Cristy Island. Gerald Scofield sat alone in his study, enjoying a quiet early morning with a cup of coffee in his hand. He took another sip when his phone suddenly rang. After staring briefly at the unknown number, he finally picked up. The voice on the other end immediately made the corner of his lips curve into a smile. “It’s been a while, son.” He muttered. Michael gave him a quick greeting before getting straight to the reason for the call. He explained everything that had happened since leaving Fog Island, including their current situation. They were hiding in Vince City, Nexara, the largest and busiest harbor city in the confederacy. Its huge population and constant activity had allowed them to disappear into the city's slums, where they had managed to rent a small shelter for everyone from the cargo ship. But Michael knew they couldn't stay there for long. The UCA had influence in the city, and if they were discovered, innocent people could get caught in whatever happened

At the entrance of an expensive boutique extension in the middle-class district, Mira stood outside with Michael and Lawrence. It was called V Boutique, and the building itself looked completely different from the stores in their neighborhood. Its glass doors were spotless, the walls were decorated with elegant designs, and the displays inside showed expensive clothing arranged neatly beneath bright lights. Mira looked at the entrance and sighed, “I can't believe we're actually doing this.” Michael glanced at her, “Don't fret. We'll cover their losses when we get back home.” Mira gave him an uncertain look. “I never thought I'd see you go down such a path, brother.” “What are you talking about? It's only temporary.” Lawrence stood nearby, trying not to laugh. He knew exactly what they were about to do, and he wasn't sure whether the boutique's staff would ever understand what had happened. They waited outside for the right moment. The goal was to avoid unnecessary attention, s

Michael opened his door slightly when he saw the vehicle ahead, "Keep driving." He told Barry. Barry glanced at him. "What are you planning?" Michael didn't answer. As the vehicle approached, he leaned forward and released a controlled burst of blue energy against the road. The force lifted the front of the pursuing vehicle just enough to send it crashing into a stack of empty crates. Barry drove past before the debris could block their path. Behind them, the remaining military vehicles continued chasing, refusing to give up. Barry finally spotted an opening and took it. He turned into a narrow service road that ran behind several buildings. The road was barely wide enough for their vehicle, but it allowed them to disappear from the main streets. He switched off the headlights and slowed down. Everyone became quiet, they could hear the sound of the vehicles passing the entrance they had just used. Michael looked at Barry, "Don't move yet." They waited for several minutes to pas

Michael continued to stare at his hands, covered in blood. The sight seemed to pull him away from everything around him. The abandoned UCA vehicles, the smoke rising from the road, the distant crackle of the burning car, all of it faded into the background. He could only see his hands. His fingers trembled slightly as he turned them over, staring at the blood smeared across his palms and between his fingers. He had fought before, he had killed before, he had done things during the war that he never thought he would be capable of doing. But this felt different. He had arrived too late, and then unleashed everything he had been holding back on the people responsible. It wasn't a calculated move… His emotions had simply gotten the best of him, and he knew that. His breathing became faster. He drew in a breath, but it wasn't enough. Another followed, even shorter than the first. Michael began to hyperventilate as he stared at his hands, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Then he h

Michael and Celia continued to stare at each other. Neither of them said a word. For a few seconds, the noise around them seemed to disappear. Michael had spent months wondering if he would ever see her again. He had been trapped on Fog Island, nearly died because of the fusion core, escaped the collapsing island, survived the Blackwater Expanse, and then spent days hiding in the slums of Vince City. Through all of it, there had always been another problem waiting for him. But now, standing in front of Celia, he suddenly felt like a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Seeing her again made him forget about everything else, even if only for a moment. He wanted to hug her right there and tell her how much he had missed her. He wanted to ask how she had been, where she had been, and why she was here. But he couldn't. "Surprise." John leaned slightly toward Celia with a smile, "I know you two haven't seen each other in a long time, so I arranged for you to assist me tonig