Episode 7: Trust in the Shadows
The next day, the city felt different — charged. Martins noticed the way Zahara moved, always looking over her shoulder now, her confidence cracked just a little. She didn't trust easily, and the attack from the previous night had shaken her.
They were walking through the academy's courtyard when she finally spoke.
"You didn't have to save me," she said, her eyes on the ground. "I don't need anyone watching my back."
Martins smiled slightly, his voice low. "Then why'd you come to the music hall?"
Zahara stopped walking, turning to face him. For a moment, she said nothing — just studied his face.
"You're not like them," she said quietly. "Not like the other guards my father sends." Her tone was almost… vulnerable.
Martins didn't know how to respond. It was rare that anyone saw past his surface — the trained bodyguard, the hardened fighter. But Zahara? She was different. She saw more.
Before he could speak, her wrist comm flashed — a warning from the academy's security. A drone breach. And this time, it wasn't just one.
The lights dimmed, and the ground shook as a massive explosion sounded somewhere within the complex.
Zahara's eyes widened. "They're here."
Martins grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward an emergency exit. "Stay close."
But as they ran, the sound of footsteps in the dark echoed behind them. They were not alone. The Null had sent more than drones this time — they'd sent operatives.
A figure in dark combat gear leaped from the shadows, aiming a plasma gun straight at them.
"Move!" Martins shouted, pulling Zahara down just as a blast singed the wall above them. He didn't hesitate — pulling her out of harm's way, ducking into a maintenance shaft that led to the lower levels of the academy.
"Who are they?" Zahara gasped, her breathing ragged.
"Not just anyone. The Null," Martins said, his eyes darting around as he scanned for threats. "They're after you."
Zahara's face hardened, but something flickered behind her eyes — fear? Anger? It was hard to tell.
"They won't stop," Martins said, voice low. "Not until they have you. Or worse... control you."
"I've never been controlled," Zahara said with a fierce edge. "And I won't start now."
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed in the shaft — someone was approaching. But this wasn't the enemy. It was Sophia.
"Move, move!" she hissed, pulling them both toward a hidden elevator shaft that descended deeper beneath the academy.
Martins glanced at her, confused. "What's going on?"
Sophia's face was grave. "The Null is bigger than you think. I've been tracking them for months, but they've adapted faster than I could predict. Your job just got a hell of a lot harder."
Zahara glanced between them. "And you didn't tell me?"
Sophia shot her a sharp look. "I didn't have a choice. Now you have to trust us. Both of you."
The elevator doors closed, and as they descended into the unknown, Martins felt something stir deep within him. The weight of the mission. The growing connection with Zahara. And the undeniable fact that they were running out of time.