The rain had stopped by the time Ashira reached the small, hidden warehouse on the edge of the industrial district. The address wasn't in her notes or on any public record; it had been whispered to her through a secure forum message just hours after she escaped the Tower Terminal.
The moment she stepped inside, she was met with a cold blast of stale air and the faint hum of old equipment. Dim lights flickered overhead, and the room smelled of damp concrete and burnt wires. It was a gathering place for a certain kind of people—the ones who lived off-grid, whose lives revolved around the quiet hum of servers and the glow of screens.
"Ashira Kane," a voice called out.
She turned, startled. A tall figure emerged from the shadows, his face obscured by a hood. His voice carried a strange mix of authority and familiarity.
"How do you know me?" she asked, her guard immediately rising.
"We know more than your name," the figure replied, stepping closer. "We know what you've unlocked. And we know what it means."
Behind him, a small group began to gather, their faces partially hidden by scarves or masks. They weren't like the mysterious figures at the Tower Terminal—these were hackers, tech-savvy renegades like her, but hardened by years of living on the fringes of society.
"You can call us the Fracture Collective," the hooded man continued. "We've been tracking the Echo Network for years. When you unlocked the first fracture, it pinged across the system. That's why you're being hunted. But it also brought you to us."
Ashira's instincts told her to leave, but curiosity—and desperation—kept her rooted to the spot.
"What do you want from me?"
"We don't want anything," another voice chimed in, a woman with bright, piercing eyes stepping forward. "We want to help you. The Echo Network is a danger to everyone, but we can't access its Source alone. You've already proven you can. If we work together, we might stand a chance."
Ashira hesitated. The idea of help was tempting, especially after everything she had faced alone. But trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.
"And what's the price for your help?" she asked, crossing her arms.
The woman smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "The price is simple. You give us full access to every fracture you unlock. We want to take down the network as much as you do."
Ashira didn't respond immediately. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their offer than they let on. But with the clock ticking and enemies closing in, she saw no better option.
"Fine," she said finally. "But if I sense anything suspicious, I'm out."
The hooded leader nodded. "Understood. For now, we'll prepare you for what's ahead. The next fracture is buried deep. If you thought the Tower Terminal was dangerous, this will be far worse."
Ashira felt a shiver run down her spine, but she forced herself to stay calm. The journey wasn't getting easier, and she had to be ready for whatever came next.