wandered deeper into the warehouse, the sound of his boots echoing against the cold concrete floor. The place was a maze of rusted machinery, broken-down forklifts, and stacks of rotting wooden pallets, each corner shrouded in darkness. It was the kind of place where you half-expected to find something lurking in the shadows, but Carter wasn't easily spooked. He'd been in worse places—much worse.
Still, something about the quiet gnawed at him. His gut told him this wasn't just a pit stop. He had no idea what was coming next, but whatever it was, it wouldn't be easy. Nothing ever was.
He reached a window near the far end of the building, wiping away the grime with the sleeve of his jacket. Outside, the industrial district sprawled out in front of him like a wasteland—abandoned buildings, forgotten machinery, and flickering streetlights that cast eerie shadows. No sign of anyone coming after them, but that didn't mean they were safe. Not by a long shot.
Carter leaned against the wall, pulling out his phone. He hesitated for a moment, his thumb hovering over the screen. There was one person he could call, someone who might have some answers. But reaching out to Maya meant pulling her into this mess, and that wasn't exactly something he wanted to do.
Before he could make a decision, Elle's voice echoed softly from the car outside. "You alright in there?"
Carter chuckled, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "Didn't realize you were so worried about me."
"I'm not," Elle shot back, her tone sharp but with a playful edge. "I just don't want to be stuck waiting around for you if something happens."
Carter grinned, adjusting his jacket as he glanced around. "I'm touched. Really."
"Any sign of trouble?" Elle asked, her voice returning to its usual calm.
"None yet," Carter replied, heading back toward the car. "But I'm sure it's only a matter of time."
Elle didn't respond immediately, and Carter sensed a shift in her tone when she finally spoke again. "I've finished cloaking our signal. For now, we should be off the radar."
"For now," Carter echoed, stepping out of the warehouse and back into the dimly lit loading dock. The car sat there, sleek and silent, a dark shape against the backdrop of the industrial ruins. He couldn't help but admire its design—elegant, futuristic, and clearly built for more than just speed.
He climbed into the driver's seat, glancing at the dashboard. The screen flickered as Elle processed something in the background, her voice softer than before.
"We need to figure out who's after us, Carter," Elle said, breaking the silence. "I don't like being hunted, and I'm sure you don't either."
"Nope," Carter agreed, resting his hands on the steering wheel. "Not my idea of a good time."
Elle's voice took on a more serious tone. "Whoever's tracking me isn't just after the car. They want the tech inside me. I was designed for... let's call it 'adaptive learning.' But I'm not the only one. There are other models—others like me, still in development. If they get their hands on me, they'll use that tech for things you can't even imagine."
Carter leaned back in his seat, staring out at the empty warehouse in front of him. "Let me guess—world domination?"
Elle's tone darkened. "Something like that."
Carter let out a long breath, processing the weight of what Elle was telling him. This wasn't just a high-stakes heist anymore. He wasn't just running from the law or some corporate goons trying to reclaim stolen property. This was bigger. Much bigger.
"Alright," Carter said, his voice steady. "So what's the play?"
"We need information," Elle replied. "And I know just the place to get it."
---
As much as Carter hated asking for help, he knew this was bigger than anything he could handle on his own. He pulled out his phone again and stared at the contact list for a few seconds. His finger hovered over Maya's name.
She wasn't going to be happy to hear from him.
With a resigned sigh, he tapped her name and pressed the phone to his ear. The line rang twice before her voice came through, clipped and suspicious.
"Carter? What the hell do you want?"
He could almost see the scowl on her face. Maya never minced words, and she definitely didn't have time for Carter's usual nonsense.
"Nice to hear from you too," Carter said, leaning back in the seat and trying to keep his tone light. "Listen, I need a favor."
"A favor?" Maya's voice dripped with disbelief. "The last time you asked me for a favor, I ended up getting shot at by half the Russian mob."
Carter winced. "Hey, that wasn't my fault."
Maya's scoff told him she wasn't buying it. "What do you need, Carter?"
Carter hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the dashboard, where Elle's lights flickered softly. "I, uh, got into a little situation with some… people. The kind of people who don't like to be crossed."
"Surprise, surprise," Maya muttered. "What kind of people?"
Carter sighed. "The kind with black SUVs and a lot of firepower. They're after something, and I need to figure out who they are."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. When Maya spoke again, her voice was more serious. "Are you in danger?"
Carter almost laughed at the question. "When am I not?"
Another pause. "Where are you?"
"I'm laying low in an industrial warehouse off 12th Avenue," Carter said, checking the map. "But I don't know how long I can stay here before they catch up."
Maya's voice softened, but only a little. "Alright, I'll be there in an hour. Don't do anything stupid."
Carter grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The call ended, and Carter slipped the phone back into his pocket. He had a feeling Maya was going to give him hell for dragging her into this, but right now, she was his best shot at figuring out what was going on.
Elle's voice broke through the silence. "You trust her?"
Carter thought about it for a second, then nodded. "Yeah. Maya's good people. She doesn't like me much, but she won't let me get killed."
Elle hummed thoughtfully. "I like her already."
---
The next hour crawled by with agonizing slowness. Carter paced around the warehouse, constantly checking the windows for signs of movement. He knew Maya would show up—she always did—but that didn't make the waiting any easier.
Elle stayed quiet for most of the time, only occasionally offering sarcastic remarks when Carter muttered something under his breath.
Eventually, the distant sound of an engine broke the silence. Carter looked out the window and saw a sleek, dark sedan pull up outside the warehouse. He couldn't help but smile—Maya had a thing for fast cars too.
A few moments later, the side door creaked open, and Maya stepped inside, her eyes sharp and her expression unreadable. She was dressed in all black, her jacket tight around her frame, and her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She looked like she was ready for war.
"Carter," she said, her voice low but firm. "You've got exactly two minutes to tell me what the hell is going on."
Carter flashed her a grin, leaning casually against one of the rusted machines. "Nice to see you too, Maya."
She wasn't amused. "Talk."
"Alright, alright," Carter said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Long story short, I stole a car. But it's not just any car. It's got an AI inside it—her name's Elle—and apparently, some very dangerous people want her back."
Maya's eyes narrowed as she processed the information. "AI? You mean the car is… alive?"
"Pretty much," Carter said, glancing at the car. "Elle, meet Maya. Maya, Elle."
Elle's voice came through the speakers, smooth and polite. "Nice to meet you, Maya. I've heard a lot about you."
Maya blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Is this a joke?"
"Nope," Carter said, shaking his head. "Elle's the real deal. And we're in some serious trouble."
Maya crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "What kind of trouble?"
Carter's smile faded as he met her gaze. "The kind that involves people who don't take prisoners."
Maya didn't respond immediately. Her eyes flickered toward the car, then back to Carter. She wasn't one to panic, but Carter could see the wheels turning in her head. This was bigger than either of them had expected, and she knew it.
"So what's the plan?" Maya asked, her voice measured.
Carter leaned against the car, folding his arms. "Elle's working on scrambling our signal. Once we're sure they can't trace us, we need to start digging—find out who's pulling the strings."
Maya glanced at Elle, then back to Carter, her eyes narrowing. "You think you can trust this AI?"
Carter shrugged. "She's gotten me this far without getting killed, so I'm leaning toward yes."
Elle's voice came through the speakers again, dry and sarcastic. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."
Maya sighed, rubbing her temples. "Alright, I'll help you. But you owe me for this, Carter. Big time."
Carter smirked. "Wouldn't have it any other way."