Ridan's apartment had never felt smaller. The hum of the capsule reverberated louder now, each pulse matching the beat of his heart. Nova's projection hovered near the door, her glow faint but purposeful. For the first time since she arrived, Ridan saw the urgency in her movements—the precise flickers of light and motion that weren't just quirks but signals.
"This way," Nova said, gesturing toward the exit. Her tone was firm, the usual playfulness stripped away.
Ridan tightened the straps on his bag, his eyes darting between the capsule and the blinking alert on his screen. *"Location acquired. Response unit dispatched."* The words burned like a brand, pushing him forward despite the knot tightening in his stomach.
"Who's coming?" Ridan asked as he followed Nova into the hallway. He hated how uncertain his voice sounded, how easily it betrayed the fear clawing at him.
"I don't know," Nova admitted, gliding ahead of him. "But whoever it is won't stop once they get here."
"That's comforting," Ridan muttered, stepping over a pile of discarded tech he hadn't bothered to clean up. "You sure we can outrun them?"
Nova tilted her head—not much, but enough to send that familiar ripple of unease down Ridan's spine. "I'm sure we have no other choice."
They reached the stairwell, the dim lighting casting strange shadows as they descended. The hum of the capsule had faded into the background, replaced by Ridan's hurried footsteps and the faint crackle of Nova's projection. He couldn't tell if the static was an intentional part of her design or a lingering glitch, but it felt alive in a way that made his skin crawl.
"Where are we going?" Ridan asked, his voice breathless as they reached the ground floor.
Nova paused, her form flickering faintly. "Away from here."
"Great," Ridan said sarcastically, gripping the door handle. "Really narrowing it down."
Nova's glow intensified slightly, a brief shimmer that felt like irritation. "Do you want me to spell it out?"
"Yes!"
"We need to find the source of the signal," Nova said, her voice sharp but steady. "And if we stay here, the only source you'll find is whoever sent the response team."
Ridan frowned, pushing the door open. The streets outside stretched wide and empty, the glow of the city's AI-driven infrastructure casting eerie reflections on the pavement. Neon-lit drones zipped overhead, their hum blending with the distant buzz of automated vehicles. It felt normal—and yet it wasn't. Not anymore.
"Fine," Ridan muttered. "Lead the way."
Nova drifted ahead, her light cutting through the dimness like a beacon. Ridan followed, his thoughts spiraling as the distance between him and the apartment grew. He hadn't signed up for this—for conspiracies or encrypted signals or running for his life. And yet, here he was, placing his trust in a hologram that tilted its head too often and spoke in riddles.
As they moved deeper into the city, Nova suddenly stopped, her glow flickering erratically. Ridan froze behind her, his pulse quickening. "What is it?"
Nova tilted her head again, the motion slow and deliberate. "We're not alone."
Ridan's chest tightened as he scanned the street. At first, he saw nothing—just the usual hum of AI-driven activity. But then, in the distance, a figure emerged—a silhouette cloaked in shadows, its movements precise and calculated. Ridan's breath hitched as two more figures appeared, their forms merging with the darkness.
"Keep moving," Nova said quietly. Her glow dimmed as she gestured toward a narrow alley.
"What are they?" Ridan whispered, his voice trembling.
"Not friendly."
Ridan swallowed hard, gripping the straps of his bag as he followed Nova into the alley. The figures didn't move faster, but their presence pressed against him like a weight, each step closer amplifying the dread coursing through his veins.
"Tell me you have a plan," Ridan said, his voice shaking.
"I always have a plan," Nova replied, her tone steady. "But you might not like it."
"Why does that not surprise me?"
Nova tilted her head one last time, her projection shimmering faintly. "Because you're learning to trust me."