"Emma, it's time. They've appeared on the radar."

  I felt a surge of adrenaline and snapped my eyes open. On the screen of the notebook Neight was holding, two additional white dots had appeared in the corner, slowly moving closer to us. Estimating the time in my head, I concluded that they would be here in about ten minutes—or maybe even less.

  It's time to act! I thought, jumping to my feet to take my position.

  Neight also stood up, but each of his movements was precise and deliberate, a clear sign of his focus and control over the situation. We both took cover a few steps apart behind tall, dense green bushes, which served as a natural barrier separating the forested area from a small clearing. I realized that Neight had chosen this spot on purpose to give us a slight advantage if the enemy stepped into the open space.

  I also remembered that it was here where he had found me, muddy and drowning in despair on a rainy, gloomy day after I had fled. Not the warmest of memories, but it marked the real beginning of our cooperation.

  "Get ready. They're approaching," he warned.

  His voice was emotionless but intensely focused. It was clear that his attention was entirely on the upcoming battle—not surprising, given that his life was at stake.

  Okay, I can do this. I have to do this! All I need to do is distract them and buy us some time. That’s not so hard… right?

  Both of us readied our weapons, releasing the safety catches. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the right moment. I kept glancing at Neight, worried for him, and listened carefully to the sounds around us. For now, it was as quiet as it had been just minutes ago, when we’d been sitting peacefully together under the tree.

  A gust of wind. The rustle of leaves. A faint shuffle nearby and the crunch of grass.

  My heart started pounding again, like a wound-up spring. Just a minute ago, I thought I was ready for anything, but is it even possible to truly stay calm in such a situation?

  I glanced at Neight and saw him looking back at me. He nodded, signaling that only seconds remained before the strangers appeared. Then the bushes on the far side of the clearing rustled, and cautious footsteps moved in our direction.

  Praying silently to every god I could think of and taking a few deep breaths to keep myself from losing my mind to fear, I steeled myself and turned on the loudspeaker.

  "Stop where you are, or I’ll shoot!"

  To my immense relief, I heard the strangers halt immediately, complying with my demand. I tried to peer through the dense foliage, but the green barrier that kept me hidden also prevented me from seeing anything beyond it.

  "Please, don’t shoot us," came a calm female voice.

  It was steady and surprisingly… familiar, though I couldn’t place where I might have heard it before. My mind spun, gears turning frantically to dredge up the memory, which only gave me a headache. The voice itself felt odd—not harsh or unusual, but soft and feminine—yet somehow it made me uneasy, grating on my ears. There was a strange, inexplicable sense that this voice shouldn’t exist at all.

  "You must be Emma Grayson?" the stranger continued as I hesitated.

  "You know who I am?" I asked in return, trying to sound surprised while glancing at Neight to gauge the situation. He nodded slightly, signaling that everything was still going according to plan and urging me to continue. Meanwhile, he crouched down and began to carefully move, preparing to act.

  "Yes," the girl replied calmly, "we know who you are, and we’ve come here to help you."

  "Really? That’s great," I said, feigning enthusiasm. Keeping the conversation going was key to distracting them. "But it would be nice if you introduced yourselves too. Since you know who I am, I’d like to know who I’m talking to."

  As I spoke, my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was sinking into my stomach. After every word, every sentence, I mentally analyzed whether I’d sounded convincing enough. Was I too sharp? Too provocative?

  The tension mounted as Neight continued to move quietly through the bushes, circling the strangers to get into position for a sudden attack. With each step he took, my worry for him grew.

  What if they notice him? No, don’t think about that. Focus! I have my own mission to complete!

  The stranger didn’t answer right away. When she finally did, her voice seemed a little closer.

  "Of course! My apologies—how rude of me!" she said in a slow, measured tone. "My name is M79, and my companion’s name is G091-005. Yes, it may sound a bit unusual, but that’s what we were named," she explained. "There’s no need to fear us; we were sent here to bring you back to the others."

  She’s trying to get closer to me! I noticed and, overwhelmed with unease, glanced toward Neight... or rather, where he had been just seconds ago. Now, he was out of sight, which only heightened my anxiety. But I couldn’t afford to fall silent—I had to keep them talking.

  "S-so there are two of you here, right? What about your companion, G09… s-sorry, I didn’t catch the rest. Could he say something too? I’d feel more at ease if I heard his voice as well."

  "I’m afraid that’s impossible," the girl replied, stepping closer—judging by her voice—another pace toward me. "He can’t talk. But you can ask me anything, and I’ll be sure to answer."

  "Stay where you are and don’t come any closer! That’s the condition of this conversation until I know I can trust you!" I shouted, panicked that the stranger might approach dangerously close. Worse still, I couldn’t hear or imagine where this G09-whatever was.

