Three weeks. That's how much time Marcus knew had passed since he decided on his escape plan. His grip on time was stronger now—he could walk forward through it at will. In his eagerness to escape, Marcus had fast-forwarded to his next interrogation with Regina.

Regina entered the black room, her steps as precise as ever. Each movement deliberate, every gesture calculated. She sat across from Marcus, her usual efficient grace intact, though her eyes were more focused than usual. Marcus tapped his leg lightly under the table, the rhythm anchoring him as the endless black void of the room pressed in. Even after all this time, he still wasn't sure if the table was truly at the centre of the room. The unreflective, infinite black walls swallowed everything, making him feel lost in space.

"Hello, Fletcher. Ready to tell me what happened to you yet?" The words appeared on the metallic display inside his mask. Marcus couldn't hear her voice, but it didn't matter—his mind filled in the gaps, imagining the tone she must've used. Cold, calculating, and faintly curious.

"No, but I should thank you," Marcus replied, his own voice an eerie echo in his mind, distorted by the silence.

Regina's brow lifted slightly. "Thank me? For what?"

Marcus smiled faintly, his eyes narrowing. "The time you've given me here. It's been... enlightening." He paused, tapping his leg a little faster. "But I'm done now. I'm ready to leave."

Regina's face tightened subtly, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "Just like that? You're free to go whenever you want, Fletcher. Just tell me what happened. What changed you." Her voice, though unseen, felt softer, like a coiled snake. "We can help you."

A dry chuckle escaped Marcus, though it felt strange in his chest. "Help me? Finisterra doesn't help people like me, Regina. It controls them."

Regina leaned forward slightly, a glint in her eyes. "You're wrong. You have something extraordinary. Together, we could elevate humanity. Imagine the possibilities."

Marcus's smile faded, and his gaze turned cold. "In a galaxy full of endless resources, Finisterra still sells water," he said, the bitterness in his voice unmistakable. "And you expect me to believe you'd use my ability for anything other than to serve the elites?"

Regina's face remained neutral, but Marcus could see the shift in her posture—the tightening of her lips, the slight lean back in her chair. She was trying to maintain control. "You don't understand," she said, her voice steady. "This isn't just about control. It's about potential. If you'd let us guide you, we could change everything."

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Marcus leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. "Guide me? I've seen enough. Finisterra doesn't guide. It takes. And I've had enough of being taken from."

Regina straightened, her voice hardening. "You're still here, Fletcher. You're still trapped. Your powers might make you faster, but you're not free. Not yet."

Marcus shook his head, his smile returning. "Is that what you think? That this room holds me?" He paused, letting the words hang in the air. "You really don't understand, do you?"

Regina's eyes narrowed. "Explain it to me, then."

Marcus sat back, a calm certainty settling over him. "You've spent how long watching me? Years, maybe? All this time, trying to figure me out, asking your questions. But you never stopped to think... why haven't I tried to leave?"

Regina's expression faltered, but only for a moment. "And why is that?" she asked, her voice colder now.

"Because I wanted to understand it—this ability," Marcus said, tapping his temple. "You think I've been waiting for something from you? I've been waiting for something from me." He leaned forward again, voice lowering. "You think I'm trapped, but all this time, it's you who's been going in circles."

Regina's face tightened again, her control slipping. "You're playing a dangerous game, Fletcher," she said, her voice sharp. "Finisterra doesn't tolerate disobedience."

A short laugh escaped Marcus. "Finisterra doesn't tolerate a lot of things," he said. "But I'm beyond that now."

xq"You think you're invincible? You think we'll just let you walk out of here?" Regina's voice grew more forceful, the cracks in her calm facade starting to show. "We see everything, Fletcher. You're not as invisible as you think."

"And yet, here I am." Marcus smiled, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "You're still hoping for answers I'm never going to give."

Regina's face darkened. She stood, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. "You're not leaving, Fletcher. You can't just walk away from this."

Marcus stood slowly, pushing back his chair with a deliberate calmness. He looked at Regina for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "I've already walked away, Regina. You're just catching up."

He glanced toward the door. His mind focused on the clock in his head, slowing time to a near standstill. Regina froze, mid-step, her hand inches from the door. The guards in the hallway were still as statues, their weapons drawn but useless. The world had stopped for them, but Marcus moved forward.

He stepped past Regina, her expression locked in an eerie stillness. The hallway was filled with guards, all frozen in time, unable to stop him. Marcus felt a strange sense of calm as he walked through the motionless corridor. He'd been right to hesitate before—there were so many of them. But now, they were nothing more than figures in a moment he had already moved beyond.

He wandered the building, scanning for a way out. Eventually, he found a large room filled with workers, their hands hovering above consoles, eyes frozen mid-glance. On one of the walls, he spotted a map of the city. His destination was clear—the landing field, far on the edge of the complex.

His way off-planet lay there. Keeping time slow, Marcus began his deliberate walk toward the field, leaving behind the frozen world that no longer held him.