Part 4 : Hunted
Chapter 12 : BREAKING POINT
Outside the safehouse, gunfire broke out, shattering the darkness like lightning. Just as a pellet shot through the rustic wall where Ava's head had been, Kai pulled her down." Remain low!" he growled. Evan was hit by a duffle bag thrown by Noah." Go through the aft passage with her!" Evan reached for Ava's hand after putting the bag over his shoulder, but she quailed." Hold on! We are n't suitable to run indefinitely. We must have a strategy! Kai had keen eyes. Do you want a strategy? Make it through the coming five twinkles. The sound of a violating hammer slamming the frontal door echoed through the home with a metallic whang. Ava's heart pounded." They are going to succeed!" Kai looked across to Noah." Cover us." Take her, Evan.Ava felt the weight of a commodity unsaid between them all because of the way both men approached her formerly, tight, defensive, and disaccorded. Still, time was of the substance. Evan took hold of her wrist." Believe me, Ava." She broke. For a palpitation. also gave a nod. They took off running. There was a lattice in the far corner of the safehouse bottom. When Evan demurred it open, a little escape route dug out of the ground was visible. Ava was the first to descend. The frontal door gave way, and she heard it. Heavy thrills slogged in." detect SUBJECT WHITE," a voice yelled. SHOOT TO CONTAIN Ava felt her blood snap. She tried to grasp Evan's hand, but rather Evan was pushed down the waterfall by Noah's hand, and the lattice above them was strongly closed.
also there was a loud crash. And the howl of agony from Noah." NOAH!" said Ava. Evan took hold of her shoulders." We're unfit to return. He took that action to cover us. An explosion rattled the lair behind them. The air was filled with bank and dust. They were forced to flee.
Chapter 13 : THE COLD ocean
The escape lair came to an end at a rocky ledge with a view of Blackridge Bay's black swells. The wind was plaintively cold, and it smelled like swab and rain. A few seconds later, Kai surfaced, halting, bombarded, and with blood on his side." Where's Noah?" blatted Ava. Kai's aspect
drifted down." He — he remained before." Ava's heart contorted. Noah would n't simply — he's still alive. He must be. Kai remained silent.
She fiddled from shock and cold waves, and Evan wrapped an arm around her." Pay attention to me," Kai prompted in a further anxious tone than ahead." Your father will not give up just yet. He'll attack us with all of the Protocol's units. We can only travel to one position. Ava dabbed at her eyes." Where?" Kai signaled to the far horizon." The coastal fort." As a child, Ava had only heard the term formerly, in a tale between her parents when they assumed she was asleep. A retired islet. a central nervous system. A jail." Are we heading directly to him?" Ava murmured. Kai gave a nod. It's the only option. Are you looking for answers? Do you want this to end? We face the origin. Evan took her hand in his.
Evan jounced despite closing his eyes in agony. Lifting his wounded arm, Kai signaled to a secret niche beneath the jewels. Among the swells, a little survival boat bobbed." We accept that," he declared." But we must now dislocate." Ava was the first to descend the escarpments. She broke half of the boat. There was a sparkle in the water. A piece of essence that floats. She reached for it, her hand shaking. It was an emblem from the police. operative Noah Marlowe. Ava heaved for air." No." Evan got to her." Ava —" Her voice broke as she said," He did not make it."" He did n't —" Evan blurted out," He might still be alive."" But if they've him —" Kai intruded sprucely. They will not murder him just yet. He'll be used by them to reach Ava.Ava's anguish became more violent. rage. Decide." also we get him back," she angrily declared. After scrupling, Kai gave a single nod." We also do to the
stronghold."
Chapter 14 : OCEAN OF SECRETS
Ava's hair was whipped into her face by the wind as the boat sliced through the icy swell. With every muscle tense, Kai maneuvered. Evan sat coming to Ava and covered both of their shoulders with a mask to keep her warm." Are you okay?" he muttered." No," she actually said." But I will be." Evan swept a cinch of hair off her impertinence." You underestimate your strength." For a brief moment, the peril girding them subsided as she met his eyes. But when Kai remarked," We are close," the moment fell piecemeal. Grasping the rail, Ava stood.
