Isaac

  I pull up the exterior feed tile on Holog, just to be sure.

  The cold light crowns her hair in the frame.

  My chest tightens.

  Not now.

  “It’s Alexian!”

  “Send her away, Isaac. We don’t have time!”

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  I look around, disoriented. I take a breath and route my voice to the outside channel.

  “Coming down, Alexian. One second!”

  “Coming down?” Alexian repeats.

  I cut the audio and turn back to Dad.

  “I’ll go out there, tell her to leave.”

  “Hurry. I’ve got very little time.”

  I bolt out of my room and down the stairs—three steps at a time, heart jammed in my throat. I almost trip, but I don’t slow down. I stop at the door. The gray metal panel throws back a warped version of my face—not quite a mirror, but close enough. I take a deep breath, and tug at my suit collar like it’s tightened on its own.

  It isn’t pointless.

  It’s the only way I can keep my hands from shaking.

  I open the door with a swipe on my Personal.

  She’s right there—close enough that I can feel her breath.

  She looks at me like I’m glitching. “Your auto-lock not working?”

  I turn, grasping for an excuse I don’t have.

  “No, it’s just… I was already nearby. It was faster.”

  “If you were already here, why did you have to come down?”

  I shrug.

  “Forget it. Why are you here? I told you not to stop by.”

  “Wow. Warm welcome. If you didn’t want to see me, you could’ve just said so.”

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  Nerves crawl up from my stomach.

  “But I did!” I almost shout in her face—and regret it instantly.

  I’m too close. I take a step back, but the damage is already done.

  “Sorry. That’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean I didn’t want to see you. It’s just… today would’ve been better if you hadn’t come.”

  She pins me with her eyes.

  “Isaac, are you okay? You look out of your mind.”

  “I’m fine. But seriously—I need to be alone.”

  The words weigh like lead.

  My Personal vibrates. I drop my gaze to my forearm.

  PRIORITY PING — DAD

  “Sorry—I have to go.”

  I run.

  I trigger the door to close without even turning around. I feel her silence like a hand on the back of my neck. Guilt eats straight through me.

  I take the stairs two at a time, lungs burning, hand skimming the rail. I'm back in my room.

  Dad’s waiting, looking stern at first glance—but I know him, and those are the most worried eyes I’ve ever seen on him.

  “She left?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Listen to me. I get that this is complicated, but your virtual training is enough for the escape.”

  “But I’m the only one who completed it. Elis—”

  He cuts me off.

  “Elis will be a passenger. She’ll make it only if you follow instructions.”

  I nod, not really convinced.

  “Now call her. I have to explain everything.”

  I rub my forehead.

  “She’s at Arleen’s. Tutoring.”

  Dad covers his face with both hands and tips his head back like I just stabbed him.

  “I didn’t think teaching her the value of human relationships would ever come back to bite us.”

  “Don’t say that. You did it for her. She’ll be back before dinner.”

  His fist cracks the desk. The Holog feed shivers, and so do I.

  “No. You go get her now. We can’t wait anymore. Tonight the CPO emissaries are coming to file their blackout report. During their entry, there’ll be a single opening—our best shot to get you out. You need to be there. 9:00 p.m. sharp.”

  The number lands like a countdown I can’t stop hearing.

  I swallow. The click in my throat echoes in my ears.

  “Pack everything you need. Take the Vixtan from the box and get to Elis. Then retrieve the Jetwings Birdsteel—per the plan. You already know the rest by heart.”

  “And if you can’t open the access?”

  He leans over the desk. “Don’t ask me useless questions!” His voice is a roar. Then he reins it back in. “If that happens, you know what to do. We planned three escape routes. We’ll use the best one.”

  He sinks into his chair.

  “I’m sorry I’m also putting the job of explaining it all to Elis on you, but events are forcing our hand.”

  “That’s the least of it, Dad.”

  A hint of a smile cuts through his frustration.

  “I love you both. Remember: what you’re holding isn’t just your future…” A beat—then his gaze hardens into ice.

  “…and if the system doesn’t collapse on its own, we’ll help it.”

  The room goes quiet in a way that feels permanent.

  On Holog:

  CONNECTION TERMINATED