Chapter 8

Chapter 6: Echoes in the Dark

Kriya ran through the narrow passageway, lit only byflickering red lights. Her heart thundered louder than her footsteps. The wallsseemed to breathe — pulsing with every step. The air grew colder, and somewheredeep within, she heard Rey’s voice.

“Kriya...?”

She turned a corner and found herself in a circularchamber. Chains dangled from the ceiling. In the center, Rey wasstrapped to a vertical platform, arms spread. A spotlight illuminated his face— bruised, but alert.

“Kriya!” His eyes widened. “It’s a trap. You shouldn’thave come!”

She rushed toward him. “I wasn’t going to let them takeyou!”

A siren wailed. Doors sealed behind her.

A mechanical voice boomed:
“Trust demands a price. Choose: Free him... or fight him.”

Suddenly, metal cuffs clamped around her wrists from thefloor. A shock jolted her — not enough to hurt, but enough to warn.

Rey struggled. “Don’t listen to them! This ismanipulation!”

A screen behind him showed a timer: 02:00 andcounting down.

Voice again:
“Only one can walk out of this room. Truth was easy. Loyalty is not.”

Kriya’s cuffs loosened. A baton slid from the wall intoher hand.

“No,” she whispered, stepping back.

Rey looked into her eyes. “Do what you have to.”

“I’m not playing their game.”

She turned, grabbed the baton — and threw it at thecamera above.

Sparks exploded.

The lights shut off.

For ten heartbeats, there was silence.

Then — a loud clang, and Rey dropped to theground, free. He ran to her, pulling her into his arms.

“You came for me,” he whispered.

“Always,” she breathed.

The walls rumbled as a hidden door slid open.

They had passed.

But neither saw the shadow watching them from the screen,smiling.

“Two hearts. One weakness.”