There, arising from the ocean like an ancient beast's chine The Citadel. A massive sword, concrete, and black glass fort. The aqueducts were scrutinized by searchlights. Above the boundary, drones buzzed. An installation designed to keep secrets and break individualities. Despite the pulsing in her triumphs, Ava did n't retreat. She said," My father is in there." Kai cut the throttle." Not just him," he remarked." And someone differently." Ava made an unforeseen turn." Who?" Kai broke. Also she said the unanticipated words" Elias." Ava's heart stopped. "What?" Evan stood motionless. "Kai, don't do this." Kai had a somber demeanor. Elias did not drown. They had him. alive. Ava staggered back. "T-taken? My dad forced me to attend his funeral!Kai stated, "They needed you to think he was dead." Elias attempted to reveal the Protocol. Hiding him made more sense than killing him. Ava's knuckles turned white as she grasped the boat's edge. Evan's voice was hardly audible. "Kai. Quit. "No," Ava angrily said. "Complete it." Kai stared at her. "Elias is present. within the Citadel. He had also been anticipating your arrival. Ava gazed at the hideous stronghold. The water. The sky. The males next to her. There was silence. "If Elias is alive... what does that make me?" was Evan's next statement, which pierced right through the atmosphere. Kai remained silent. Since everyone was already aware that Evan wasn't merely present due to the Protocol.
Being Elias's twin wasn't the only reason he was present. He loved her, which is why he was here. And it's possible that Elias, her Elias, is still alive. The Citadel was getting closer. Evan's voice was raw, painful, and taut. "Ava, who will you pick when you see him?" Ava gazed into the shadows. Then the boat was struck by searchlights. Sirens roared.
"VESSEL 37A — CUT YOUR Machine," a loud voice said. YOU ARE GOING INTO A confined AREA. Kai swore." They located us! Get ready! As Ava reached for Evan's hand, a bullet crashed into the ocean next to them. The vessel capsized. Ava was slung into the chilly dark ocean, and as her cries were muffled by the water, she noticed a figure diving in after her. She was unfit to identify who, however. Evan. or Kai.
Part 5 :The Ghost in the Storm
The house was fully dark due to the power outage. The only sound for a little period was Maya's frenzied breathing. Also — through the quiet came another sound. A step. Take your time. heavy. deliberate. With his hand still clinging to the drape where he'd been looking outdoors, Ethan sat. His steady but tense voice faded to a tale." Remain behind me." As he passed in front of her, Maya's heart pounded. The home itself sounded to be holding its breath because of the thick air. The living area was compactly illuminated by a bolt of lightning. Maya noticed a shadow at the end of the corridor in that brief moment. observing them. The light suddenly went out. Once further, darkness. Maya's throat shut."E-Ethan
There's a person inside the house." I'm apprehensive," he murmured." I also saw him." One further step. closer this time. also came the voice, which was uncomfortably familiar, low, and mocking." Brother, it has been a long time." Maya tasted a cock in the world. My family? Like iron, Ethan's shoulders locked." You are not supposed to be then." The foreigner laughed." Oh, accelerate up. This is the greeting I admit after everything you stole and concealed from me? Maya murmured incredulously." Ethan, who's that?" Lightning flashed again before Ethan could respond; it was longer this time, as if the sky wanted Maya to see it. The man moved into the illumination. altitudinous. sharp characteristics. commodity ferocious filled the cold eyes. There was no denying the likeness to Ethan — the same intensity and jawline, but twisted with resentment. Look at Ethan's family like a man who has endured all forms of dusk. His teeth were too white in the darkness as he beamed." Allow me to completely introduce myself. My name is Adrian. The bone that Ethan acts as if Maya's breath is not caught. A family was mentioned by Ethan. No way, ever. Adrian gave her a sidelong regard." So you've been hiding for this purpose. An interesting decision. She appears. delicate. Ethan moved snappily forward." Do not involve her in this."" Why?" Adrian signed lazily and inquired." She's in it formerly." As he spoke, there was a blast above them, as if the sky disapproved. A bite went down Maya's chin." What are you looking for?" Adrian's eyes did n't meet his smile." What I earn." One further lightning strike.Adrian reached into his jacket. Ethan strengthened." Do n't." Still, it was too late. Adrian produced a bitsy point, a pendant made of tableware. old. swish. And surely novelettish. Maya gave a rustle. She knew what it was. It was the one she had only accidentally seen formerly, the one Ethan kept hidden in the hole he advised her no way to open. The bone with the initials E and A mixed together. For the first time, Ethan's voice broke." Adrian, please do not do this." Adrian tardy twirled the pendant." You kept the final gift from our mama for yourself. You left me to tidy up the mess our father made while you constructed your" new life." Do you really believe you can close the door now and act as though nothing has happened? Maya tasted a change in the atmosphere.
