Aria's senses returned slowly, like surfacing from the depths of a dream. Her body ached as if she'd been dragged through ice and fire all at once. The ground beneath her felt cold and unsteady, as though she were floating. Her eyes fluttered open, and she struggled to focus on the environment around her.
She was no longer on the rain-slick street. Instead, she found herself in an unfamiliar alleyway, the walls covered in rusted metal and flickering neon signs. The sound of distant voices and the hum of machinery filled the air. It was still night, but the shadows seemed deeper here, the darkness pressing in from all sides.
Aria tried to push herself up, but a wave of dizziness forced her back down. She winced, feeling the sting of the jump's aftereffects. The Chronocore had brought her to a different location, but how far off had she been thrown? She glanced at her wrist, where the ChronoLink's display flickered weakly. Static and corrupted data filled the screen, the once-reliable device now a jumble of unreadable numbers and symbols.
"Dammit," she muttered, shaking it as if that would make a difference. She needed to figure out where she was and when, but the ChronoLink wasn't giving her any answers.
She took a deep breath, her hand brushing the side of her jacket as she checked her gear. Nothing appeared damaged, but without the ChronoLink's guidance, she was effectively lost in time. A feeling of helplessness settled over her—one she quickly pushed aside. She had survived worse. She needed to stay focused.
As she adjusted her position, a rustle of movement echoed from further down the alley. Her senses sharpened. Someone was there, watching her. Aria's muscles tensed, her eyes darting toward the source of the sound. She spotted a shadow moving closer, the silhouette of a man stepping into the dim glow of a nearby streetlamp.
Her breath caught in her throat. It was him—the same man she'd seen ten years ago and only minutes earlier on the rain-soaked street. He approached cautiously, his eyes fixed on her, and now she could see him more clearly. He wore a long, dark coat, its fabric shimmering with the same futuristic material as hers, lined with subtle circuitry patterns that glowed faintly. His dark hair was damp, and raindrops glistened on his sharp features. He had the look of someone who had seen too much and carried that burden with a quiet, guarded intensity.
"Don't move," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Aria's instincts flared. She pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the protest of her muscles. "Then why are you following me?" she shot back, her hand instinctively resting on her side, where a concealed stun device was hidden in her jacket.
The man held up his hands, showing he was unarmed. "You're disoriented from the jump. The aftereffects can mess with your balance. You need to take it easy."
"Answer the question," she said, her voice low. "Who are you, and why were you watching me and my sister?"
He hesitated, and she saw a flicker of something cross his eyes—recognition, or maybe reluctance. "I'm not your enemy," he said. "I'm trying to protect you."
She scoffed, but she kept her distance. "Protect me? From what exactly ?"
He glanced around, scanning the alley as if expecting an ambush. "The Tribunal. You shouldn't be here, and they know it."
The mention of the Tribunal sent a chill through her, but she refused to show it. She tightened her grip on the hidden stun device. "That doesn't answer my question. Who are you?"
The man's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the cold detachment he wore like armor softened. "My name is Elias. I work for the Tribunal."
Aria's body tensed, her mind racing. The Tribunal—he was one of them. An agent sent to hunt down people like her. The urge to attack, to run, surged through her, but she fought it, holding her ground. "If that's true, why haven't you arrested me?"
Elias lowered his hands, his expression unreadable. "Because I'm not here to bring you in. I know why you're doing this, and I think we want the same thing."
Aria's eyes narrowed. "And what's that?"
"To find your sister."
The word hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. Aria's grip loosened, her breath catching. "You know about Mara?" she asked, the disbelief plain in her voice.
Elias nodded. "I know more than you think. And I know the Tribunal's version of events isn't the full story. They've been using time travel for years, manipulating timelines for their own agenda."
Aria's mind spun. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed from an agent of the Tribunal was something else. Still, she didn't trust him—couldn't trust him. "If that's true, then why are you helping me? You work for them."
Elias sighed, and for a moment, the hardened look on his face faded. "It's complicated. I'm not working for them—at least, not the way you think. I've been following you for months, tracking your jumps, trying to piece together what happened to Mara. But I can't do this alone. The Tribunal is watching me too."
Aria crossed her arms, her eyes locked onto his. "And I'm just supposed to believe you? You expect me to trust a Tribunal agent who's been spying on me?"
"No, I don't expect you to trust me," he said, his voice edged with frustration. "But right now, I'm the only one who knows how to navigate this timeline without setting off every alarm the Tribunal has. You need me as much as I need you."
Aria's mind raced. She didn't like it—every instinct screamed at her to walk away, to leave him in the alley and figure things out on her own. But something in his eyes, a flicker of sincerity, gave her pause. He had information she needed, and if he was telling the truth, she might finally get the answers she'd been searching for.
But she wasn't about to give in that easily.
"Fine," she said, her voice cold. "But I'm watching you. One wrong move, and this alliance is over."
Elias nodded, a hint of relief crossing his face. "Fair enough." He turned, gesturing for her to follow. "We need to get out of here before they track us."
Aria hesitated, casting one last glance down the alleyway before falling in step behind him. As they walked, a million questions burned in her mind. Who was this man really, and how much did he know about Mara's disappearance? Was he truly an ally, or was this some elaborate trap set by the Tribunal?
The alley faded into the neon-lit streets of the city, the shadows stretching long ahead of them. For now, she would play along. But as they slipped into the night, she knew one thing for sure—whatever came next, she was not about to let her guard down.
Somewhere in the distance, a soft hum pierced the air—a sound that sent a shiver down her spine. The Tribunal was closing in.