Chapter 14 — Between Fire and Silence
The sun had barely risen, but the forest still smelled of smoke. Birds scattered overhead as Adanna and Kene emerged from the trees, covered in mud and breathing hard.
They didn't speak for a long time. The world around them felt different now—like something had broken and could never be put back together.
Adanna clutched the flash drive so tightly it left a mark on her palm. "We can't keep running like this," she said finally, her voice low and raw.
Kene nodded, scanning the road ahead. "There's an old church about five miles from here. My contact left supplies there once. If it's still standing, we'll rest there."
She looked at him, exhaustion in her eyes. "And after that?"
He didn't answer.
They started walking along a narrow dirt path. The morning light slipped through the trees, soft and golden, but nothing about the day felt safe. Every sound — every snapping twig or shifting leaf — made Adanna flinch.
Kene kept glancing back. "They'll follow Tara's trail, not ours," he said, almost convincing himself.
Adanna stopped. "You really think she survived?"
Kene turned slowly. "Tara's smart. She wouldn't go down easily."
"But she went alone."
His silence said the rest.
They reached the edge of the forest hours later. A rusted sign leaned sideways by the road: St. Michael's Mission, Apo Hill — 2 KM.
Adanna exhaled in relief. "Finally."
Kene led her down the rocky road, past scattered huts and an abandoned checkpoint. The church appeared like a ghost on the horizon — roof half-collapsed, windows shattered, but the front doors still intact.
Inside, dust floated in the air like forgotten prayers. A wooden cross lay broken on the floor.
Kene checked the back rooms while Adanna sank into a pew, feeling the weight of everything that had happened.
In the quiet, her mind replayed Tara's words — You should have stayed out of it, Ada.
A part of her wanted to believe Tara meant well. Another part knew that lies always came wrapped in half-truths.
Kene returned with a small backpack. "Food. First aid. A power bank."
Adanna nodded, staring at the flash drive. "We can't plug it in again, can we?"
"Not until we're sure it's safe." He paused, watching her. "You did good back there."
She almost laughed. "Good? We lost everything."
"No," he said softly. "Not everything."
Their eyes met. For a moment, the air between them was still. Then the church bell above them swayed in the wind, ringing faintly — once, twice.
Adanna stood. "If this place is abandoned, who's moving the bell?"
Kene was already reaching for his gun. "Stay down."
Footsteps echoed from the upper floor — slow, deliberate. Dust fell from the ceiling.
Adanna's heart pounded. She crouched behind a pew, watching Kene climb the creaking stairs. The footsteps stopped.
"Kene?" she called softly.
No answer.
The silence stretched too long. She stood, taking a cautious step toward the stairs — and froze when a voice came from above.
"You shouldn't have come here."
It wasn't Kene's voice.
The next second, a loud crash shattered the quiet — wood splintering, something heavy hitting the ground.
Adanna rushed up the stairs, fear twisting in her chest. The hallway was narrow, lit only by cracks of daylight through the roof.
At the end, Kene stood facing a man dressed in dark tactical gear — face hidden behind a mask. The stranger held a pistol aimed straight at him.
Adanna froze.
"Drop the gun," the man ordered. His accent was crisp, northern. "We just want the drive."
Kene's eyes flicked toward her — just once — then back at the man. "You're wasting your time. It's not here."
"That's a lie."
Adanna's pulse thundered. She slipped her hand into her pocket, feeling the flash drive. It was still there.
Kene took a small step forward. "You're working for the same people who tried to erase me."
The man tilted his head slightly. "No. I work for the ones cleaning up their mess."
Then he moved — fast.
Kene lunged, knocking the gun aside. The shot went wild, blasting into the wall. Adanna ducked, her ears ringing.
The two men struggled — fists, grunts, and broken furniture crashing to the floor. The masked man was stronger, trained, but Kene fought like someone who'd been running for his life too long to give up now.
Adanna grabbed a broken piece of wood and struck the man's arm. He stumbled, just enough for Kene to twist the gun away.
"Who sent you?" Kene demanded, breathless.
The man laughed under his mask. "You already know. You just don't want to admit it."
Kene's finger tightened on the trigger.
"Don't!" Adanna shouted. "He's not worth it!"
Kene hesitated — that one second of humanity — and the man used it. He kicked the gun, sending it skidding across the floor, then smashed through the broken window, disappearing into the trees below.
Kene leaned against the wall, breathing hard. "We need to move again. They found us."
Adanna nodded weakly. "Then where do we go?"
He looked at her, and for the first time, there was fear in his eyes. "There's only one person left who can decrypt this safely."
"Who?"
Kene's voice dropped. "The man who created Project Void."
Adanna's stomach turned cold. "He's alive?"
Kene gave a grim nod. "And he's been waiting for me."
Outside, the wind howled through the broken church, carrying the echo of that single word — waiting.