  "Oh, sorry! We didn’t mean to scare you. We’re standing still now and not moving."

  "And, p-please, no funny business! I remind you that I’m armed and will shoot if I feel threatened!"

  As I said those words, my hands were shaking so badly that there was no way I’d hit my target if it came to that. Maybe I sounded stern at the moment, but I couldn’t help it—I was terrified.

  "We understand, we understand. Your message is crystal clear," the girl answered. Her tone remained surprisingly calm and composed. "But we truly don’t mean you any harm and only want to help. So feel free to ask anything."

  Is there some kind of catch here? She’s trying to come across as friendly. Maybe we really can resolve this without resorting to violence? Or is she just trying to confuse me? Let’s test this, I thought.

  "A-alright, I do have some questions. Could you tell me a bit more about who exactly sent you here?"

  "Your parents. Henry and Margaret Grayson."

  "Mom and Dad?! They’re alive?!" the words burst out of me.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  This news threw me completely off balance, making me momentarily forget everything else. I missed them so much, wanted so badly to see them again. Even the mere mention of their names gave me hope for a possible reunion.

  "Of course they’re alive and have been searching for you for a long time!"

  Those words felt like sunlight breaking through the heavy, dark clouds covering the sky. It was exactly what I wanted to hear… but that was the problem. How truthful were they? Was my interlocutor just trying to manipulate me? Neight had warned me they might try to sway me to their side, so I needed proof. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm down and regain clarity.

  "I’m truly happy to hear they’re okay. Really. But can you prove what you’re saying?"

  "Sunshine Lake," the girl said.

  Just those two words were enough to plant doubt in my heart. A story from my carefree childhood when I’d run through the streets, imagining far-off magical lands. Back then, a small puddle seemed like a vast, magical lake shimmering in sunlight. Only my parents, Neight, and I knew about that story—I’d shared it with no one else.

  How do they know about that? What if they really are on my side?

  "Emma, don’t fall for their tricks," Neight’s quiet voice suddenly whispered through my earpiece, snapping me back to my senses.

  Right… I can’t let my guard down. Who knows how they found out? What if they forced it out of my parents instead?

  "May I ask a question?" M79’s voice broke my train of thought.

  "Huh? Y-yeah, sure. Go ahead," I stammered, caught off guard by her words.

  "Are you here alone?"

  Her tone changed, growing colder, laced with an unmistakable threat. Fear gripped me, and I panicked, unsure how to respond. My hands shook even harder, and my gaze darted wildly, finding no anchor. My mind fogged, but I fought to hold it together. I had to say something. I couldn’t admit Neight was here—it would give him away instantly. I couldn’t let them know about him, or our plan would unravel. They might even… kill him. Lying was my only option.

  "Yes, I’m alone here."

  "Ohhh, I see," the girl drawled, her voice dripping with false cheer, as if she were singing. "Got it."

  Did I mess up somehow? The thought flashed through my mind. A horrible feeling gripped me, like something terrible was about to happen.

  "You know," she continued, "it’s not exactly safe to wander alone in the forest, especially on an unfamiliar planet. Who knows what dangers it might hold? Natural disasters, poisonous plants, predators, even… at least one wild beast definitely lurks somewhere around here."

  As she spoke, I tried to grasp her intent. By the end, realization dawned on me. My heart stopped and then pounded so fast I thought I might suffocate.

  D-does she mean… Neight? We’ve been exposed! How did they find out? Where did I go wrong?

  "N8, you’d better come out willingly!" she called out, her voice serious and threatening, as if to confirm my fears. Then, with a gloating tone and a sense of superiority, she added, "You realize you don’t stand a chance, right?"

  I heard rustling in the clearing where the enemies were, and I knew that if I didn’t act right now, it might be too late. Gritting my teeth and clutching the gun tightly, I jumped up and leaped out from behind the bushes to draw their attention.

  "Freeze! Don’t move!" I shouted the first thing that came to mind and, to add credibility, fired a shot well above one of the silhouettes that had appeared in my view.

  The deafening bang echoed through the forest, startling animals and birds, which bolted in all directions with loud cries. But most importantly, as planned, my distraction drew the attention of our "guests." About five paces ahead of me stood a girl and a guy in suits identical to ours. Their faces were hidden behind helmets, giving them a strange, dehumanized, and faceless appearance. As soon as I fired, they immediately turned their heads toward me, sending a chill down my spine.

  What now?! I thought, paralyzed with fear and unsure of what to do next.

  At that moment, the silent guy lunged straight at me like a wild beast. He seemed capable of reaching me in an instant, and terrified, I screamed and instinctively raised my arms in front of me. But just as I braced myself for the worst, Neight suddenly burst out from the bushes to my side, colliding directly with the guy charging at me.

