Kai Langford - August 2120
I've been running for so long I've lost all sense of time. The forest blurs around me, trees rushing past in streaks of green and shadow. I could've gone to the usual track, but right now I need space. Silence. No distractions. Just the sound of my breathing and the crack of twigs under my feet.
But even out here, the words won't stop echoing in my head.
Oh, daddy, I'll be waiting right where you want me.
They loop through my thoughts like a taunt.
Who the hell was he talking to? And what did he mean by waiting where he wants him?
I've been trying to keep my distance, trying to keep my feelings under control, keep him at arm's length so I don't get in too deep. But that doesn't make any of this hurt less. It doesn't stop the tight pull in my chest every time I think about it.
If anything, it makes it worse.
My pace slows, but my heartbeat doesn't. It thuds against my ribs, loud enough that I swear the whole forest can hear it. I drag a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the frustration twisting in my gut.
Ethan…He doesn't just get under my skin, he slips straight through every defence I've built. Maybe that's why those words cut so deep.
Maybe that's why I'm out here running like something's chasing me.
I stop beside a fallen tree, bracing my hands against my knees as I catch my breath. The forest is quiet around me, but inside my head everything is far too loud.
Ethan's voice. His smile. His reckless warmth towards me.
And those words I wish I could forget.
My shadows pulse at my feet, stirred by the mess in my chest. They echo what I don't say, what I can't say.
I shouldn't care this much. I shouldn't feel this… possessive. It's not who I'm supposed to be. A Special Division Operator is meant to be in control, steady, unmovable. But around him, every rule I've had been drilled into me starts to crack.
I straighten, clenching my jaw.
If he's letting someone talk to him like that…
My shadows curl tighter.
Suddenly something in me snaps. The frustration hits a breaking point, and before I can pull it back, my shadows lash out, sharp and instinctive. They strike the tree in front of me with a clean, violent sweep.
The trunk splits straight across the middle.
For a moment it hangs there, stunned, then it begins to fall, slow, heavy, dragging against the branches of the neighbouring tree as it goes. When it finally hits the ground, the thud echoes through the forest like a warning shot.
The sound jars me back into myself.
My breath clouds in the cooling air as I look around, pulse still pounding. The sky has already begun to darken, faint light filtering through the leaves. And as the quiet settles in again, a cold realisation slides over me.
I don't recognise anything around me.
At some point, I stopped paying attention to where I was going. Now I'm deep in the woods, shadows stretching long and unfamiliar across the ground.
And I have no idea where I am.
I exhale slowly, trying to steady myself. Stressing won't help. I've been in worse situations than getting lost in a forest, I keep reminding myself of that. But even so, the unease sits cold in my chest.
I push forward, picking a direction that feels roughly right. The school shouldn't be too far… I didn't think I'd run that long. But the trees look the same in every direction, tall silhouettes closing in as the light fades.
My boots crunch over leaves and broken branches. Every now and then, a twig snaps behind me. The shadows follow my steps, restless, sliding along the ground like they're searching for threats I can't see.
"It's fine" I mutter to myself. To them. To both of us.
If I can find the sea, I can follow it back. I know the school isn't far from the water. I just have to keep moving.
Minutes pass. Maybe more. The sky grows darker, the air cooler, and every sound seems louder now rustling leaves, distant birds settling for the night, my own breathing.
Then, finally… the faint sound of waves.
Relief nudges at me, small but real. I turn toward it, pushing through the underbrush until I break through the trees and spot the ocean glinting in the dying light.
"Good," I breathe out, straightening.
If I follow the clift edge, it should lead me back to the school grounds. At least… it should. I'm not completely certain, but staying still won't get me anywhere.
I take the first step along the bank, shadows curling protectively at my heels.
"I wonder if Ethan thinks I ran away" I mutter under my breath.
As I keep walking, a faint glimmer of lights appears in the distance. Then, through the thinning trees, the outlines of the old, abandoned school buildings come into view.
I've made it back. A small sigh of relief escapes me as I head toward the familiar grounds, my pace slowing as I take in the sight.
No sooner have I stepped onto the cracked pathway than Jack suddenly appears out of nowhere, sprinting straight toward me. Before I can react, he pulls a walkie-talkie from his pocket and starts speaking into it.
"New guy is back! I repeat, new guy is back!"
Static hisses for a moment, and then a voice cuts through, sharp and annoyed.
"Jack! What did we say about taking a walkie-talkie without asking?"
