The signal led Lia and Kairo to the lower levels of New Echelon—a place the city had abandoned, buried beneath glass and steel.
They moved through dark corridors lit only by the pulse of their gear, scanning for energy trails, watching for movement.
Until a voice echoed from the shadows.
Smooth. Calm. Too familiar.
"You're exactly as I imagined, Lia."
Kairo spun, arm raised, energy blade glowing red.
But Lia stood still.
Because she knew that voice.
A figure stepped out—tall, cloaked in sleek tech armor, a mask covering most of his face save for a sharp jaw and cold, glinting eyes.
Zeyren.
He was once a Genesis project—Subject 07. Vanished during the fall. Thought dead.
He looked at her like she was everything.
"You haven't changed," he said, stepping closer. "Not where it matters."
Lia narrowed her eyes. "And you're still delusional."
Zeyren smiled. "I don't want war, Lia. I want you. Always did. You were never meant to belong to the ruins of Genesis. You were meant to stand beside me."
Kairo stepped in front of her, jaw clenched. "She's not yours to 'stand' with. You're lucky she doesn't blast your heart out right now."
Zeyren's smile twitched. "Still hiding behind her, Kairo? You haven't changed either."
Lia put a hand on Kairo's shoulder. "He's not worth it."
But Zeyren didn't flinch.
He leaned closer, voice lowering to a whisper. "You'll come around, Lia. Because the next time we meet—you'll need me."
And in a blink of black smoke and crackling light—
He vanished.
Leaving only a scorch mark on the floor…
…and a question in the air.
---
As they stood there, Lia turned away, unfazed.
But Kairo's fists were still clenched, knuckles white.
He didn't say it.
Didn't need to.
He hated that guy.