  The enemy reacted quickly and aimed his gun at Neight.

  Bang!

  My heart stopped, and I nearly collapsed. But a moment later, I saw that Neight was unharmed and felt a surge of relief. Before the stranger could shoot, Neight managed to grab his arm and knock it aside, causing the shot to miss and hit a nearby tree. The slender trunk wobbled and nearly snapped in half. But it was too soon to celebrate—the fight had just begun.

  In response, the silent guy swung his free left hand in a knife-like strike toward Neight’s throat, but Neight blocked it in time. Holding the enemy with both hands, he quickly attempted a leg sweep to knock him off balance. The stranger, however, was no amateur and swiftly avoided the maneuver, countering with a knee strike to Neight’s stomach.

  Damn it, they’re not kidding—they’re trying to kill him! I thought, helplessly watching the brawl.

  With trembling hands, I aimed my gun at the guy, intending to help Neight. But before I could act, I heard a deafening shot pass just centimeters above my head. Stunned, I turned toward the source and saw that I was now in the sights of M79. She stood in a firm, confident stance, the opposite of my trembling, barely-standing form.

  "Don’t interfere, Emma," she threatened coldly, slowly advancing toward me while sidestepping to avoid the fight between the guys.

  Whaaat?! How is this "not harming me"?! They’ll kill me too!

  I froze, feeling utterly powerless and realizing that if she reached me, it would likely be the end. According to Neight, I was their main target. But in that moment, I couldn’t do anything without making things worse. All I could do was wait and hope for an opening to act.

  Meanwhile, the silent guy kept kicking Neight, landing blow after blow. Neight, however, minimized the damage by bending with the strikes, yet he never loosened his grip, refusing to let the enemy break free. It was painful to watch, and I felt an overwhelming itch to help, though I had no way to intervene.

  Then, during another attempt to attack with his knee, Neight abruptly let go of the enemy, blocking the strike with one hand while grabbing his leg with the other. With a swift motion, Neight flipped the attacker onto his back. The guy hit the ground hard, but, seemingly unfazed, he quickly aimed his gun at Neight with his free hand. Neight, however, delivered a strike that disarmed the enemy, then immediately grappled him again, trying to pin him face-down. Despite being in a vulnerable position, the enemy refused to give up, resisting fiercely.

  A kick from the stranger knocked Neight off him. Using his hands to spring off the ground like some kind of ninja, the guy leapt to his feet and attacked Neight, who was still getting up. He raised a fist and swung hard. Neight managed to block the blow with his arms just in time—otherwise, he’d have taken a direct hit to the head. But the enemy didn’t stop, delivering strike after strike in an attempt to break through Neight’s defense.

  "Neight, don’t give up!" I cried out desperately.

  "Hahhh?" came a mocking sneer from the girl, who had almost closed the distance to me. "How interesting!"

  I couldn’t begin to guess what was going through her mind, but one thing was certain—she was dangerously close, and I had to act fast!

  What can I do?! If I make a move, she’ll shoot me… Or…

  After giving it some thought, I remembered Neight’s warnings that they wouldn’t dare to lay a finger on me. And now, those words wouldn’t leave me alone.

  He said they might try to scare me, bluff, but they can’t hurt me… But what if he’s wrong?! Or is he not?! Or is he?! Or isn’t he?!

  A storm of emotions raged within me, tipping the scales of my thoughts from one side to the other. It felt like everything around me was pressing down, ready to crush me under the weight of the tension at any second. But time was running out, and I had to make a decision. Realizing that our lives were at stake, I made my choice. Closing my eyes, I steeled my nerves.

  Neight, I really hope you’re right…

  Clenching my teeth and mustering all my resolve, I suddenly aimed the pistol slightly above the guy who was still hammering Neight with blows and pulled the trigger. The thunderous sound of the shot made him flinch and instinctively turn his head, giving Neight the opportunity he needed. In a flash, Neight twisted to the side, locking the man’s leg with his own and flipping him onto his back. Before the attacker could react, Neight twisted his arms behind his back and forced him face-first into the dirt.

  "Damn it!" M79 hissed irritably, watching her partner get taken down, and then she bolted toward me.

  I wanted to run, but she was too fast and too close. She grabbed me firmly and pressed a gun to my throat.

  "So, you’re a brave one," she said coldly, her voice sending chills down my spine. "But don’t move."

  Meanwhile, having neutralized her partner, Neight drew his weapon with one hand and aimed it at my captor. Silence fell over the clearing. It felt as if time itself had stopped, though inside me everything was pounding, rattling, and echoing with panic. I wanted to scream, to cry, to beg for help, to break free from her grip. I was so terrified it felt like I was about to pass out.

  I had become a hostage.