As they walked through the grime-covered streets, Synthia’s unease grew with every step. The boy led them with quiet confidence, slipping through alleyways and shadowed paths as though he had memorized every twist and turn. Despite her trust in his knowledge, she couldn’t help but wonder where they were heading—and what lay ahead.

  Nova kept pace beside her, her bright eyes darting between the boy and the streets. “Where do you think he’s taking us?” she whispered.

  “No idea,” Synthia replied quietly. “But he seems to know.”

  Helix trailed behind them, his sharp gaze scanning their surroundings for potential threats. “We’d better not be walking into a trap,” he muttered.

  At last, the boy stopped in front of what appeared to be an ordinary wall. Without hesitation, he pressed his palm against the surface and made a series of precise gestures. A faint beep echoed through the air, and with a soft hiss, a hidden door slid open.

  “Whoa,” Nova whispered, stepping closer. “How’d he know about this?”

  The boy didn’t respond. He motioned for them to follow, and they stepped inside, leaving the grimy streets behind.

  The difference was stark. The tunnel they entered was pristine, lit by a soft, ambient glow. The metallic walls were smooth and seamless, and the intricate patterns on the floor pulsed faintly, casting shifting geometric shapes onto the walls.

  “Escape, tunnel,” the boy signed, breaking Synthia’s reverie. She used this time to also send a command to her nexus that would translate the boy's signs to the other using their family chat channel.

  “How do you know about this place?” Synthia signed back, her movements careful as she tried to keep up with him. Her practice with sign language was paying off, but it still took her effort to interpret his rapid gestures and upload them.

  “Training,” he replied, using a single, sharp sign.

  Helix frowned, his voice low and thoughtful. “This is a VIP evac tunnel. We were trained in how to use them during emergencies, but no one told us where they were located.”

  Nova leaned closer to one of the glowing patterns on the floor. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured. “But... who trained him? Why would a kid know this?”

  Synthia’s eyes shifted back to the boy. His steps were slower now, his posture drooping. He looked pale, his breaths shallow. Concern flared in her chest, and she signed, Are you okay?

  He looked up sharply, his eyes shining with unshed tears.His hands trembled as he signed back, You can talk. I’m mute, not deaf. The message caught her off guard as she was sure when she first met the boy he couldn’t understand verbal communication. She nodded quickly, softening her voice. “Sorry, I didn’t know. But are you... okay?”

  He gazed at her, his expression unreadable., and for a moment, she thought he might not answer. Then, with shaky hands, he signed: Zero was right. We are not ready.

  “Zero?” Nova asked, her curiosity instantly awoke. “Who’s Zero?”

  Synthia crouched slightly to meet the boy’s eyes. “What do you mean? Who is Zero, and what weren’t you ready for?”

  The boy hesitated, his fingers twitching as though unsure whether to respond. Finally, he signed: Zero is my father. He said we were not ready to meet humanity. So we ran away.

  Helix folded his arms, his brow furrowing. “Wait—you said ‘we.’ What happened to the others?”

  The boy’s shoulders sagged further. For a long moment, he didn’t move. Then, without warning, a glowing white orb emerged from his chest. It hovered in the air like a small, sentient sun, casting a soft light over the group.

  “What the—” Nova gasped, stepping closer to the orb. “It’s... alive. I can feel it.”

  The boy raised his hands again, his gestures slow and deliberate. This is the other, he signed.

  “The other?” Synthia echoed, staring at the orb. Her Nexus flickered faintly as it registered the object’s proximity, but it couldn’t identify what it was.

  Synthia blinked, momentarily speechless. “Infy?” she repeated aloud. She didn’t know how she knew its name but she did.

  The orb bobbed once as if nodding, before darting back toward the boy. It reabsorbed into his body, and he staggered slightly, his exhaustion evident.

  Synthia exchanged a glance with Nova and Helix, trying to process what had just happened. The boy leaned against the wall, his eyes drooping, his energy visibly spent.

  “Look, whatever this is,” Helix said, his voice firm, “he’s about to pass out. We need to stop for now and let him rest.”

  Synthia hesitated, her thoughts spinning. She had so many questions—about the boy, about Infy, about this “Zero” and what he had warned them about. But she couldn’t push him any further tonight.

  “Okay,” she said softly, resting a hand lightly on the boy’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out later.”

  The boy didn’t resist. His breathing slowed, and within moments, he had drifted into a restless sleep.

  Nova crouched beside him, her eyes still wide with wonder. “What is he?” she whispered. “And what’s the orb?”

  Synthia shook her head. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice heavy with uncertainty. “But whatever they are, they’re not from anything we’ve seen before.”

  Helix glanced toward the tunnel’s glowing patterns, his expression grim. “We’re in over our heads,” he said. “If this is where he’s been leading us, we’d better be ready for what’s waiting on the other side.”