Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Six

POV Brynmor

As I powered up the small vehicle and sped away from the Isolation Zone, my mind swirled with an unavoidable question, had I made the right decision?

Fiora sat silently beside me, staring out the window with a vacant look. She was likely still in shock from everything that had just unfolded.

My father’s forces—Devlin’s men—wouldn’t simply stop. They would pursue us relentlessly until they had her.

I stole a glance at her. She looked fragile. A genetic anomaly, they called her. But now, I wasn’t sure if it was as terrible as I’d been led to believe.

"Why are they after me?" she asked abruptly, breaking the silence.

I exhaled deeply. "Because you’re part of their plan."

"I don’t understand. What do I have to do with all of this?"

Her confused and angry eyes bore into me. She deserved an explanation, but I wasn’t sure I could provide one without frightening her even more.

"It’s complicated," I finally said.

"Complicated?" she said with a bitter laugh. "My life is in ruins overnight, and all you can say is ‘it’s complicated’?"

"I can’t explain everything right now," I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. "But you have to trust me. I’m trying to protect you."

She fell silent for a moment, then turned her face back to the window. I knew she wasn’t satisfied with my answer, but I had no other choice.

We arrived at a hideout on the outskirts of the colony—an old, abandoned bunker. Activating the security system, I scanned the surroundings to ensure we weren’t followed.

"Get inside," I said, motioning for her to follow.

She stepped in hesitantly, glancing around the dim and cramped room. "What is this place?"

"A safehouse," I replied curtly.

She scoffed and then sat down on one of the dusty old chairs. I could see the exhaustion in her, but there was something in her eyes that told me she wouldn’t give up so easily.

"So," she said, fixing me with a sharp gaze. "What’s your plan now?"

Taking a deep breath, I answered, "We’ll hide here for a while. Until I figure out how to deal with my father."

She frowned. "Why is your father so determined to capture me? Am I just a pawn in your game?"

Her question cut deeper than I expected. "I don’t see you as a pawn," I said quietly.

"But you chose me for that reason, didn’t you?" she pressed, refusing to let me dodge.

I fell silent.

She stood and moved closer to me. "Answer me, Brynmor. Why did you choose me?"

I met her gaze, searching for the right words. But how could I explain? How could I tell her that I had chosen her out of revenge?

"Because I had to," I finally said.

"Had to?" She shook her head, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. "What does that even mean? Do you even realize what you’ve done to my life? I’ve lost everything because of your decision."

Her words stung like a knife. I knew she was right—I was the reason for all of this.

"I chose you because I thought it was the right thing to do," I said quietly.

Her eyes filled with tears, and she turned away. "You’re selfish, Brynmor. You only think about yourself."

Her words stabbed at me, but I didn’t know how to fix what I had broken.

♡♡♡

Hours later, after Fiora had fallen asleep in a corner of the room, I sat alone in front of a small holographic screen. Opening a set of classified files I had kept for years, I reviewed all the data on the Starfire family and their connection to my mother’s death.

Jacob Starfire, Fiora’s father, was one of the scientists who had engineered the genetic virus that killed thousands in the Aegis Colony—including my mother. The virus had been designed to target specific immune systems, with devastating results.

I remembered the night my mother died. I was just a child, but the memory was vivid: her pale face, labored breathing, and the blood streaming from her nose. I had been powerless to save her.

From that moment, I swore to take revenge on the Starfire family. When I saw Fiora at the genetic matching event, I knew she was the key to bringing them down.

But now, everything felt different. Fiora wasn’t what I had imagined. She wasn’t a monster like her father. She was just another victim of the same ruthless system I despised.

Switching off the holographic screen, I closed my eyes, trying to calm my thoughts. But Fiora’s face haunted me.

♡♡♡

The next morning, Fiora woke with a calmer expression. I could see her trying to adjust to this situation, though I knew she was still furious with me.

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

She nodded silently.

I grabbed some rations from the supply crate and handed them to her. She ate in silence, but I could tell she had something on her mind.

"Have you ever thought about leaving it all behind?" she asked suddenly.

I looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"All of this," she said, gesturing vaguely. "The system, the colonies, all the rules controlling our lives. Have you ever thought about walking away and living your own way?"

I paused for a moment. "It’s not that simple," I finally said.

"But you’re a Commander. If anyone could do it, it’s you."

I gave her a bitter smile. "I might have power and authority, but that also ties me to this system. I can’t just walk away."

She lowered her gaze, disappointed by my answer.

"I know you don’t trust me," I said softly. "But I want you to know I’m genuinely trying to protect you."

She looked at me with eyes filled with emotion. "I want to trust you, Brynmor. But I don’t know if I can."

Her words felt like a weight pressing on my chest. She wasn’t wrong. I had destroyed her life, and now I had to find a way to fix it.

The day passed in near silence. We didn’t speak much, only watching each other from a distance. But even without words, I could feel something shifting between us.

That evening, I decided to break the silence.

"Fiora," I called.

She turned, her expression unreadable.

"I know I’ve made many mistakes," I said. "But I want you to know I won’t let anyone hurt you."

She hesitated, then said, "I just want to know one thing."

"What is it?" I asked.

"If you could do it all over again, would you still choose me?"

Her question left me speechless. I didn’t know how to answer.

"Yes," I finally said. "I would still choose you."

Tears welled in her eyes, but this time, I saw something different—an ember of hope beginning to flicker.

But that hope didn’t last long.

As we prepared to sleep, I heard footsteps outside the bunker. My heart raced. They had found us.

Grabbing my weapon, I signaled for Fiora to stay quiet.

"Brynmor," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

"Don’t worry," I said. "I won’t let them touch you."

She nodded, though I could see her shaking.

I slowly opened the bunker door and peeked outside. A group of armed men was approaching. They were Devlin’s soldiers.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter