Athena's breath hitched at the sound of her name being called, her fingers instinctively tightening around her weapon. The voice was unfamiliar, but the way it carried through the ruined landscape sent a chill down her spine. It wasn't the desperate call of a lost survivor, nor was it the barking order of a soldier. It was measured, confident—like a predator who had finally cornered its prey.
Xavier's grip on her wrist loosened, but his body remained tense, his eyes sharp as he scanned the area. He didn't move to attack, not yet. He was waiting. Calculating.
Athena swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Who are they?" she whispered.
Xavier's lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor in it. "The kind of people you don't want finding you."
The voice called out again, closer this time. "Athena. You've been missing for far too long. It's time to come home."
