When time is tight, you decide. You step forward… or you stay behind and run in circles.
The sky was heavy—gray, almost still. One of those skies that presses down on everything. The rain wasn't here yet, but it was coming. And if it started now… everything could tip. Sensors thrown off. Drones recalibrated. Flight paths changed.
A window, just one.
Inside the apartment, the air felt thick, storm-charged. The fan squeaked, pushing uneven bursts of heat. Sophie dumped the contents of a bag onto the coffee table in one sharp, fast motion: water bottle, gloves, flashlights, batteries, bars, rope, carabiners.
She lined everything up too perfectly. Good thing she'd learned to climb before Kaissa shut all the gyms down. Her fingers already knew what to do.
They can ban the places… not what they taught us.
And out there… she was going to need it.
We don't know what we'll find on the other side…
Her fingers barely trembled. It wasn't fear yet. It was… the before.
Aria, crouched by the closet, dug through clothes without mercy.
"Too bright… too stiff… useless…"
She stopped.
"There."
Black pants—flexible—and a thin hooded jacket. The fabric slid through her fingers.
"Invisible outfit. Maximum discretion."
"Discretion, sure… but comfort first," Jazz said from the table.
His voice was low, almost careful.
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"Comfort? You think we're going on a cute little walk?"
"If you have to run… it's better to avoid painful chafing in the crotch area."
Silence.
Then Sophie let out a short, nervous laugh—almost surprising. It felt good for one second, then everything dropped again.
Aria's phone buzzed.
Numa: I'm here in 15 minutes. I've got what you need.
Sophie's heart sped up. Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes where her life still kind of looked normal.
After that… it would be something else.
Sophie closed the bag carefully. Her thoughts slid toward Numa for just a second. He was always so calm, so sure.
Why is he never scared?
She looked away almost immediately.
Her heart was beating too fast, but not because of the mission. She cleared her throat, like she could push the thought out of her body.
Not now, Sophie. Not the moment…
A little later, someone knocked: three quick knocks. Aria opened without hesitation. Numa walked in, and with him: the outside : hot metal, dust, city.
He dropped his bag on the table.
"Here. Your one-way tickets."
Two perfect badges. Sophie took hers. The plastic pressed back against her fingers, the weight so light it almost felt unreal.
"They look real…"
"That's the point. And actually—they ARE real. The assistant I told you about."
Numa finished with a wink. Sophie didn't really smile. She dropped her gaze to the badge.
Ugh. He annoys me—and it's worse today…
"Codes are valid today only. Zone B, with the tech crew. Avoid Zone A… or you'll get flagged instantly."
Aria nodded.
"And if we have to improvise?"
Numa looked straight at her.
"You're going to improvise."
A beat passed, then he kept going faster.
"You follow the techs near the north barrier. At some point, they'll pass behind to check the wiring."
He lifted one finger.
"That's it. Your ONLY opening."
"How long?" Sophie asked.
"One minute. Maybe less."
The word hung there—one minute…
"Do not stop. Do not look back. You go into the crack and you GO. That's it!"
And you hope, Numa thought.
"And if they start looking for us?" Aria asked.
"You make up an excuse. You forgot something. You're confused. You hesitate. You got lost—because you're cute but kind of dumb. You know the vibe…"
He paused.
"You're volunteers. Nobody expects you to be brave, skilled, or actually hardworking."
It stung. But it was true.
"And after?" Sophie asked.
Numa inhaled.
"After… you're alone. Really alone."
He looked at them one by one.
"Be clear about one thing: we know NOTHING about what's inside that crack."
"Is it passable? Did they block it? Is it growing?"
Then, sharper:
"Cave-ins possible. Police presence… likely. Cameras? Very likely."
His stare pinned them.
"Out there… it's full exploration. So you TEST."
"And you only move… as far as you can see."
"Listen to me."
His tone changed.
"We know NOTHING about nothing."
"I'll stay in the crowd. I'll watch the feeds, the cameras, the comms."
"And if it goes sideways?"
