𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 (Book 1)

Chapter 17: You're Alive?

ZOE

Eleanor's words hung in the air like a lifeline, a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos that had become our lives. Max was alive, and he was somewhere in this city. The possibility of reuniting with an old friend filled us with a renewed sense of purpose.

We followed Eleanor through the dimly lit streets, guided by the sense that had brought us to Max's location. It was an eerie feeling, as if the city itself was leading us to him. We walked in silence, each step bringing us closer to the unknown.

Finally, we arrived at an abandoned building, its windows shattered and its walls covered in graffiti. Eleanor stopped and turned to us, her eyes filled with determination. "I can feel him in there," she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

Oliver, always the first to act, pushed open the creaking door, and we entered the building cautiously. The interior was a maze of debris and darkness, but Eleanor led the way with unwavering confidence.

As we ventured deeper into the building, we heard a faint cough and the shuffling of footsteps. We rounded a corner and found ourselves in a small room, dimly lit by a solitary, flickering lightbulb. And there, sitting against a wall, was Max.

Oliver froze for a moment, his eyes locked on his old friend. Then, with a choked sob, he rushed forward, falling to his knees in front of Max. Tears streamed down both of their faces as they embraced, a reunion that defied the odds.

"Max... how?" Oliver's voice trembled as he held his friend close. "How did you survive? Why did you come back here?"

Max pulled away slightly, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "I should have died that day," he began, his voice hoarse. "But as the explosion rocked Facility Apollo, something... something extraordinary happened."

He looked at each of us in turn, as if searching for understanding in our eyes. "I discovered a new ability, one that saved my life. I can manipulate bio-energy, harness it to heal myself and others. It was as if the explosion unlocked a hidden potential within me."

Oliver's eyes widened in amazement and disbelief. "So that's how you survived..."

Max nodded. "I knew I couldn't stay there. The government wouldn't stop hunting me, especially with this newfound power. I went off the grid, trained in secret, and tried to find others like us who needed help."

Eleanor interjected, her voice filled with gratitude. "We owe you our lives, Max. You helped us when we needed it most."

Max smiled, though there was sadness in his eyes. "You would have done the same for me. Now, we need to figure out our next move. The government won't give up on you, and they won't stop hunting Beings."

Oliver wiped away his tears and nodded. "We need a plan, Max. A way to fight back, to expose the truth about the government's experiments."

As we huddled together in that dimly lit room, the weight of our mission and the dangers we faced became all too clear. But with Max's return and his newfound abilities, we had a glimmer of hope. Together, we would face the challenges ahead, united by our shared struggle and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.