Morning came slow.
I had barely slept.
Between breaking the system, Alexis' test results, and Mark's cryptic message, my mind had refused to shut off. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the glowing notification of my new skill, felt the ghost of Alexis' lips against mine, and heard Mark's words echo in my skull.
Let me know when you want the truth.
I wasn't ready for that conversation.
Not yet.
I exhaled, rubbing my eyes as I sat up. The faint scent of coffee drifted from the kitchen, a small comfort in an otherwise tangled mess of thoughts.
For now, breakfast. Then I'd figure out what came next.
The kitchen was alive with the usual morning chaos.
Sienna was at the counter, pouring coffee, her expression tired but focused. Alexis sat cross-legged on a stool, scrolling through her phone while occasionally stealing bites from a croissant. Camille was leaning against the table, still half-asleep, absentmindedly spinning a spoon between her fingers.
It was normal.
Comforting, even.
I took my seat across from them, grabbing a plate of toast.
Sienna handed me a cup of coffee without a word.
I nodded my thanks and took a sip, letting the warmth chase away the last remnants of exhaustion.
Then—
A knock at the door.
I froze.
For a brief, gut-wrenching moment, my mind jumped to one conclusion—Mark.
I set my cup down slowly, muscles tensing. My system had conditioned me to analyze threats before they even happened, and right now, my body screamed caution.
Too soon. He wouldn't just show up, would he?
Sienna glanced at me, noticing my sudden stillness.
"You expecting someone?" Camille asked, eyebrow raised.
I stood. "No."
I walked toward the door, pulse steady but heavy. If it was Mark, I needed to control the situation fast.
I opened the door.
Evelyn.
The sight didn't fully calm my nerves, but it was better than the alternative.
She stood there in her usual composed manner, wearing a dark coat, hands tucked into her pockets. Her gaze flicked past me, scanning the interior before settling on my face.
"Morning," she said. "Mind if I come in?"
I exhaled, stepping aside. "Yeah. Sure."
She entered without hesitation.
Sienna, ever the polite one, turned toward her. "Would you like some coffee?"
Evelyn nodded. "If you don't mind. You made good coffee last time."
Sienna smiled slightly at the compliment and moved to prepare another cup.
Evelyn took a seat at the table.
She had barely settled in before Camille leaned forward, smirking. "To what do we owe the pleasure? Did you finally come to terms with the fact that you like us?"
Evelyn didn't even blink. "Not particularly."
Camille gasped in mock offense. "Cold."
Alexis, continued the tease. "She tolerates us, at least."
Evelyn took her coffee from Sienna with a quiet nod of thanks. "Some more than others."
I sat down, watching as Camille and Alexis continued their playful jabs. Evelyn remained as unreadable as ever, responding just enough to keep them mildly entertained but never actually giving in to their antics.
But as the conversation went on, something in my gut told me she wasn't here for casual talk.
So I cut to the point.
"Why did you send me to my old construction site?"
The air shifted slightly.
Evelyn took a slow sip from her coffee before answering. "You're overthinking it."
I narrowed my eyes. "Am I?"
She set her cup down. "I sent you there because people were starting to ask questions about your disappearance. You used to be an active member of that district, and if you suddenly vanished without explanation, it would raise suspicion. Your presence reinforced the lie that you had simply been transferred elsewhere."
I studied her, trying to find the cracks in her reasoning.
"And the whole thing with Anthony and Future Vision?" I pressed. "That was just coincidence?"
"Yes." Her expression didn't waver. "I didn't know about Future Vision's involvement there. But if your identity were ever revealed… It would be over for Team Vale."
The words hung between us.
"If the other team—World President—knew what you really were," she continued, "they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate you."
I leaned back in my chair, absorbing her explanation.
It made sense. It should've eased my mind.
But it didn't.
Something still felt off.
I let out a slow breath. "Then why are you here now?"
Evelyn's gaze sharpened. "Because a bigger problem just surfaced."
I waited.
She slid a tablet across the table.
Anthony's team had been analyzing the Future Vision files, digging through every scrap of information they could find. And in those files…
They had uncovered something concerning.
"A prototype machine," Evelyn said. "One designed to enhance skills."
My fingers curled slightly against the table.
A machine that could enhance skills?
I glanced at Alexis, who had straightened at the mention of it. Even Camille was no longer smiling, her playful demeanor fading into something more serious.
"The problem," Evelyn continued, "is that the technology is missing."
I looked back at her. "Missing?"
She nodded. "Even government records can't find anything related to it. It's like it was wiped from existence."
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "So someone took it."
"That's what we're trying to figure out."
A silence stretched between us.
Then Evelyn spoke again.
"And that's not the worst part."
I met her eyes.
She took a slow sip of coffee before setting the cup down, her expression unreadable.
"The technology was being mass-produced."
The words sent a cold chill down my spine.
Mass-produced.
Not just an experiment. Not just a prototype.
Whoever had taken it… had the means to create more.