Corwin? The guilt crashed over me like a wave, making it hard to breathe. “You know where Jackie is?” I finally managed to ask, desperation creeping into my tone.

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“I don’t,” she admitted, her expression shifting to one of faux sympathy. “But my sponsor has promised that if you ally with him, he will help you to find your little friend. Just like he will help reunite me with my family. Think about it, Maura. People are depending on you now, and you need to be responsible.”

With that, she slipped back into the darkness, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. I stared after her, a mix of anger and confusion swirling within me. The shadows felt thicker, more oppressive, and her words echoed ominously in my mind.

I had made choices that could alter the course of Corwin's life, and now I had to confront the reality of those choices. What did it mean to be responsible? Did it mean aligning with someone like Jessica? Or did it mean forging my own path, regardless of the dangers that lay ahead?

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I turned back toward the workshop, my heart heavy with uncertainty. I had to focus on Corwin and what we were building together. Yet the feeling of being pulled in two directions gnawed at me, a reminder that the decisions I faced were never as simple as they seemed.

I turned and made my way back toward the workshop, my mind racing with the weight of Jessica's words. I was hoping to find Corwin and Felix still engaged in their tasks. As I stepped into the crafting area, the warmth of the forge and the faint smell of metal brought a sense of comfort, but it was fleeting.

“Hey, Corwin,” I said, approaching him. He looked up, a mix of curiosity and concern etched across his face. Felix was finishing up a medical exam, checking Corwin's vitals, his expression focused and serious.

“Maura! You’re back!” Corwin exclaimed, relief flooding his features.

“Yeah, I ended up chasing down our watcher,” I replied, forcing a smile to mask my inner turmoil. “I guess it’s no surprise that it was Jessica.”

Corwin’s brow furrowed, and I could see the tension in his shoulders tighten. “What did she want?”

“She wants to work with me. She’s very curious about our engineering.” I said, deliberately omitting the part about her sponsor. The last thing I wanted was to add to Corwin's burden.

Corwin's expression shifted to one of concern. “Why is she so curious? Does this have to do with the raiders?”

“No, I don’t think that it does.” My heart sank as I spoke. I hated that I was keeping secrets from him, but I didn’t want to pile on more worry.

Felix finished his examination and stood up, nodding approvingly. “You’re doing well, Corwin. Just take it easy for a while. The arm should be fine with some adjustments.”

“Thanks, Felix,” Corwin said, managing a smile. “I’m ready to get out there and find Jackie.”

“First you need to get some rest,” I said, gesturing toward his tent. “We’ll catch up tomorrow.”

Corwin nodded, but the weariness in his eyes told me he needed more than just a few moments alone. As he made his way to his tent, exhaustion evident in his posture, I felt a sharp pang of guilt. Had I actually helped this young man? Or had I permanently changed the course of his life?

Once Corwin was out of earshot, I turned to Felix, the knot in my stomach tightening. “Felix,” I began, but he cut me off.

“Maura,” he said, his voice low but filled with intensity. “You need to be more careful. Using those nanobots on yourself was reckless let alone using them on Corwin! You don’t even know what this means especially now that he’s somehow not even registering as human anymore?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but the words caught in my throat. “Felix, I thought—”

“Thought what?” he interrupted, frustration bubbling to the surface. “That you could just play god? You don’t know how this is going to affect him in the long run. This isn’t a game!”

“Felix, I just wanted to help him!” I snapped back, hurt by his words. “I thought the nanobots could give him a chance—”

“No, you thought you could play hero, Maura. You don’t consider other’s feelings and how it effects people when you go charging into danger.” He shook his head, taking a step back. “You certainly never considered my feelings during any of this.”

“Your feelings?” I felt my pulse quicken.

“Yeah that’s what I thought.” Felix turned away, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts. My chest felt tight with a mix of guilt and anger. I had tried to do something good, to give Corwin hope, and now it felt like it had backfired spectacularly. And now I’ve hurt Felix. What had he meant his feelings?

I knelt down beside Byte, who had been silently observing the exchange. “I can’t believe this,” I muttered, frustration bubbling over. “Why did I think I could fix anything?”

Byte tilted his head, sensing my agitation, and I found myself venting to him. “It’s not fair! This entire thing has been one gigantic cluster fuck and I’ve been pushing through trying to be optimistic and help everyone and what does it get me? I’ve ruined Corwin’s life. I’ve pushed away the only friend I have here in this stupid tutorial. And who knows what these nanobots have done to me!? God I wish none of this ever happened! I wish I was back in my stupid shop.”

But instead of offering comfort, Byte’s demeanor changed. He shrank back slightly, as if absorbing my frustration. Then, in a surprising move, he flickered out of sight, becoming invisible before my eyes.

“Byte, wait!” I called out, panic rising. But he was gone, leaving me with a hollow ache in my chest.

I sat there in the dim light, feeling more alone than ever. The shadows pressed in around me, mirroring the tumult of emotions swirling within. As I stared into the darkness, I realized that my path forward was murky, filled with uncertainty and difficult choices.