Lia and Kael moved cautiously through the bustling city streets, trying to blend in. The tension between them was palpable, though neither spoke of it directly. They both knew that the government had intensified its search for the mysterious boy who had appeared out of nowhere, and the special units were relentless in their pursuit.
"Kael," Lia began, breaking the silence as they passed a group of people gathered around a large screen showing the latest news. "We have to be careful. They don't know who you are yet, but it's only a matter of time before they figure it out."
Kael nodded; his gaze focused on the ground. "I understand. But I can't just keep hiding. I need to find a way back home."
"We will," Lia reassured him, though she wasn't entirely sure how. "But until then, we need to stay under the radar."
As they continued walking, Lia noticed the news broadcast on the screen, detailing the search efforts for the "unidentified anomaly." She stiffened when she saw the footage of the special units in action, showcasing their advanced technology and the devastating power they wielded.
Kael caught her reaction and followed her gaze. "Is that…?"
"Yeah," Lia replied, her voice tight. "Those are the special units. They're the best of the best, and they won't stop until they find you."
Kael's expression darkened. "Then we have to stay ahead of them."
After a long day of evading the authorities and trying to piece together a plan, Lia and Kael finally found a quiet spot in an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. It was a temporary refuge, but it gave them a moment to catch their breath.
"We can rest here for a bit," Lia suggested, leaning against the cold concrete wall. "No one comes around this area anymore."
Kael sat down beside her, his mind still racing with thoughts of home. "Lia… why are you helping me?"
Lia looked at him, surprised by the question. "Why wouldn't I? You're in trouble, and I couldn't just leave you to fend for yourself."
Kael nodded slowly, his gaze distant. "I just… I don't understand this world. Everything is so different, and I don't know who to trust."
"You can trust me," Lia said firmly. "I know things seem crazy right now, but we'll figure this out together."
Before Kael could respond, they heard a noise outside—footsteps approaching. Lia's heart raced as she peered out through a crack in the wall, her breath catching when she recognized the figure walking toward the building.
"It's him," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Who his he?"
Kael tensed, readying himself for whatever might happen next. "What's he doing here?"
"I don't know," Lia replied, her mind spinning. "But something's not right."
The solider entered the building, his eyes scanning the shadows until they landed on Lia and Kael.
His usual calm demeanour was replaced by a look of determination, and there was something unsettling about the way he moved—like he was on a mission.
"Girl," he said, his voice steady but with an edge that hadn't been there before. "I didn't expect to find you here. And… you must be the one everyone's looking for."
Kael stepped forward, shielding Lia. "Who are you? And what do you want?"
The guy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device, pressing a button that made it emit a faint beep.
"They'll be here soon," the boy said, ignoring Kael's question. "I was ordered to find you."
Lia's eyes widened in realization. "You… you're with the special units?"
The guys's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Lia. "I didn't want you to get involved in this, girl. But I have my orders. You need to leave, Lia. This isn't your fight"
Kael, however, wasn't backing down. "If you're here to take me, you'll have to go through her first."
The soldier's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."
But before anything else could be said, the sound of engines roaring filled the air, and the building shook as the special units arrived. Their armoured vehicles surrounded the area, and soldiers equipped with high-tech suits emerged, their weapons trained on the building.
"Kael, we have to go!" Lia urged, grabbing his arm.
The boy hesitated for a moment, his loyalty to his mission clashing with his feelings not to hurt a civilian. But in the end, he stepped aside, letting them pass.
"I can't stop them for long," he warned. "But I can give you a head start. Go, now!"
Lia didn't waste a second, pulling Kael with her as they made a run for it. The special units were closing in, their suits allowing them to move faster than any normal human. Kael knew they wouldn't be able to outrun them for long.
"They're gaining on us!" Kael shouted, his mind racing for a solution.
Lia glanced back, seeing the soldiers getting closer, their weapons ready to fire. "We need to find cover!"
But there was nowhere to hide. The streets were empty, and the only option was to face them head-on. Kael knew what he had to do.
"Lia, stay behind me," he ordered, his voice taking on a tone of authority. "I'll handle this."
"No, Kael, you can't—"
But it was too late. Kael turned to face the oncoming soldiers, his body glowing with a strange, blue energy. The soldiers hesitated, unsure of what they were seeing, but their orders were clear.
"Stand down, or we will use force!" one of the soldiers commanded.
Kael didn't respond. Instead, he raised his hand, and a wave of energy erupted from his palm, sending the soldiers flying back. The ground shook as the energy tore through the street, causing the soldiers' suits to spark and malfunction.
