The cold, stale air of the ruins clung to Alex and Elara as they continued their search, moving carefully through the abandoned rooms of the old power station. The sun had sunk lower in the sky, casting long shadows through the broken windows, and the oppressive silence of the place was beginning to weigh on them both. Every step felt heavier, and every sound seemed magnified, echoing eerily through the empty halls.
They had been scouring the place for hours, finding little of use aside from the power storage unit Alex had tucked safely into his bag. But as they moved through yet another ruined room, the silence was shattered by a sound that made Alex's blood run cold.
A scream. Serena's scream.
Elara froze, her eyes widening as the scream echoed through the ruins. It was a sound of pure terror and desperation, cutting through the quiet like a blade.
"Serena!" Elara hissed, her hand flying to the hilt of her blade.
Without a word, Alex and Elara bolted toward the source of the scream, their feet pounding against the debris-strewn floor. The ruins felt like a maze as they rushed through the crumbling halls, but Serena's voice guided them, growing louder with each passing second.
When they reached the entrance of a collapsed room on the east side of the building, Alex skidded to a stop. His heart thundered in his chest, and his breath came in short, sharp bursts as his eyes took in the horrifying scene in front of him.
Two men stood in the room, their faces twisted with cruel grins. One of them had his hands on Serena, pinning her against the wall. His filthy clothes and unkempt hair made him look like a scavenger, and the way his body pressed against hers sent a wave of anger coursing through Alex's veins. Serena's face was pale, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled beneath his grip.
The other man stood a few feet away, holding Nia by the arm. Nia's eyes were wide with terror, her body frozen as the man held her in place, watching the scene unfold with a sickening smirk on his face.
Serena's voice broke through the tension, a mixture of fear and rage. "Let go of me!"
But the man holding her only laughed, tightening his grip. "Oh, we're not done here yet, sweetheart."
Elara's breath hitched beside Alex, and her hand went to her blade, ready to strike. Her entire body was taut with fury, but she held back, her eyes flicking between the men and Serena, assessing the situation. She could take one of them down, maybe both—but there was a risk. If they moved too quickly, if they didn't act carefully, it could go horribly wrong.
Alex felt a surge of rage building inside him, his hands clenching into fists. Every instinct screamed at him to rush in and stop them, to rip the men away from Serena and Nia and make them pay for what they were doing. The energy inside him hummed, ready to be unleashed.
But the AI's voice cut through the anger, cold and logical. "Warning: Engaging without strategy may result in harm to Serena and Nia. Caution is advised."
Alex froze, his mind racing. The AI was right. Charging in blindly could get Serena or Nia hurt—or worse. The man holding Nia had a firm grip on her, and if Alex or Elara made the wrong move, there was no telling what he might do.
What do I do? Alex thought, his heart pounding. I have the energy. I could take them down, but…
He glanced at Elara, who was just as tense, her knuckles white as she gripped the hilt of her blade. She looked at him, her eyes filled with fury, but there was also a silent question there—what's the plan?
Alex's mind raced, running through the options. He could use his energy to disarm the men, to knock them away from Serena and Nia, but the risk was high. He didn't have full control of his abilities yet, and if he miscalculated, the consequences could be catastrophic.
If I move now, can I stop them without hurting Serena or Nia? he thought, his body trembling with the need to act.
"Energy manipulation is possible," the AI replied. "However, precise control will be required. The chance of success increases if you can create a distraction and separate the assailants."
Alex's pulse quickened. A distraction. If they could draw the men's attention away from Serena and Nia for just a moment, it might give him enough time to act. But how? They were outnumbered, and the men were clearly dangerous. One wrong move could end in disaster.
Elara's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes locked on the men. "What's the plan, Alex?"
Alex swallowed hard, his mind spinning with possibilities. The energy inside him buzzed, ready to be unleashed, but he knew he couldn't rush in blindly. He had to find the right moment, the perfect opening.
But time was running out. Serena's eyes met his for a brief second, filled with fear and a silent plea for help. Nia's body was shaking, her eyes wide with terror as the man holding her sneered.
The weight of the decision pressed down on Alex like a heavy stone. He had the power to stop them—but could he control it? Could he save Serena and Nia without putting them at greater risk?
He had only seconds to decide. Seconds to make the right move—or the wrong one.