Cloaked Heart (Silent Moments Series: Book 3)

Chapter 35

 As Lexa and I raced after the little girl, the cityscape around us morphed and shifted, the digital world of the City of Light playing tricks on our senses. "Wait! We're losing her!" I shouted, desperation edging my voice as we struggled to keep up.

When we thought we had finally caught up to her, we were met not with the child but with a massive, insurmountable fence stretching high into the virtual sky. "It's a firewall," Lexa identified, her voice tinged with frustration.

Confusion and anger welled up inside me. "I don't understand," I said, feeling thwarted by this new obstacle.

Then, a familiar voice interjected, "You'll never get to the kill switch." It was Jasper, emerging from the digital crowd with a serene yet unsettling expression.

Lexa tensed at his words, her warrior instincts kicking in as she drew her swords. I, however, urged restraint. "No. It's okay. Jasper, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to reason with him.

Jasper's response was chilling in its calmness. "Trying to stop you. You've seen the City of Light now. It's perfect. There's peace. Happiness. Safety. Why would you want to deny that to anyone?" he asked, his reasoning tainted by A.L.I.E.'s influence.

I countered, my voice rising in frustration. "She's torturing people to get them here, Jasper. Taking their memories. Controlling them. This isn't even you. This is A.L.I.E."

Jasper pushed back, his words reflecting A.L.I.E.'s programming. "She's doing what has to be done!"

I yelled, my frustration boiling over. "She took away our choice! Human beings have free will. We get to decide how we should live!"

Jasper continued, undeterred. "Human beings are the only species that act against our own self-interest. Torture each other. We fight, we hurt each other. Break each other's hearts. None of that exists here. A.L.I.E. is protecting us from ourselves."

Lexa, sensing the urgency of our mission, urged me to move on. "Kegan, there's still time. We'll find another sign, let's go."

As we prepared to leave, Jasper stepped in our path. "I can't let you do that."

Jaha and several others began to materialize, surrounding us. Panic set in as Jaha sneered, "Kegan! There's nowhere to run. It's over. The second AI can no longer protect you."

I turned to Lexa, desperate for a solution. "If I remove the Flame, will it stop the update?"

"Yes, but no one's ever done it by choice before. Regardless, you will be one of them. A.L.I.E. will get the Flame either way," she explained, her tone grave.

"Stop fighting," Jaha spat at us, his expression triumphant.

But then, Lexa pointed to a wall. "Kegan, Kegan look," she said.

I followed her gaze and saw it – a door adorned with an actual raven. "Raven," I sighed, recognizing the symbol.

Jasper, however, blocked our path to the door. "Jasper, move," I growled, but he remained obstinate.

With a deep breath, I made a decision. I punched Jasper, knocking him out cold. Jaha and the others began to close in on us.

"Go! I'll hold them off!" Lexa shouted, ready to fight.

I tried to pull her with me, desperation in my grip. "No, Lexa!... I love you!" I cried, my voice breaking with emotion.

She gave me a bittersweet smile and kissed me one last time. "I'll always be with you, Kegan," she said, then turned to face the approaching crowd, her swords ready. With a heavy heart, I stepped through the door into another unknown. As it closed behind me, I found myself in a space station, gazing out a window at the distant Earth. The transition was jarring, the change from the digital world of the City of Light to the stark reality of space a stark reminder of the lengths I had gone to save those I loved.