Lia watched in awe and terror as Kael unleashed his power, a force so overwhelming that it seemed to defy the laws of nature. The soldiers were no match for him, their weapons useless against the sheer magnitude of his abilities.
But just as it seemed like they might escape, a new figure emerged—a man clad in a suit of armor unlike anything Lia had ever seen. This was no ordinary soldier; this was the captain of the special units, and he was prepared for a fight.
"Kael, get ready!" Lia shouted, fear gripping her as the captain approached.
The captain didn't waste any time. He charged at Kael, his suit glowing with a crimson light. Kael met his attack head-on, their powers clashing in a dazzling display of energy and force. But the captain was no ordinary opponent. His suit enhanced his strength and speed, allowing him to keep up with Kael's every move.
"Lia, get out of here!" Kael yelled, struggling to hold his ground against the captain's relentless assault.
But Lia refused to leave. She watched in horror as the captain's attacks grew more vicious, his suit seemingly designed to exploit Kael's weaknesses.
And then, in a moment of desperation, the captain unleashed a powerful blast that was aimed directly at Kael—but Lia was in the way.
The blast struck Lia, and she crumpled to the ground, her body trembling with pain. Kael saw her fall, and something inside him snapped.
"No!" Kael roared, his voice echoing with raw emotion. The blue energy around him intensified, becoming almost blinding as he channelled all his power into one final attack.
The captain barely had time to react before Kael unleashed a devastating wave of energy, the force of which tore through the air like a storm. The ground beneath them cracked, and the captain was thrown back, his suit unable to withstand the power.
But Kael wasn't done. His anger had unleashed a power far beyond anything he had ever known, and he was ready to end this fight once and for all.
And then, in the midst of the chaos, Lia's voice broke through. "Kael, stop…"
Kael's energy faltered, and he turned to see Lia struggling to her feet.
But something was different—her wounds were healing before his eyes, and a strange light was emanating from her body.
"Lia… how?" Kael's voice trembled with disbelief.
"I don't know," Lia replied, her voice weak but steady. "But you can't kill them, Kael. We can't let it end like this."
Kael hesitated, his anger slowly dissipating as he looked into Lia's eyes. "I… I can't control it…"
"You don't have to," Lia said, taking a step toward him. "We'll find another way. Together."
Kael's energy faded, and he collapsed to his knees, exhausted and shaken. Lia rushed to his side, her hands glowing with a soft light as she touched his face.
"It's okay," she whispered. "It's over."
But it wasn't over. The captain, battered but still conscious, struggled to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. He raised his weapon, ready to fire at Kael one last time.
"No!" Lia screamed, throwing herself in front of Kael.
But before the captain could pull the trigger, a blinding flash of light filled the air, and suddenly, Lia and Kael were gone.
The captain's weapon discharged harmlessly into the empty space where they had just been.
"Where did they go?!" the captain shouted, furious and bewildered. He looked around frantically, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
His soldiers, those who were still able to stand, were equally confused, murmuring among themselves as they tried to comprehend the sudden disappearance.
Then, through the static of his communicator, the captain heard a voice crackle to life: "Captain, we're detecting a massive energy signature at an unknown location. We think… it could be them."
The captain clenched his fists, his face twisted with frustration. "Find them! I don't care what it takes. They can't have gotten far!"
When the light faded, Lia and Kael found themselves in a completely different place. They were inside a high-tech facility, filled with glowing screens and complex machinery. The air was cool, and the faint hum of electronics buzzed around them.
Kael blinked, disoriented. "Where… are we?"
Lia looked around, equally confused. "I don't know… but it feels like we're… safe?"
Just then, they heard footsteps approaching. Lia turned, her breath catching as she recognized the figure walking toward them.
"Thomas!" she exclaimed, relief washing over her.
Her older brother gave her a worried look, but there was also a hint of pride in his eyes. "You're okay… thank God. We got you just in time."
Lia hugged him tightly, feeling the tension start to drain away. "How did you—? Where are we?"
"This is Techno," Thomas explained, gesturing around the room. "My team and I have been working on a teleportation device. It wasn't supposed to be ready yet, but when I saw you on the news, I knew we had to try."
Kael, still dazed, looked at Thomas with newfound respect. "You… you saved us."
Thomas nodded. "I did what I had to. But now we need to figure out what happens next. The special units won't stop coming after you."
Lia pulled away from Thomas and turned to Kael, her expression serious. "We have to stop running, Kael. We need a plan."
Kael's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "I don't know how to stop them. They're too strong…"
"We can figure it out together," Lia insisted. "And you're not alone. Thomas, his team—they can help us."