Isaac
I can’t tear my eyes away from the holographic display, now back to normal after my father’s last line.
I barely had time to see a tear slip down his cheek.
Then that silence—like a goodbye—is still stuck in my throat, still driving that sharp ache into my chest.
I drop my gaze.
“Newton, turn off Holog.”
“Confirmed. Powering down.”
I leave the room.
My Personal buzzes again.
Jameth. Another call.
I sigh and answer as I head down the stairs.
His hologram is crisp—brow furrowed, chin tucked, all sharp edges. He’s mad. The close-up is too tight, almost suffocating.
“Why’d you block my direct link? And why did you reject my calls earlier?”
I reach the door and open the shoe cabinet. The two Robodomes glide closer. Ar-Dee-Bee asks, “Everything okay, Isaac?”
“Yeah. Back to the service room, you two. Thanks.”
They obey, and I turn back to Jameth.
“Which question do you want me to answer first?” Sarcasm slips out before I can stop it.
“I’m not gonna lie… that hurt.”
“Jam, not now. I’ve got things to handle.”
I shove my shoes on. Time gnaws at my stomach. I need to get him off by back—fast. Clean. No mistakes.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Not now. I told you.”
One hard swipe and I end the call. His hologram vanishes.
I open the door—
“Surprise…”
“Just what I needed…”
Bad choice of words. The twist in his face leaves me no room to pretend. I hurt him.
“Jam, I can’t right now…” It comes out like an impatient exhale.
“And later?”
“Not later either. I’ve got a thousand things to do, okay?”
I’m about to step forward when Jameth slips between me and the doorway. I stop him with my forearm across his chest before he crosses the threshold and shove him back outside.
“Jameth, I’m leaving.”
“Where?”
“None of your business.”
“You’re sweating. You’re keyed up. You’re hiding something. Either you tell me what’s going on or—”
“Or what?”
He shrugs. “Just tell me.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, fingers pressed between my eyes.
“I have to go get Elis. If you actually care about me… and about her…” I tilt my head a fraction. “Let me do what I have to do.”
Jameth nods, but the way he bites his lower lip is a warning.
“First you confide in me, then you shut me out. Great friend.”
He turns and walks off, rigid.
His heavy steps say it all—hurt and disappointed.
“Jam, wait.”
He doesn’t turn.
“Jam!”
He keeps ignoring me, and I’m forced to chase him a good twenty meters.
“I’m sorry. I mean it.” I catch up and grab his wrist with my left hand. “Just—wait.”
My Personal vibrates hard against my forearm—right there between us. A red light starts flashing, urgent.
We both stare at it.
MESSAGE FROM NEWTON
BIOMETRIC RECOGNITION FAILED
Someone’s trying to access my system.
I release Jameth’s wrist.
Two quick taps, and I pull up the exterior feed tile on my Personal—my room.
No.
Alexian is there—trying to access my system.
How did you get in?
I smack my forehead. The door’s timed lock. Those five seconds between the command and the seal. My back turned before I ran upstairs.
Clever girl.
Never trust Alexian. Too sharp. Too stubborn. Too beautiful.
I sprint back inside, race through the entryway, and jump onto the moving staircase.
Upstairs, I find her stuck outside Elis’s locked room, caught in a clumsy, pointless attempt at hiding. Another complication. Another person I have to manage.
“What are you doing here?” I force myself to sound genuinely angry.
“I can explain—”
“There’s nothing to explain. You broke into my house and tried to get into my system.”
Both our Personals flash: SWIM LESSON.
In the same quick motion, perfectly synced, we clear the notification.
“I’m worried about you. You’ve been acting weird for days.”
“Don’t twist it. You weren’t supposed to—”
The sentence dies in my throat. Cold sweat slides down my forehead.
“How long have you been here?”
She drops her gaze.
“Long enough…”
“Long enough to hear the end of my call with my dad?”
Her eyes drop even lower.
“Long enough to hear all of it. I think.”
One problem on top of another. Perfect.
“I didn’t catch every detail, but what your father said… sounds like a really clean way to get yourself killed.”
By the Rausen’s statue—I snap, even stamping my foot. “You just got me in serious trouble. There are things that are complicated to explain—and even harder to understand.”
She looks at me like I’ve lost it.
“Alexian… you need to stay out of this. And more than anything—you need to keep quiet.”
“How can I, now that I know?”
“Alexian… no.”
“It sounds insane. You can’t actually do this.”
“I have to. It matters. Too much.”
Her eyes look wet. It’s the last thing I want to see right now.
“Alexian.” I grab her arms—firm. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
Silence.
“You hear me?”
“No,” she says flatly, pulling free of my grip. “This is absurd. How am I supposed to stay quiet, knowing what you’re about to do? Do you realize what you’re asking?”
“Yes. But if you knew what’s behind it—”
“What could be behind it, Isaac? Where’s the guy who calculates everything, who measures every margin of error before he moves?”
She doesn’t even let me answer.
“And your dad—the respected Director of Video-Security…”
I don’t know what to say. I just stand there, stuck on her green eyes—now bright with sadness.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
I take her by the arm and guide her out of the room—
Jameth.
And he’s even angrier than before.
“Now I want an explanation!”
I drag my hands down my face. This is it.
“Apparently breaking into other people’s houses is the new normal.”
He shrugs like he’s innocent.
“You left the door open. And you’re acting weird.” He looks at Alexian; she nods. “We’re just worried about you.”
I can’t keep them out anymore.
Or maybe I can?
They only know a sliver of the story. I could shut this down hard, right here.
But would they stop?
I don’t think so.
“Fine,” I say. “Then come with me.”
I head back to my room.
“Newton, turn on Holog.”
A thin line of light traces my retina. Then a second scan—my palm. Double confirmation. Access granted.
I look at them.
“What I’m about to show you doesn’t leave this room.”
