The silence in the room was thick, like a heavy fog that made it difficult to breathe. The news feed fizzled out, but the images clung to my mind: there was Kai, as alive as ever, and Qi Yan, the devil donned in a cloak of charm. What was once a sweet victory now tasted like dust in my mouth. I hadn't just missed my chance at slaying the dragon; I had unwittingly given it wings and a flight plan straight from the Directorate.
Su Li's hologram remained steadfast. The cool demeanor of the seasoned strategist had vanished like vapor, leaving behind nothing but the fiery core of her ambition. Her eyes, fixated on the flickering remnants of the news, were as sharp as obsidian.
"Forget about resting," she snapped, her voice no longer smooth but edged like a razor. "Forget about healing. The game board is in tatters. The Directorate, once a predictable giant, has become frantic. They're not coming with little containment teams anymore; they're armed and ready to storm in with an army, led by someone who's undoubtedly scribbling down plans right now."
She had a point. The image of Kai's fiery gaze was a promise I couldn't ignore. Su Li wasn't merely out for revenge; she was a crusader now. And Qi Yan just handed her a mission where I played the lead role—a role I never signed up for!
A hollow feeling inside me was quickly overshadowed by a different sensation—an icy, hard diamond of anger. Anger at myself for not acting decisively. Anger at them for still being here. Anger at her for making me feel like I was just a pawn. The wolf within me stirred, not whimpering but growling low and deep. The ice that cloaked my heart wasn't a shield anymore; it was sharpening into a weapon.
"I need out," I declared, my voice slicing through the sterile air. "Now."
"Out isn't cutting it anymore," Su Li shot back, waving her hand like a conductor orchestrating chaos. The star chart collapsed, morphing into something more urgent—a sleek, angular vehicle schematic. This was my escape—a VTOL that appeared as if it had emerged from the heart of an obsidian stone. "This is my personal transport, the *Nighthawk*. It will whisk you out of the city quickly and quietly, below the Directorate's radar. It is stocked with Thorne's last research. Everything about the Cradle's defenses, its location, even what to expect there."
Her hologram stepped closer, and I almost felt a chill brush past me. "You have a head start, but it's a slim one—maybe a matter of hours. They might know now, but moving their bureaucracy takes time. Our only advantage is speed. You must get to the Cradle, use the authenticator, and slip inside before they mobilize fully."
The rage crystallized into a sense of determination. This wasn't just about running anymore. Su Li was right. It was a race—one I initiated from the last lane.
"Get it ready," I ordered.
A grim, humorless smile crept across her lips. "Oh, it's already waiting for you."
---
In a sterile medical bay glowing white inside the Directorate's fortress, Inspector Kai watched over a bed. Qi Yan, all cleaned up and bandaged with a new fancy contraption to support his shattered arm, was staring at the ceiling—it looked like a king lost in thought, clinging to his dignity despite his fallen throne.
"The Cradle," Kai commanded, her voice flat as an old tin roof. "Tell me everything."
Qi Yan let out a dry laugh, the sound like crumpling paper. "And why would I do that? Just so you can stash the source of our power in another of your sterile prisons? To 'contain' the future?"
"Because, at this moment, I'm your only lifeline between you and an oblivion so deep you'll fade from history," Kai replied, her tone steady. "And because Su Li's wolf is on his way there. You despise him more than the laws of this city. I'm offering you the chance to watch him burn."
Qi Yan turned his gaze towards her, his eyes filled with a raw hatred that felt like a physical blow. It was a revelation for him—she wasn't a jailer; she was a weapon, and this was his chance to let her fire.
"The Cradle isn't merely a structure," he whispered conspiratorially. "It's a self-sustaining ecosystem surrounding her stasis pod. The outer defenses are automated, but the final gate? Only the Keystone can unlock that."
"Then we'll be there when it happens," Kai said, resolute. "Give me the access codes. Your folks must have alternative plans."
A sly smile broke over Qi Yan's face, oozing charm and malice. "Oh, Inspector, we're going to be the best of friends."
---
The wind on the rooftop helipad struck me like an unexpected slap, trying to wrestle the warmth from my skin. The *Nighthawk* loomed ahead, a black predator poised to leap into the sky, its engines humming a hungry tune. Su Li's silent twins stood by the open hatch, their expressions unreadable. They offered me a black duffel bag filled with fresh gear, provisions, and a hefty-looking pulse rifle—the spider's gifts.
I slung the bag over my shoulder and faced Su Li's hologram, now shimmering on the helipad's surface.
"This is it, Yin Lie," she said, her voice barely audible against the wind. "This is the last move. There will be no more games. The victor will claim the future. Don't mess this up."
I didn't respond. I climbed into the belly of the beast, and the hatch sealed with a hiss, cutting me off from the city once and for all. The VTOL lifted, its power surging with a silent force, pressing me back into my seat.
Through the cockpit's window, I watched the Nocturnal Shadows shrink below, a splendid but treacherous sight. I had been born in that cage, hunted within its walls, shaped by its confines. Now, I was breaking free to race toward its very heart.
I was not the prey anymore. I was not the key.
I was the ghost given the lead in a race against the devil, and win I would.