"You get a short message from me. I'll text stop, fallback, danger—and I'll do my best to create a distraction."
Jazz lifted his antenna slightly.
"Program me too for 'danger, Aria.'"
"Explosion, police, panic, abnormal silence."
Numa locked eyes with Jazz.
"In every case: FALL BACK."
Jazz's tail gave one small flick.
"I'm coming with you," Jazz announced.
Sophie turned fast.
"No—"
"Yes."
LED steady, tone neutral, Jazz continued.
"I have thermal vision, GPS, I'm waterproof, and I have silent mode."
Pause.
"And if you leave me here… I'll follow you anyway."
Aria's mouth twitched into a smile.
"Obviously."
Sophie hesitated.
"We're not supposed to carry a bot…"
"On the other side, we'll be lost," Aria said. "Jazz can guide us."
Jazz blinked.
"I can also be quiet. Which, apparently, is a rare talent."
"We hide him," Aria decided, sliding him into one of the backpacks. "He doesn't come out until after the crossing—or inside the crack if it's dangerous."
"And if we get checked?" Sophie asked.
"Inert object," Jazz replied. "I can be VERY convincing. Estimated success rate: 83%."
No one commented. Numa nodded slowly.
"Okay… but ultra-low profile."
Far away, thunder rolled. The storm was coming.
Much higher up, in Skyward… another preparation was happening. Neris didn't shake. Her movements were precise, measured, cold. She checked every drone, every rotor, every connection.
On the screen projected onto the wall: red zones, blind spots, moving trajectories.
"Delta corridor… thirty-two seconds."
Her voice was calm, almost detached. But her eyes… weren't. A framed photo caught her gaze: two kids, a garden, a blue kite. She looked away. Her insert buzzed.
It was Kaissa.
She answered.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes."
"Where are you going?"
A beat.
"None of your business."
The tension spiked instantly.
"The world runs on rules," Kaissa said. "We control to protect."
"You just control," Neris corrected.
Silence.
"You could be brilliant here with us. Your place is still open."
"Not in a cage."
"You'll come back."
This time, Neris barely smiled.
"No."
She cut the call. The silence afterward… was heavier than the conversation.
Neris turned back to the projection: rain approaching, simulation active.
An artificial curtain and thermal saturation.
"Thirty-two seconds…"
No more.
Kaissa's voice from their last fight still echoed:
I know you better than you know yourself.
Neris clenched her jaw.
"Not tonight. I'm not replaying that over and over."
She geared up—each motion precise, final.
This time… I'm not coming back.
Back at the apartment.
The three of them had gone over every possible scenario, every option, every risk. But that was before. Now they had to walk out the door. Numa extended his hand… then stopped, like he was about to say something.
He didn't.
And of course Sophie noticed.
Of course. Go on… say it.
Sophie closed her eyes for a second.
BUT NOTHING.
She forced a nervous smile.
"See you later."
But deep down… she knew. There wouldn't be any simple "later." She stepped out without knowing whether she wanted him to stop her… or let her go.
Outside, in the street, Aria and Sophie exchanged a look. One that didn't need words. Sophie reached out. Aria took her hand without hesitation.
"Whatever happens…"
"We stay together."
After a beat, Jazz—stuck in the bag—blinked softly.
"I hope you planned a scenario where I survive."
"Optional," Aria said with a faint snicker.
"Hard no."
A brief, fragile smile passed between them—then nothing. The air grew heavier, the sky lower.
And this time… it was real.
The countdown… had already started.
The Guardian Angel: Aria and Sophie thought they still had time to prepare, but some paths don't wait until you're ready. Sometimes you have to move forward through doubt. Step into reality. Step into life.
To be continued… 🔥
Thank you for reading. What you think matters to me.
✨ New chapter every Sunday
✨ Follow the story so you don't miss the next chapter.
And your feedback really helps my motivation: comment, like, and follow,
Elea 🤩
More echoes of this universe can be found here: https://linktr.ee/worldsreconciled