Fragments

15

The forest swallows me in its dark embrace as I run, branches clawing at my skin and the earth shifting beneath my feet. The cold air burns my lungs with every breath, but I push through the pain, driven by the singular thought of escape. Marek's threats echo in my mind, a chilling reminder of how close I came to losing everything once again, of the fate Kellan will fall into if I don't get this done.

I risk a glance over my shoulder. The darkness behind me is thick, concealing any sign of pursuit, but I know Marek won't give up so easily. He'll be hunting me, scouring the forest with his guards. He's determined to drag me back, to erase me so thoroughly this time that not even a fragment of my old self remains. But I won't let him.

A faint rustle in the underbrush catches my ear, and I freeze, dropping to a crouch behind a large tree. My heart thuds loudly, every beat echoing in the silence. I hold my breath, listening intently. Footsteps, faint but distinct, crunch against the dried leaves somewhere behind me. They're moving slowly, methodically. The guards.

I press my back against the rough bark, squeezing my eyes shut. Think, Lena. What would Kellan do? My mind races, the weight of the flash drive in my pocket serving as a reminder of what's at stake. We came so close to reclaiming the truth, to taking back what the Ministry stole. I can't lose it now. I can't let it end here.

The footsteps grow louder, closer. I open my eyes, scanning the darkness for a path, a way to slip past them unseen. To my left, the trees thin out, the moonlight piercing through in faint patches. It's risky, but it might be my only chance. I take a slow, deep breath and then move, crouching low as I dart toward the cover of the denser woods.

My movements are careful, each step placed with agonizing precision. The guards' voices drift through the air, low and indistinct. They're searching, spreading out in the hope of flushing me out. I keep moving, the terrain is uneven beneath my feet. Every sound, every whisper of the wind, sets my nerves on edge.

Then, up ahead, I spot it-a small hollow beneath a fallen tree, half-concealed by a tangle of roots and leaves. It's not much, but it might be enough. I drop to the ground, crawling into the narrow space, the damp earth pressing against my skin. I lie still, my breath shallow, listening as the footsteps approach.

"Spread out," one of the guards barks, his voice sharp and commanding. "She can't have gone far."

I clamp a hand over my mouth, willing my body to stay still, to not give away my hiding place. The footsteps draw closer, the crunch of leaves and twigs a terrifying reminder of how exposed I am. I hold my breath, the silence stretching into an eternity.

A guard passes by, his boots inches from my face. I close my eyes, every muscle in my body tensed, waiting for the moment he'll notice me. He pauses, his movements slowing as if sensing something. My heart hammers in my chest.

He shifts, his foot brushing against the fallen leaves, but then he moves on, the sound of his steps fading into the distance. I exhale slowly, the tension easing slightly. They haven't found me. Not yet.

I stay hidden for a while longer, counting the seconds, the minutes until the sounds of their search fade into the background noise of the forest. Then, cautiously, I inch out from the hollow, my body aching from the cramped position. I have to keep moving. I can't stay in one place for too long.

I push forward, moving deeper into the forest. The darkness feels suffocating, every shadow a potential threat. But there's a small spark of hope burning inside me. I escaped them once. I can do it again. I have to find the Recall. They're out there somewhere, waiting for me. I have to get to them with the flash drive, with the fragments of our stolen lives.

As I navigate through the trees, I stumble into a small clearing. The moonlight filters down, illuminating the space in a soft, silvery glow. I stop, my breath ragged, my mind whirling with exhaustion and fear. I need to rest, even if only for a moment. I drop to my knees, clutching the flash drive in my pocket as if it's a lifeline.

A sound-a soft rustle-breaks the silence, and I jerk my head up. My heart skips a beat as a figure steps into the clearing, moving with careful, deliberate steps.

"Elias?"

He emerges from the shadows, his face tight with worry, his eyes scanning the clearing until they settle on me. Relief flickers across his features for a moment before his expression hardens again. "Lena," he breathes, crossing the clearing quickly. "Are you alright?"

"Elias?" I stammer, the confusion twisting my words. "What are you doing here?"

He reaches me, his hands hovering as if to steady me, but he hesitates, pulling back slightly. "I came to make sure you were safe," he says, his voice tense. "Marek... he was going to have you erased."

"Why do you care?" The question tumbles out before I can stop it, my mind struggling to make sense of his presence. "You're with the Ministry."

"I believe in the Ministry," Elias says, his eyes meeting mine with a fierce intensity. "I believe in order, in keeping society stable. But I also believe in you, Lena. I believe you deserve the right to make your own choices." He pauses, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting Marek to appear at any moment. "Even if those choices mean..."

My breath catches as I see Kellan emerge. He's battered and bruised, his movements slow, but he's here. His eyes lock onto mine, relief and pain mingling in his gaze. "Lena," he murmurs, struggling to make his way toward me.

Elias moves aside, allowing Kellan to reach me. I rush to him, my hands hovering over his injuries, afraid to touch him. "Are you okay?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"I'll be fine," Kellan replies, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the pain etched into his features. "Thanks to him." He nods toward Elias.

I turn back to Elias, my heart hammering. "Why did you save him?" I ask, the question heavy with suspicion and gratitude.

Elias's jaw tightens, his gaze shifting to the ground for a moment. "Because he can protect you," he says quietly. "Because as much as I believe in what the Ministry stands for, I believe in your right to live, Lena. And I know that if you go with Kellan, you'll be safe." He looks up, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of conflict and resolve. "This is your choice. I'm not here to take you back. I'm here to make sure you have a chance."

I stare at him, the weight of his words sinking in. He's still loyal to the Ministry, and still believes in their vision of order, but he's willing to go against them for this-to give me the chance to decide my own fate. It's a contradiction that tears at the very fabric of what I thought I knew about him. I wonder what memories he's lost, I wonder if he was ever a rebel, too.

"You're not coming with us," I say slowly, more a statement than a question.

"No," Elias replies, his voice steady. "I can't go with you. But I'll distract Marek." His eyes flicker with something-regret, sorrow, perhaps both. "They'll hunt you, and I can't protect you forever. But Kellan can. And if this is the life you choose... then go. Now."

"Thank you," Kellan says to Elias as he shifts beside me, his hand finding mine in a way that's as possessive as it is desperate to hold me again. His grip firm despite the pain in his movements, "We have to go, Lena. Unless..."

I glance between them-Elias, the man who once embodied the safety and order I thought I wanted, and Kellan, the embodiment of everything chaotic and uncertain but also real.

"I'm sorry," my voice cracks as I face Elias. The choice isn't a choice at all. I don't want to be submitted to erasure. I want to be me.

Elias watches me, his eyes shadowed with something that looks like loss. "Be careful, Lena," he says quietly.

I nod, swallowing hard. "You too," I whisper. Then, squeezing Kellan's hand, I turn toward the forest's edge.

Elias steps back, melting into the shadows of the trees, his eyes never leaving mine. He's giving me the chance to decide my fate, even if it means turning my back on the life he thought was best for me. It's the most he can do, and for that, I'm grateful.

As Kellan and I slip into the forest, I glance back one last time. Elias stands there, a solitary figure in the clearing, watching us disappear into the night. He won't follow. He won't betray the Ministry, but he also won't betray me.

We move quickly, Kellan's steps faltering slightly with each stride, but he pushes on. We're running together now, not just from the Ministry, but toward something bigger. Toward freedom, toward truth. And with Elias letting me go, with his final act of defiance, we just might have a fighting chance.