Jack mutters something under his breath, clicks the device off, and stuffs it back into his pocket.
He spins toward me, hands on his hips, and his expression is all sharp angles and irritation.
"Where have you been?!" His voice is tight, impatient.
"I just went out for a run," I reply evenly, careful not to let my frustration show.
He lets out a short, frustrated huff and jabs a finger at me.
"That's what the running track is for. You cannot leave the school grounds without informing me first."
I nod, hiding the surge of irritation behind calm eyes. Jack's thinks he rules the school and i'm fine playing along usually, but right now, I just want to shake off the tension from the forest, and Ethan's words, and get inside before the shadows start curling again.
I glance at him, keeping my voice steady. "Noted."
Jack narrows his eyes but doesn't press further, at least, not yet. I can feel the faint pull of the shadows at my feet, restless after the run and the forest. I ignore them, forcing my attention to the present.
"Come on" he says, motioning toward the main building. "Dinner's almost over, and Miriams kept a plate aside for you"
I follow, quiet, letting him chatter on about schedules and rules while I keep my focus outward. The school grounds are old, some buildings crumbling, paint peeling, but familiar enough to guide me. The forest feels farther away now, the dark spaces behind me shrinking with every step.
Jack falls into step beside me, muttering something about "reckless behaviour" and "protocol" but I don't respond. I've had enough for one day. I just want to make it inside, take a moment to breathe, and maybe think about Ethan without letting it spiral.
The shadows at my heels twist lightly, testing the edges of control, and I clamp down on them with a firm, silent command. They settle, though the tension lingers.
Inside the building, lights flicker, casting long angles across the hall. I feel a small sense of relief.
But even as I step into the warmth, Ethan's words echo faintly in my mind, uninvited and persistent: "I'll be waiting right where you want me."
I bite back a sigh and keep walking, finally turning my attention to Jack.
"Where's Ethan?" I ask, trying to keep my voice even. Maybe I should just ask him directly, let him explain whatever's going on.
Jack shrugs, nonchalant. "He's gone out into the city."
The words stop me dead in the corridor.
"The city? Why?" I demand, my pace faltering as the question slips out sharper than intended.
Jack blinks at me, confusion flickering across his face. "Erm… I don't know. Sometimes he just… goes there."
I feel the familiar pull of frustration coil in my chest, tightly controlled but undeniably there. Ethan doesn't owe me an explanation, but I can't stop myself from needing to know.
The city. That's not random. Ethan wouldn't just go there for no reason, right? Not where the Guardians and GeneX crawl around the place.
What if they find him? What if they take him away?
Panic spikes in my chest, sharp and fast, making my vision narrow. My breaths come shorter, tighter, but I force myself to swallow it down.
No. I can't let panic take over. I need to move. I need to get to him.
The thought of Ethan in someone else's hands is unbearable. Every instinct screams, go, now, don't wait, and I can't ignore it.
I take a deep, shuddering breath and look toward the exit. I need to go find him.
But I falter, My gut tightens as I replay the words I heard in my head earlier, the voice on the phone, the one that left a strange, dangerous taste in my chest.
Or am I just making excuses to go because he's going to meet that guy.
My fists clench at my sides, and I can feel the shadows stirring along the floor, eager, restless.
I feel conflicted, but either way, my mind is screaming to go and find him.
I don't even glance back at Jack, who is still stood there waiting for me to follow him.
I step toward the exit.
I'll get to him before he meets that guy. I won't let anyone touch him. Not him. Not anyone.
As I near the exit, Jack's shouting fades behind me, but then I almost collide with someone turning the corner.
"Whoa, steady there" Ray says calmly, scanning me from head to toe. Probably checking me over, seeing how long I've been gone.
He must catch the cracks in my mask, because his hand lands on my shoulder before I can react.
"I'm guessing you're going to look for Ethan?" he asks.
I nod, my jaw tight.
Ray lets out a small sigh and pats my shoulder. "If you want to find him, you'll need to shower first and put something decent on."
I frown. "Why do I need to do that?" My mind is already racing. I'm not here to dawdle, I just need to get to him.
Ray looks me over again, calm but firm. "Trust me. You won't be allowed near him like this."
I blink. "Won't be allowed near him?"
"Once you're ready, I'll take you. I'll find you some clean clothes as well." He gives a small, reassuring smile before heading off.
I stare after him, mind buzzing. Not allowed near him? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
A tight coil of determination forms in my chest. If I have to, I'll get past anyone. Anyone. No one is standing between me and Ethan.