Chapter 42 Trust

Chapter 42 Trust
The dust was all over and it hadn't settled. It hung in the air like a veil covering the emergency lights and turning the entire room into half shadow half exposure. Through it, the figures moved forward. Weapons turned directly on me.

Zane stepped forward instantly, placing himself between me and them, his body still partially shifted. He was overwhelmed with power and ready to strike.

“Stay back.” He warned, his voice went low but lethal.

But they didn't stop. That alone was wrong. Most people hesitated when they faced creatures like him. These ones didn't, which means they either didn't understand what he was or they knew exactly who he was. 

I didn't move, nor step back. I didn't hide as well. My eyes stayed on them, I didn't blink it was as if I was seeing something beyond the weapons, beyond the threat.

“Zane,” I said slowly. But he didn't look at me “Not now.” he said.

“They are not here to kill us.” I said. That made him slow down a bit. “But they are pointing the gun at you.” He said.

Then I said, “Look closer.” Zane’s gaze sharpened. He was not just seeing but reading and tracking and then he noticed it.

“Hold your fire,” One of them said. A woman with a clear and commanding voice said. The group slowed, they lowered their weapons slightly not completely. They were still cautious and ready.

I stepped forward. Zane grabbed wrist immediately.  “No.” I then turned my head to meet his gaze. “I need to do this.”

His jaw tightened. “You don't know them.” But that wasn't comforting, not to him, not to anyone. Ruby moved closer, her voice low. “Nyla, we just got out of one system trying to control you and zane. I don't know much yet but this feels exactly the same.” 

Garrett nodded. “I don't think trust comes that fast.” 

I didn't argue because they were right but something inside me, the same thing that had guided me here, wasn't afraid and it mattered a lot.  The woman stepped forward, she had lowered her weapon completely and she was different from the others. She looks less rigid and more aware. 

Her eyes moved over me, I thought it was for assessment but no, It was recognition. “You shouldn't have activated it,” she said. My head tilted slightly. “How come you know about the system?”

“Yes, I know about it.” she said.

“Then you knew I would find it.” I asked.

She nodded. “But I hoped you wouldn’t.” she said

Zane stepped in front of me again. “Start talking,” he said. “Now.” The woman’s gaze shifted to him briefly. He didn't dismiss it nor did it intimidate her.

“You are Zane Wilder. Aren't you?” 

Zane didn't react. “You’ve been harder to predict than expected.” He finally said.

“That’s not your problem,” he replied.”

I stepped around him this time before he could stop her. “I saw the network.” I said. That changed everything. The woman’s expression tightened. 

“How much did you see?” the woman asked. I held her gaze. “Enough to know Helix wasn't alone.” everywhere went silent.

Ruby looked between us. “Okay, am I missing something, what network?”. I didn't take my eyes off the woman. “Everything is one way or the other is connected,” she said.

Garrett exhaled slowly. “A system within the system.”

“Yes.” The woman nodded once. “We don't have time for this, you need to come with us.”

Zane laughs under his breath. “That is not going to happen .” The rest of her team went tense again. The weapons shift slightly and ready.

“You are exposed.” the woman continued. “And now that the system has been activated.” I finished the sentence. The woman met my eyes. “Yes.”

“Before we do anything, firstly, who are you?” 

The woman hesitated. “Not your enemy.”

Zane ran out of patience. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you are getting right now.” the woman said. I stepped closer ignoring the tension and weapon. Ignoring Zane’s grip, tightening my hands.

“You are not with the Apex?” I asked.

“Yes.” The woman replied.

“You are not with Helix.” I asked again.

“No.” She replied.

“Then what are you?” The woman studied me for a long time, then finally answered.

“We are the ones who clean up what they leave behind.” she said.

Ruby frowned. “That’s not comforting.”

“No, it isn’t.” Garrett agreed.

Another loud crack shook the room. The ceiling cracked further,  time was running out again and always. I exhaled slowly. Then I made the decision. “We go with them.”

Zane turned sharply. “No.” 

“No.” He repeated, more firmly. “We can't walk into another unknown.”

“We are already in one.” I said.

“That doesn't mean we choose it.” Zane said.

“No, it means we survive it.” I replied. Our eyes locked on each other with tension, trust and fear.

“You felt it too,” I said quietly. “We the system connected us.” I asked him but Zane didn't respond and he didn't deny it either. “They are moving, all of them.” I said.

Ruby swallowed. “What does that mean?” 

“It means that staying here is not an option.” I replied.

The woman stepped forward again. “Four minutes, that’s how long before this place collapses completely.” 

Zane’s eyes flicked to the walls. He noticed the cracks, the falling structure and realized she wasn't lying.

“Four minutes to decide,” she added.

The silence after was heavy. Zane looked at me while my gaze met her eyes.

“Do you trust them?” He asked me.

“No.” I didn't hesitate, at that stage trust was a heavy word for me.

“Why are you doing this?” Zane asked.

“Because I trust what I feel.” I convinced him. And more so right now, that’s all we have.”

Zane exhaled slowly then nodded once. “Fine, we move. But if i something off, “

I finished it. “We don't hesitate.”

Ruby sighed. “I really hate that this is our life now.”

“Get used to it.” Garrett said.

“I don't want to.” Ruby said.

“Doesnt matter now.” Garrett replied.

The woman turned sharply. “Move.”. Her team shifted instantly, forming a path. Gilding her as she walked through.

Zane stayed close to me, protective and ready. As we moved past the woman, I slowed slightly.

“Why now?” I asked.

“Why show up now?” I asked again.

The woman glanced at me. “Because you activated something that shouldn't exist anymore.” she said.

That sent a chill through me. “Then why does it still exist?” 

The woman didn't answer immediately, then she finally answered, “because not everything stays buried.”

We reached the corridor just another section of the room collapsed behind us. The platform, the machines, all gone. Zane glanced back once and then forward again.

“Where are we going?” Ruby asked.

Then the woman slowed down. “Somewhere you won't be found.” I felt it again. That pull went faint and distant but still there. And now it wasn't coming from the facility again but from outside, far beyond us, waiting. I tightened my grip slightly on myself, the moment and the choice we had just made because deep down I knew something, something that the others didn't know yet.

This wasn't an escape, it was an escalation and whatever came next, was already on its way.