The Prototype

Chapter 12

Meanwhile, back in Australia, Ethan, Solace, and Rowan huddled inside an abandoned bookstore as the storm raged outside. The winds howled, tearing through the city with relentless force, the sky darkening as tornadoes swirled around them, casting shadows over the buildings. The air was thick with dust and debris, and the bookstore rattled under the pressure of the storm.

Ethan hunched over, his face lit only by the faint glow of his glitching watch. He was painstakingly examining every tiny component, adjusting the wiring, twisting and testing each part to find a way to counteract the malfunction. Rowan leaned against a shelf, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, frustration evident in his posture.

"So, this is great. We're.. stuck here." Rowan said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Solace shot him a look, her patience thinning. "Will you shut up? He's working on it."

"Well, excuse me for not wanting to be trapped in a city about to be swallowed by tornadoes. Who knows what else Maia has up her sleeve."

Solace narrowed her eyes, her tone biting.
"If you're going to whine about helping save the world, then maybe you should've stayed home!"

Rowan scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, please, like you're doing anything so helpful right now. We just happened to run into you. If anything, we're the ones who pulled you along."

Solace's eyes flashed with anger. "You say that like it's an insult. Don't think you're any better, Rowan. We're here trying to stop the world from being destroyed! This isn't some joyride."

Rowan clenched his fists. "Yeah? From HIS fiancée, Solace. The watches aren't working, half the world's locked in natural disasters, and we're barely holding it together. We don't even have the third piece, and time's running out!"

Ethan's hands paused over the watch components, but he kept his head down, listening as the two of them bickered.

Rowan threw his hands up. "Maybe it's time to accept the fact that Maia went rogue. We're not going to get anywhere like this!"

Without warning, Solace's hand came up, slapping Rowan across the face, her voice sharp. "Will you stop acting like a child! SNAP OUT OF IT!"

The shock of the slap silenced them both, but before the silence could settle, Ethan erupted, his voice filling the room. "Will you BOTH SHUT UP!"

Rowan and Solace turned to him, startled by the outburst. Ethan took a deep, shaky breath, his back turned as he steadied himself, hands clenched at his sides.

"I'm well aware of the mess I've made," he said, his voice raw, each word carrying the weight of guilt and frustration. "I know it's my fiancée who's spiraled, who's out there, almost successful at bringing the world to ruin." He let the words hang in the air for a moment, the tension thickening as he turned to look at both of them. "You both can either help me stop this—help me save her and keep the world from descending into pure chaos—or I'll do it on my own."

Rowan and Solace exchanged glances, the gravity of Ethan's words sobering them. Solace swallowed, her voice softening. "I'm sorry, Ethan."

"Yeah," Rowan said, his voice subdued, regret shadowing his face. "Sorry, man..."

Ethan took a deep breath, his hands still trembling as he picked up the watches, meticulously checking his adjustments.
"Look, I've fixed most of the glitch, but they'll need more maintenance," he said, his voice regaining its steadiness. He handed Solace and Rowan their watches back, watching as they put them on.

"I set the coordinates already. We only get one shot right now, so make it count. We're going back to New York, to my place, so I can make final adjustments. Then we're heading to Romania. It's likely the next place she'll target."

Solace fastened her watch and nodded firmly. "Got it."

Ethan looked at each of them, his gaze steady. "Ready?" They both nodded, their resolve clear.

"One... two... three."

In a flash, the three of them vanished from the bookstore, leaving the chaotic winds of Australia behind as they reappeared in Ethan's home in New York.

The moment they materialized in Ethan's living room, they were struck by the sight of the wreckage. Furniture was toppled, shards of glass lay scattered across the floor, and the remains of a coffee table lay shattered, the room stripped of its warmth and familiarity. Ethan's heart sank, recognizing the destruction as a reflection of Maia's fury. Her presence lingered, heavy and bitter in the air.

Ethan approached the remnants of the coffee table, his gaze settling on the broken frame lying among the wreckage. His fingers brushed against the shattered glass, the picture of him and Maia, their smiles so distant now it felt like they belonged to strangers.

Solace placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice gentle. "Ethan..."

He didn't look up, his focus still on the photo. "She's... slipping further," he murmured, the weight of regret palpable in his voice. "Every time I thought I knew her, it's like I was seeing only part of her... and now it feels like I don't know her at all."

Rowan moved closer, studying the broken frame and the shattered room. "Maybe there's still a part of her left. Maybe she's needing these... pieces for a reason."

Ethan clenched his jaw, his resolve hardening.
"If there's a chance to reach her, we have to try. But if not..." His voice wavered. "I have to do whatever it takes to stop her. Even if it means..."

Solace nodded, understanding. "We'll be ready. Whatever it takes."

Ethan straightened, brushing off the dust from his hands and motioning for them to gather around the table where he'd set up a small workstation. They sat down, Ethan carefully reexamining each watch, recalibrating the settings and syncing their coordinates for Romania.

Rowan watched him work, his usual banter replaced by a serious expression. "You really think this will help? That we can stop her?"

Ethan looked up, his eyes burning with determination. "We have to. For her sake—and the entire world's."