The forest seemed to stretch on forever, an endless maze of trees and shifting shadows. Carter's lungs burned with every breath as he pushed himself to keep moving. His muscles ached, his body screaming for rest, but he knew better than to slow down. Apex was still out there, and they were being hunted.
Maya moved silently beside him, her focus unshakable. Her eyes flicked between the trees, always scanning for threats, always two steps ahead. Carter could hear her breathing, steady and controlled despite the brutal pace. She wasn't just tough—she was relentless.
"You sure this safehouse exists?" Carter asked, trying to keep his voice light despite the exhaustion creeping in.
Maya shot him a quick glance. "Elle doesn't make mistakes."
"Not the answer I was hoping for," Carter muttered, dodging a low-hanging branch. "I was kinda hoping you'd say something like, 'Yeah, it's just around the corner.'"
Maya's lips twitched slightly, but she didn't reply.
Elle's voice cut through their earpieces, crisp and precise. "You're almost there. The safehouse is less than a quarter mile ahead."
Carter let out a low sigh of relief. "Now that's what I needed to hear."
They continued through the forest, their footsteps soft on the moss-covered ground. The trees grew thicker as they moved, the darkness swallowing them whole. Carter could barely see Maya's outline beside him, but he trusted her to lead the way. She always knew where she was going, even in the most desperate situations.
After a few more minutes of running, the trees began to thin, and a small, weathered cabin came into view. It was tucked away in a clearing, almost invisible against the backdrop of the dense forest. The structure was old and unassuming, its wood faded and cracked from years of exposure to the elements. But it looked solid.
"Here we are," Maya said, slowing to a stop in front of the cabin.
Carter doubled over, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "Next time... let's pick a safehouse with a driveway... and a car waiting... yeah?"
Maya ignored his comment, already moving toward the cabin door. She knocked twice, then once, a rhythm that Carter assumed was some kind of code. A second later, the door creaked open, and a man stepped into view.
He was tall and lean, his hair graying at the temples, but his eyes were sharp and wary. He wore a simple jacket, the kind that looked well-worn from years of use, and his face was lined with age, though not in the way that suggested weakness. This man had seen things—things he'd rather forget.
"Who's this?" Carter asked, straightening up and eyeing the man with suspicion.
Maya's voice was low but steady. "This is Callum. He's... an old friend."
Callum's eyes flicked between Carter and Maya, his gaze lingering a bit longer on Carter as if sizing him up. He didn't speak at first, just nodded toward Maya before stepping aside to let them in.
Carter followed Maya into the cabin, his senses on high alert. The interior was small and sparse—just a single room with a table, two chairs, and a cot in the corner. It was clearly designed for utility, not comfort. A few weapons were scattered across the table, along with a map and some old radio equipment.
Callum closed the door behind them, his expression grim. "You shouldn't have come here, Maya. It's not safe."
Maya crossed her arms, her voice unwavering. "Nowhere is safe. Not anymore."
Callum's eyes narrowed. "Apex?"
Maya nodded.
Carter watched the exchange in silence, his eyes flicking between the two of them. There was history here—something unspoken, something heavy. It wasn't the kind of thing you could ask about, and even if you did, Maya wouldn't give you a straight answer. She never did.
Callum sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "You've stirred up a hornet's nest, haven't you?"
Maya's expression remained cold. "We didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," Callum muttered, but he didn't press further. Instead, he turned to Carter, his eyes sharp again. "And who's this? Your backup?"
Carter grinned, leaning against the wall casually. "I'm Carter. The guy with all the terrible ideas that keep getting us into these messes."
Callum's lips twitched slightly, though it wasn't exactly a smile. "Well, Carter, let's hope one of those ideas includes staying alive."
"That's the plan," Carter replied, flashing a confident smile. "I'm pretty good at not dying, actually."
Maya shot him a look, then turned back to Callum. "We need to lay low for a while. Just until Elle finishes processing the rest of the data."
Callum frowned. "Elle?"
"The AI," Carter clarified. "It's complicated. But trust me, she's the reason we're not dead yet."
Callum's gaze flicked to Maya. "You're trusting an AI now?"
Maya didn't flinch. "I trust what I know. Elle has kept us one step ahead of Apex so far."
Callum's expression remained skeptical, but he didn't argue. He motioned toward the table, where the map and weapons were spread out. "You'll be safe here for a while, but it won't take Apex long to figure out your trail. They're not the kind to give up."
"We know," Maya said, her voice tight. "That's why we need to move fast."
--
Carter collapsed into one of the chairs by the table, his body aching from the night's events. His muscles screamed for rest, but his mind was still racing. Every step they took felt like they were on borrowed time. Apex wasn't going to stop, and each close call brought them closer to the edge.
"How long do we have before they catch up?" Carter asked, glancing at Maya.
"Elle's monitoring their movements," Maya said. "We've bought ourselves some time, but not much. Once they realize we've gone dark, they'll start sweeping the surrounding areas."
"Great," Carter muttered. "Nothing like a ticking clock to keep things interesting."
Maya ignored his sarcasm, her focus shifting back to Callum. "What do you know about Apex's movements lately?"
Callum sat down across from them, his expression serious. "Not much. They've been tightening their operations, going quiet on a lot of fronts. But there's been talk—rumors of a new initiative. Something big."
Carter raised an eyebrow. "Bigger than merging AI with humans?"
Callum's eyes darkened. "Much bigger. Word is, they're gearing up for a global rollout. Full-scale."
Maya's face remained impassive, but Carter could see the tension in her jaw. She didn't like what she was hearing, and neither did he.
"And we're just supposed to stop them?" Carter asked, shaking his head. "It's like trying to put out a wildfire with a bucket of water."
Maya's voice was cold. "We're not stopping them alone. We expose them, get the truth out, and then we bring in the people who can take them down."
"Easier said than done," Callum muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Apex has friends in high places. Very high places."
Carter couldn't help but chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "Of course they do. What's the point of being an evil megacorp if you don't have politicians in your pocket?"
Maya shot him another sharp look, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Elle. "How's the decryption coming?"
"I'm nearly finished," Elle replied through the speakers. "I've already unlocked several key documents. It's worse than we thought."
Carter raised an eyebrow. "How much worse?"
"There's a list," Elle continued, her voice even. "Hundreds of names. Politicians, military leaders, corporate executives—all connected to Apex. They've been funding and facilitating Project Echelon from the shadows."
Maya's eyes narrowed. "How deep does it go?"
"Very deep," Elle replied. "And if this project moves forward, Apex will have the power to control every major sector of society—military, government, and even global economics."
Carter let out a low whistle. "So, it's not just about merging humans with AI. It's about controlling the world."
"Exactly," Elle said.
Maya's face hardened. "We need to move fast. Once we finish decrypting the data, we leak it. Expose them before they can act."
Callum leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Maya's. "Are you ready for what comes after that? Because Apex won't just let this slide. They'll come after you with everything they have."
Maya's voice was cold, unshaken. "Let them try."