The old lab's silence was deafening after the machine's roar faded. Dust motes hung in the air, catching the dim glow of emergency lights. Mei Lin's hand was still in Adrian's, their fingers locked tight, as if letting go might unravel whatever fragile control they'd wrested from the Spark. Her pulse thrummed against his skin, mirroring the faint hum that lingered in the room—like a beast gone back to sleep, but not for long.
"You okay?" Adrian asked, his voice rough, eyes searching her face. The intensity in his gaze made her chest tighten, not from the Spark but from something warmer, more human.
She managed a crooked smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face with her free hand. "Define 'okay.' I just got mind-melded with a sci-fi nightmare machine, and I'm pretty sure my heart's still doing cartwheels. You?"
He exhaled, a sound that was half laugh, half relief. "I've had better Tuesdays."
Their hands parted slowly, reluctantly, and the hum dimmed further, as if sulking. Mei Lin rubbed her palm, feeling the ghost of his touch. "That figure… they knew too much. About the Spark, about us."
Adrian nodded, holstering his gun but keeping his stance alert. "They're not done. But neither are we." He glanced at the machine, its metal frame now dark and silent. "We need to get back to the tower, secure the folder, and figure out what Elena Grey left behind."
Mei Lin's eyes narrowed. "You mean what she left in us."
He didn't argue, which was answer enough. They moved toward the lab's exit, stepping over shattered drones and melted steel. The night air outside was crisp, carrying the faint tang of rust and rain. The city skyline glowed in the distance, a reminder of the world waiting beyond their private war.
In the car, Mei Lin leaned her head against the window, the hum a soft murmur in her chest. "You ever think about running away from all this?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual. "Just… leaving the tower, the files, the creepy masked people behind?"
Adrian's hands tightened on the wheel, his profile sharp against the passing streetlights. "Every day. But it's not that simple."
"Why not?" She turned to him, her eyes catching the light. "What's stopping you? Money? Power? Or just stubbornness?"
He glanced at her, a flicker of amusement breaking through his usual stoicism. "You think I'm stubborn?"
"Oh, please." She rolled her eyes, a grin tugging at her lips. "You're like a brick wall with a fancy suit."
He snorted, the sound so unexpected it made her laugh outright. "And you're what? A wrecking ball with a knife?"
"Hey, I'm precise chaos," she shot back, leaning closer, her voice teasing. "You could learn a thing or two."
The tension from the lab eased, replaced by a warmth that felt dangerously close to normal. For a moment, they weren't two people tied to a dangerous experiment—they were just Adrian and Mei Lin, trading barbs in a car speeding through the night.
"Precise chaos," he repeated, shaking his head. "That's one way to describe you."
She smirked, kicking her boots up on the dashboard. "Better than 'corporate robot,' Mr. Li."
He arched an eyebrow, glancing at her feet. "You're getting dirt on my car."
"Good. It needs some personality." She wiggled her boots for emphasis, and he let out a long-suffering sigh that only made her grin wider.
The hum stayed quiet, as if content to let them have this moment. They drove in companionable silence for a while, the city's lights painting their faces in fleeting colors. Mei Lin's thoughts drifted to her village—rice fields, the smell of rain, her grandmother's laughter. She wondered if she'd ever see it again, or if the Spark had rewritten her future.
Adrian's voice pulled her back. "We'll stop for food. You look like you're about to pass out."
She blinked, then scoffed. "Wow, romantic. You really know how to charm a girl."
He shot her a look, the corner of his mouth twitching. "I'm practical. Starving doesn't help us fight."
"Fine, but I'm picking the place," she said, already scrolling through her phone. "There's a noodle cart near the tower. Best dumplings in the city, and the owner doesn't ask questions."
He raised an eyebrow. "You trust street food?"
"I trust my stomach," she said, patting it with mock pride. "It's survived worse than you."
That earned another rare laugh, low and warm, and Mei Lin felt a flutter that had nothing to do with the Spark. She pushed it down, focusing on the neon signs flashing by. No time for feelings—not when masked figures and ancient experiments were breathing down their necks.
The noodle cart was a glowing oasis in a quiet alley, its steam curling into the night air like a dragon's breath. The owner, a wiry man named Mr. Chen, greeted Mei Lin with a gap-toothed grin. "You're back! And with a fancy friend this time."
Adrian, still in his tailored jacket, looked hilariously out of place as he studied the cart's menu scrawled on a chalkboard. "Fancy?" he muttered, glancing at Mei Lin.
She smirked, handing him a pair of chopsticks. "Own it, rich boy."
Mr. Chen cackled, sliding two steaming bowls of dumplings across the counter. "She's trouble, this one. Keep up, suit guy."
Adrian took the bowl, his expression caught between amusement and mild offense. "I'm trying."
They sat on rickety stools, the hum a distant murmur as they dug into the food. The dumplings were perfect—savory, warm, with just enough spice to make Mei Lin sigh happily. "Told you," she said, pointing her chopsticks at Adrian. "Better than your tower's fancy cafeteria."
He chewed thoughtfully, then nodded. "Not bad. For street food."
She gasped, mock-offended. "Not bad? These are life-changing!"
He leaned back, a rare grin breaking through. "Life-changing might be a stretch."
"Oh, you're hopeless," she said, tossing a napkin at him. It hit his chest and fell to the ground, and he raised an eyebrow, picking it up with exaggerated care.
"Precise chaos, huh?" he said, his voice teasing.
She laughed, the sound bright and unguarded, and for a moment, the weight of Project Lupus, the Spark, and the masked figure faded. They were just two people eating dumplings in an alley, trading jabs like old friends. The hum pulsed softly, as if approving.
But peace never lasted long.
Adrian's phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with another encrypted alert. His grin vanished as he read it. "The tower's been hit. Minor breach, but they're targeting the vault."
Mei Lin's chopsticks froze mid-air. "The folder?"
"Gone," he said, his voice tight. "They knew exactly where to look."
She stood, her bowl clattering on the counter. "Then we're not safe here."
He was already moving, tossing cash to Mr. Chen. "We need to get back. Now."
As they ran to the car, the hum surged, sharp and urgent, like a warning bell. Mei Lin's heart raced, not just from the run but from the realization that the Spark wasn't just in them—it was calling to something, or someone, else.
In the distance, thunder rumbled, and the first drops of rain hit the pavement.