Erasmus leapt across the crumbling remains of the city, holding Tasmia protectively in his arms. Debris scattered beneath his feet. The vibrant world they knew was gone—replaced by fire, screams, and the cold fury of Overseers slaughtering everything in sight. Even the little shop they visited was now reduced to twisted metal and ash.
He slipped into a narrow alley, shielding her from view. The shadows swallowed them.
Erasmus (soft, steady):"Tasmia, it's alright. I'm here. You won't be harmed. Not on my watch."
Tasmia (shaken):"What is happening?! I've never seen this much blood in my life..."
Her voice trembled as she looked up at him. "Erasmus… what about my family? My neighborhood—it's half gone…"
Erasmus couldn't care less about her family as his only priority was her but he went along for now, pulling her closer, steadying her shaking form. "Let's take a detour. I promise... everything will be fine."
But it wasn't.
The alleys were deathly silent. Too silent. And when they reached her street, Tasmia froze.
Her house was gone.
Crushed. Burnt. Consumed by flames.
She jumped from Erasmus's arms and sprinted forward. "No… no… it can't be happening! Please, no!"
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She prayed—desperately—that her family was safe.
Erasmus's eyes widened. "Tasmia, stop—!"
An Overseer stood near the wreckage, tendrils twitching, ready to strike.
Erasmus lunged. Just in time, he yanked her back, the Overseer's appendage slicing the air where she had been. They crashed against a wall.
Erasmus (panting): "Tasmia! We need to run!"
Tasmia (screaming): "I can't! My family is in there!"
She fought him, tearing free and running toward the fire, clawing at the burning debris with bare hands. Heat scorched her skin, but she didn't stop.
Overseers were closing in.
Erasmus scanned the chaos—he needed a plan. Fast.
There. A bent electric Transmitter, sparking.
Dodging enemy fire, he pulled her back and shielded her with his body as bullets whizzed past. Blood trickled from his temple.
Erasmus: "Tasmia, your family isn't inside. You have to trust me!" He snapped.
Before she could argue, he shoved her into a half-destroyed car and locked the door.
Tasmia (banging on the glass):"Erasmus, let's just run! Please—wait, you're bleeding?!"
Her breath hitched.
Blood. *Real* blood.
She stared at him—her AI companion. He wasn't supposed to bleed.
Outside, he was already dodging enemy fire, but one of the Overseer's tendrils whipped around his leg, slamming him into the wreckage.
Blood dripped from his head, his body torn and scratched. He stood, bone cracked and arm bent unnaturally—until he snapped it back into place. Her eyes widened. *What is he...?*
He moved like a ghost through the destruction. Using the chaos to his advantage, he tricked the Overseer into tangling itself in its own tendrils. In one swift move, Erasmus ripped a cannon from its back, aimed, and fired at the electric transmitter.
Boom.
A wave of fire exploded across the bridge. The car stayed intact—but he was nowhere in sight.
Tasmia burst out of the vehicle, panicked.
Tasmia (screaming): "Erasmus! Answer me! I'm sorry! I'll listen—just come out! Please!"
She ran into the flames, choking on smoke.
A hand touched her shoulder.
He was there—burnt, bleeding, missing an arm. But alive.
Tears spilled from her eyes as she reached for him.
"Erasmus…"
He gently pats her ruffling her hair
Erasmus:"Shh… I'm alright. Just help me find my arm." Voice still sweet as honey.
Her breath caught. Oh... right. He's an AI?
But what kind of AI bleeds like that?
Overseers were regrouping. Erasmus scanned the area while Tasmia searched desperately. At last, they found it—the severed limb, riddled with pulsing black veins that squirmed like living things.
Tasmia recoiled. A nightmare in daylight.
Erasmus took the arm calmly, pressing it to the stump. The veins latched on and wove themselves back into place. He flexed his fingers—functional again.
Then he turned to her, eyes soft.
Erasmus:"Let's go. I'll try to scan the network while we're on run. I'm sure we'll get gist of what's happening then."
Despite it all… he smiled at her. Forgiving. Warm. Even though he got severely injured because she ran into danger mindlessly.
She flung her arms around him, burying herself in his chest. He was a bit surprised human emotions he's still learning but patted her softly.
She reassured herself that he was still there. That she hadn't lost him too.
Not yet.