This was n't a get- together with family. It was a reckoning. Maya bothered if the windows would break as the storm outside came louder and the wind pounded them so hard. Adrian's face came stern." Ethan, you stole everything from me. And right now? He moved closer." I am stealing a commodity from you." Ethan artificially moved, using his whole body to block Maya." You are not making contact with her."" Oh, my family. I have formerly done so. The frontal door blasted open with a crash as lightning hit hard, transferring wind roaring through the home before Maya could comprehend what that meant, Ethan could respond, or either of them could move. Maya let out a laugh. Adrian faded into the confusion, leaving only his voice to loiter like a bank." Ethan, tick- tock. There is no important time left.The storm's force caused the door to smash shut formerly more. Quiet. Away from Maya's pulsing breaths. and her arms were touched by Ethan's shaking hands. His voice broke into a dread she had no way heard from him before as he rumored." Maya. Adrian does not only make pitfalls. Now you are in peril. Before he returns, I must tell you everything.
Part 6 : The Truth Ethan Never Wanted to Share
The unsettled silence felt heavier inside, indeed if the storm was raging outdoors. With her legs drawn up to her casket, Maya sat on the settee. Like a man being crushed by ghosts, Ethan paced the room. At last, he came to a halt, his hands shaking, his mouth tight, and his eyes filled with a grief she had no way of seeing in him." Maya, everything Adrian said is true." Her stomach fell." Begin at the morning," she murmured." Please." As though preparing to face a memory he did not want to readdress, he closed his eyes." Our pater was not a good man." He spoke in a concave voice. He was strong. dreaded. You did not cross him; he was the kind of man to whom people owed things.Growing up in that home also tutored me how to deal with his notoriety and his rage. Maya felt her heart grip. Ethan now mentioned his family. Noway." Adrian and I were each we had left when our mama failed," he went on. Still, we handled the loss in different ways. I made an attempt to get down from our father. Adrian tried to emulate him. He took a deep breath. Also the situation worsened. Adrian was constrained into the business by our father. the lawless aspect. the parlous aspect. Our father made Adrian pay for his turndown. Maya's eyes soaked with gashes." Ethan." " I could n't stay. I authentically ran down. I took what little plutocrat I had and dissolved. Adrian advised me not to bring him along, indeed though I was obliged to declare that he'd" handle it." claimed he did not bear deliverance. Ethan's knuckles paled as his fists tensed." After that, our father passed away. aggressively. I was criticized by Adrian. claimed that the spark that burned everything was his departure. Maya heaved for air." And the pendant?" He said," It's our mama 's." Before she — before she passed away — she handed it to us both. It meant that we'd always defend one another, we used to say. His voice broke. A while ago, I lost mine. Adrian must have discovered it. Maya smoothly touched his arm." Ethan, you took the necessary action."" No." His eyes were raw as he peered at her." I left him before. I believed that we'd be saved if we left. Still, it did nothing but drive him further into the shadow our father had cast over him.Emotionally charged silence descended. Maya's voice was quiet. How come you in no way told me? Her casket pained as she said," Because I did not want you to see me as someone worth running from." She seized his hand. He looked at her as if he was spooked to believe her when she said," I am not running." Still, they both jumped when there was an unforeseen beating on the roof. It was not thunder. steps were heard. Take your time. heavy. thoughtful. Maya gave a rustle." He is back —" Ethan took her hand." We must reach the basement. Now, still, the steps accelerated as they crossed the roof and made their way to the reverse of the house. A bite went through Maya's entire body. She said," He is trying to get in." Suddenly, there was a metallic scraping sound coming from the kitchen.Under his breath, Ethan cursed." He discovered the latch." The lights wavered. passed down. Darkness swallowed them again. Maya gripped Ethan's arm." What's it that he wants from me? Why should I be involved? Maya tasted a reality that Ethan had n't expressed during his disinclination." Tell me, Maya." He let out a pulsing breath. " He's not just angry at me… SHe's worried because I discovered a commodity that he believes is his. commodity significant. And he thinks that if I injure you, I will have to return it." What did you discover?" she claimed. Ethan spoke up BANG! The door to the kitchen flew open. Through the windows, lightning flashed. And in that one intimidating flash of light.Adrian was standing at the kitchen doorway when Maya noticed him. Still, he was not by himself. Someone differently was being pulled in like a bait by his hand; they were tied, bruised, and gagged. Maya felt her blood snap. Ethan's whole body strengthened. Adrian gave a chilly smile." Do you miss me?" The lightning struck. The darkness came back. The words that sprung from Maya's mouth were rumored —" Oh my God. Ethan He brought the enforcer for your father. The man who ought not to have survived. The man Ethan formerly claimed to be most hysterical of. And from the darkness came Adrian's voice" Brother, it's time to put the history behind you. One way or another.