Ellie's feet barely touched the ground as she sprinted through the dimly lit streets, the woman with violet eyes keeping pace beside her. The security drone's red light flickered menacingly behind them, scanning for movement.
"Who sent that thing after me?" Ellie demanded between breaths.
"Wrong question," the woman shot back. "The real question is—why did it hesitate?"
Ellie frowned. The drone had her in its sights, yet it hadn't attacked immediately. Something had overridden its directive.
They ducked into a side alley, and the woman pressed her palm against a panel. The wall shimmered, revealing a hidden passage. "Inside. Now."
Ellie hesitated but obeyed, stepping into a dark corridor that smelled of oil and old circuitry. The door sealed behind them.
"Start talking," Ellie said, her voice firm. "Who are you?"
The woman smirked. "Call me Nyx. And whether you like it or not, Ellie, you just stepped into the middle of a war."