Eira barely slept that night. Her mind raced, swirling with the implications of everything she had uncovered. The Memory Vault. It was her only chance to uncover the full truth about Rowan Hale, the revolution, and the people whose stories had been erased from history. But as she stared at the ceiling, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was something she was missing, some hidden layer to this mystery that she hadn't yet touched.
The government had built the Mnemosyne Project to control memories, to erase any trace of rebellion or resistance. But why? What had been so dangerous about the truth Rowan Hale represented? And why had she left behind a trail, a message for someone to follow?
As the first rays of dawn began to filter through the blinds, Eira made her decision. She would find the Memory Vault. The file had provided coordinates, a remote location far from the city's reach. But getting there wouldn't be easy. She would have to move quickly, before the government could catch wind of her search.
The facility she needed to get to was located in the Northern Desolation, a barren wasteland known for its harsh terrain and extreme weather. No one went there. It was considered too dangerous, too inhospitable for any sort of human settlement. Perfect for hiding a secret.
But Eira knew that danger wasn't just in the physical environment. The government's surveillance network was everywhere. If she wanted to get to the vault, she would need to evade their watchful eyes, and that meant relying on someone who knew how to hide in the shadows.
As she prepared to leave her apartment, her mind turned to a name she had only heard in whispers: Cassian "Cass" Vance, a former hacker who had disappeared from the public eye years ago. Cass had once been a legend in the underground networks, known for his ability to bypass any security system, break through any firewall. Eira knew that if anyone could help her evade the government's detection, it was him.
She made a few calls, arranging a meeting in the most unlikely of places—a run-down, forgotten diner on the outskirts of the city. As she walked through the rain-soaked streets, Eira couldn't help but feel the weight of her decision. If she was caught, it would mean the end of everything. But if she succeeded, if she found the Memory Vault, she could uncover the truth. She could bring back the stories that had been erased, stories of love and sacrifice, stories that could change the world.
The diner was dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of stale coffee and grease. Eira stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room for Cass. She saw him almost immediately—a man sitting at the back booth, his dark hair obscuring most of his face, his fingers typing rapidly on a tablet.
Cass was everything Eira had expected—quiet, intense, with an air of mystery that seemed to follow him wherever he went. She walked over to the booth and sat down across from him, waiting for him to look up.
"Cassian Vance?" Eira asked, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart.
He didn't look up, but his fingers paused for just a moment before he replied. "Who wants to know?"
"My name is Eira. I need your help."
He finally looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers. There was a flicker of recognition, but he said nothing. Eira continued, her voice low but determined.
"I'm trying to find the Memory Vault. I have coordinates, but I need someone to help me get there without being detected. I'm being hunted, and I need to move quickly."
Cass studied her for a long moment, as if weighing the risks of helping her. Eira knew the danger she was in—helping her meant going against everything Cass had once fought for. The government would stop at nothing to catch him. But after what she had uncovered, she knew she couldn't do this alone.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured. "You think the vault's still there? You think the government hasn't found it by now?"
"I don't know," Eira admitted, "but I have to try. They erased everything about Rowan Hale, about the revolution. It's all connected, Cass. I can feel it."
Cass stared at her for a long time, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically. Then, without a word, he slid his tablet across to her. On the screen was a map—one that led directly to the Northern Desolation.
"This is your route," he said, his voice cold. "I'll help you get there, but you're on your own once we reach the border. You'll need to be quick and keep your head down. The government's network will be watching. Don't trust anyone, not even me."
Eira nodded, feeling the weight of his words. But she had no choice. She had come too far to turn back now.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Cass looked at her one last time, his gaze piercing. "Don't thank me yet. Getting to the vault is the easy part. What's inside… that's what you should be worried about."