The Prototype

Chapter 10

Maia flew through the heart of the city, her powers radiating waves of destruction. Twisters churned in her wake, tearing through the streets, ripping up signs, and hurling cars like they were toys. Buildings crumbled as powerful gusts of wind lashed through them, glass and debris raining down around Ethan, Rowan, and Solace as they chased her down in their car. Ethan gripped the wheel tightly, weaving through the chaos while Solace and Rowan held onto anything solid to avoid being tossed around with each sharp turn.

"Hold on!" Ethan shouted as he swerved to avoid a cascade of broken glass. Pedestrians ran in every direction, screaming as they dodged falling debris. Solace flinched as a streetlight crashed inches away, but her gaze remained locked on Maia, flying just ahead. Rowan, gripping the seatbelt across his chest, looked back and blanched.

"Uh, Ethan?" he said, his voice tense.

Ethan's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, catching sight of a massive tornado spiraling toward them, pulling chunks of the road up in its fury. His heart pounded as he pressed the gas pedal harder, the car jolting forward with a screech.

"We're not gonna make it." Rowan shouted, his voice almost a plea.

"We're gonna make it!" Solace replied, her eyes filled with fierce determination.

Rowan shook his head. "I'm telling you, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT!"

"WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT!" Solace yelled back, gripping the edge of the seat.

They all screamed as the tornado bore down on them, its edge nearly licking the back of the car. At the last possible second, Ethan veered left, sending the car skidding down a side street, just barely dodging the vortex. They sat in stunned silence for a split second, catching their breath, as the tornado ripped past behind them.

"Oh." Rowan gasped, a bit dazed, "we made it."

Solace scoffed, giving him a sidelong glance. But any moment of relief was short-lived; as they turned the next corner, they found themselves directly behind Maia, just as she halted in the middle of the road. Without hesitation, she turned, her gaze icy and calculating, and raised a hand toward the skyscraper beside her.

Before any of them could react, Maia unleashed a surge of energy. The building groaned as its foundations cracked, and with a horrific lurch, it began to topple. Ethan slammed on the brakes as the glass tower started to fall, separating them from Maia in a deafening crash. There was no time to react further; they abandoned the car and scrambled out, debris raining down as they took cover.

"She still has the piece!" Rowan shouted, his voice barely audible over the wreckage.

"Then we go after her on foot!" Ethan replied. They could see Maia ahead, her hand wrapped tightly around the glowing fragment. She shot them a look over her shoulder and took off, darting into the chaos-riddled streets. Without a second thought, they sprinted after her.

Ethan's legs burned as he pushed himself harder, his adrenaline overriding the pain and exhaustion. Rowan and Solace kept close behind, dodging rubble and leaping over cracks in the pavement. Finally, Ethan surged ahead, catching up to Maia just as she ducked into an alleyway. He lunged forward, grabbing her arm and pinning her against the wall, his hand finding her throat.

"Don't make me hurt you, Maia," he said, his voice low but firm. "I don't want to hurt you. Give me the piece."

She sneered, her gaze unwavering. "Or what? You'll end me?" She tilted her head, challenging him. "Do it."

For a moment, Ethan froze, his grip on her loosening. He stared into her eyes, searching for any trace of the Maia he knew, the woman he had loved. But there was only fury there, raw and unrestrained. His silence stretched between them, his heart pounding with the weight of every memory they'd shared.

"DO IT!" she shouted, her voice cracking as her rage flared. And in that instant, she broke free of his grasp, her hand sparking with electric energy as she struck him. The force sent him sprawling to the ground, pain exploding in his side. He looked up, dazed, as Maia loomed over him, her expression a twisted blend of triumph and disdain.

"You can't even muster the guts to take what you need," she sneered. "And they want you to be the face of the company? With MY work? What a joke."

Ethan gritted his teeth, her words slicing into him. Around them, the city trembled, people fleeing in terror as chaos continued to reign.

"So that's it?" Ethan rasped, pain and anger twisting his voice. "It's all about power now? I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!"

Maia's face twisted, her voice going from an angry outburst then dropping to a venomous whisper. "AND I THOUGHT YOU RESPECTED ME!" "Sometimes love isn't enough. Remember that? Sometimes the person you think you love can be... exhausting."

Her words hit him like a blow. They echoed back to their last fight before all this had started, reminding him of the fissures that had formed between them long before. Guilt knotted in his chest, the realization of just how far things had unraveled sinking in. He looked up at her, clutching his side, knowing he had pushed her to this point, the woman he had adored now a storm of fury and power he could barely recognize.

"But don't worry," Maia continued, her tone dripping with disdain. "You're right where you need to be. And I'm right where I DESERVE to be...
Above all.
Even you."

With that, she turned, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished into the chaos.

Rowan and Solace arrived seconds later, both of them panting, worry etched across their faces. Solace knelt beside him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Ethan pushed himself up with a grimace, nodding. "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine," he muttered, his voice tight.

"Did you get the piece?" Rowan asked, scanning his hands for the prototype.

Ethan shook his head, frustration darkening his features. "No... she still has it."

"Damn it," Rowan cursed under his breath. "So what do we do now?"

Ethan took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand straighter. "We find her," he said, his voice steady and resolute. "I'm not giving up. Not now, not ever."

The three of them stood there amid the chaos of the crumbling city, the air thick with smoke and dust. Ethan's resolve had solidified into something unbreakable, a determination forged from both love and regret. Maia might be lost in her power, but he refused to believe she was beyond saving. Not yet. And if saving her meant risking everything, he'd do it. For her—and for everyone else who had become entangled in her storm.