The familiar hum of energy coursed through me as I shifted back into the suit and coat I'd worn when I first met Claire. The fabric settled against my skin like armor, a reminder of the role I needed to play.
With a thought, I teleported back to the motel, the dimly lit room materializing around me. The air was thick with the scent of stale coffee, old carpet, and the faint metallic tang of adrenaline that still clung to the walls from the night before.
"SERA," I murmured under my breath, "Where's Claire?"
The response flashed across my mind instantly, sharp and precise like a blade unsheathed.
"Claire visited an internet café downtown. Purchased weapons and ammunition from the dark web—two handguns, extra magazines, and a tactical knife. She also contacted a hacker under the alias 'GhostByte' for intel on Nickolai's known locations."
