Everyone Is Connected

Chapter 5 Trust issues

8 in the Morning .

I opened my eyes, finding myself back in the real world, feeling the weight of reality settle over me. Kassandra stood nearby, her arms crossed, staring at me with an intensity that felt almost scolding.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she said, voice low but edged with worry. "You've been in that cyberspace dive for ten hours, Elouise. Your brain could've fried itself!"

I took a breath, a small, satisfied smile pulling at my lips. "I went beyond the Blackwall, Kassandra. I tapped into the Hive and downloaded their data. Every last bit." The thrill of that accomplishment, of the power it promised, was something she couldn't possibly understand.

Her expression flickered from anger to a mix of confusion and... fear? "Do you realize what you've done?" she whispered. "You linked with the Blackwall. That's a breakthrough, yes, but it's also dangerous. You said yourself it was a threat."

I shook my head, stepping out of the dive machine and reaching for her hand, feeling a strange calm settle over me. "She isn't just a threat, Kassandra. She's like me, a reflection of everything I am. She's my mind, my emotions—everything I've been through, reflected right back. I'm in her, and she's in me."

Kassandra's eyes widened, as though seeing a version of me she hadn't quite expected. "You really believe that?"

I nodded, feeling more certain than ever. I grabbed my clothes, getting dressed quickly, then lit a cigarette as we walked outside. The Blackwall's presence lingered, now closer than ever, visible to me as if she were a shadow just at my side, an invisible ally that only I could sense.

As I exhaled the smoke, savoring the strange clarity of the moment, I noticed Leon standing a few steps away, watching me with that same cold, guarded expression he always wore.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked, voice neutral.

I nodded, and he sat beside me, his gaze unwavering. It was clear he had questions, and maybe even a few doubts.

Leon sat in silence beside me, his cold, assessing eyes taking in my every move. For a long moment, he didn't say anything. The smoke curled between us, and I could feel him choosing his words carefully.

"Elouise," he finally said, his voice low but firm. "You're playing with things that could rip you apart from the inside out. Do you even realize what you're doing to yourself?"

I gave a small, almost amused smile, shaking my head slightly. "Leon, you don't understand—not yet," I murmured. Then, without thinking, I reached out, resting my hand on his.

The warmth of his skin, steady and grounding, was more intense than I'd anticipated. He glanced down at our hands, his expression softening in a way I hadn't seen before. His gaze shifted back up to meet mine, and there was something different there. A flicker of warmth or maybe curiosity, like he was seeing a side of me he hadn't expected.

Realizing what I'd done, I quickly pulled my hand back. "Sorry," I said with a slight laugh, trying to ease the moment. "That was... bold of me. It's just that today's a good day. I haven't felt like this in years."

Leon's expression shifted, his guarded demeanor softening for a moment as he held my gaze. "You're different today," he said quietly, almost as if he wasn't sure he should say it aloud.

"Maybe I am." I shrugged, but the spark of connection between us lingered, and for once, I didn't try to bury it.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "It's... different now. Everything feels so much more intense. It's like the world isn't just black and white anymore." I hesitated, glancing up at Leon. "For once, the dark thoughts—they've faded. Just for a moment. They're still there, and yeah, they hurt. But... I know I'm not the only one going through this."