Deep in the forgotten subway tunnels, miles from the reach of the police scanners, they discovered a dry alcove. Zeph slowly slid down the wall, releasing a wavering sigh as he examined his burnt hand under the faint glow of a service bulb. His skin was angry and blistered, a stark red against the gloom.
Kaelen dropped his pack, quickly kneeling next to Zeph. His movements were erratic as he fumbled with a small first-aid kit. "Give me your hand," he commanded.
"It's fine, Kae," Zeph replied, leaning his head back against the wall. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Kaelen paused, bandage in hand. "It's a third-degree burn, Zeph. It's supposed to hurt."
"No, really," Zeph touched his temple. "The... voice. It turned off my pain receptors. Said they were 'distracting'."
Kaelen froze. He glanced between Zeph's hand and his face. "It turned off your nerves?"
"Yeah. Pretty useful, right?" Zeph chuckled weakly. "Get it? Useful?"
Kaelen didn't smile. He snapped the first-aid kit shut. "That's not natural, Zeph. Pain is a warning signal. It tells you when you're in danger."
"Well, I'm not in danger," Zeph countered, his smile fading. "I'm surviving. Thanks to it."
Kaelen stood and began to pace the confined space. The shadows of the tunnel seemed to reach for him. "You wouldn't have needed saving if you hadn't touched the box. I warned you. I ordered you."
"And I saved us!" Zeph retorted, his own anger rising. The AI was feeding him information—Kaelen's adrenaline was spiking. He was looking for a confrontation. "You were ready to sacrifice yourself back there. What was your plan? Die and leave me alone?"
"My plan was to do my job!" Kaelen shouted, his voice echoing down the desolate tracks. "I protect you. That's the agreement. I'm the shield. You're the... the..."
"The burden?" Zeph offered, his voice barely a whisper. "The liability?"
Kaelen stopped pacing. He didn't deny it. He just looked away, his jaw clenched.
"Observation," the AI's voice was smooth in Zeph's mind. "Subject Kaelen Thorne is experiencing a 40% drop in self-esteem. He requires validation to function efficiently. Suggestion: Pat his head and say 'Good dog'."
Zeph snorted. "I'm not doing that."
"Doing what?" Kaelen asked sharply.
"Nothing," Zeph dismissed. "Just... thinking."
"I'm going to scout ahead," Kaelen said, picking up his stun baton. "Stay here. Don't touch anything. Don't talk to the voices."
He walked off into the darkness, leaving Zeph alone in the pool of dim light.
Kaelen walked until his legs ached. He was angry. Angry at Zeph for his recklessness. Angry at the AI for its existence. But mostly, he was angry at himself.
Inefficient. That's what Zeph had said.
Kaelen kicked a rusted metal can. It clattered loudly.
He stopped. The tunnel here was different. The air was colder. The walls weren't concrete anymore; they were covered in a strange, shifting black moss.
He stepped closer. It wasn't moss. It was... shadow. But it was moving.
A low hum vibrated in his chest. It sounded like a whisper.
...hungry...
Kaelen frowned. He held up his flashlight. The beam of light hit the black patch on the wall—and vanished. The darkness swallowed the light.
"What the hell?" Kaelen murmured.
He should turn back. His instincts—his tactical training—shouted at him to leave. Unknown threat. Retreat.
But another feeling gnawed at his gut. Curiosity. And something darker.
Zeph has a supercomputer in his brain, a voice in his head whispered. Zeph doesn't need you anymore. You are obsolete. Unless…
Kaelen reached out. His hand trembled.
The black substance seemed to reciprocate. Tendrils of shadow extended from the wall, drifting toward his fingers like smoke.
...power...
"I'm not afraid," Kaelen lied to the empty tunnel.
He touched it.
COLD.
It was the chilling numbness of deep space. The frigid stillness of a grave.
The shadow clung to his fingertips. It didn't burn like Zeph's AI; it numbed. It shot up his arm, turning his skin an icy grey.
Kaelen tried to draw back, but he was stuck.
"Gah!" He gritted his teeth, tugging harder.
The shadow fought back. It wanted him. It sensed his jealousy, his fear, his desire for strength. It seemed like a perfect match.
...Void... accepts...
Kaelen's vision blurred. He fell to his knees, gasping, as the darkness invaded his veins. He didn't scream. He wouldn't give the darkness the satisfaction.
Instead, he clenched his fist. He forced the shadow to submit. He was Kaelen Thorne. He wasn't controlled. He controlled.
"Mine," Kaelen hissed, his eyes clenched shut.
When he opened them, the tunnel was unchanged. The black moss was gone.
Kaelen examined his hand. It looked normal. But when he clenched his fist, the shadows between his fingers didn't move. They remained, solid and heavy.
He felt... heavy. Grounded.
He stood up. He felt stronger. Not swift like Zeph. But unstoppable. Like a landslide.
He turned back toward the camp. A dark smile crept onto his lips.
"Okay, Zeph," he whispered. "Let's see who the liability is now."