"I was coming to check if you were—"
"I was just going out—"
They both spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping and cutting each other off. The silence that followed was packed with tension.
Zeynep swallowed hard, trying to keep her face neutral, like she hadn't just been falling apart minutes ago.
Zayden didn't press her. No questions from him.
He just tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing like someone trying to figure out a language they don't understand but can feel deep down.
"You don't have to explain," he finally said, his voice calm and steady. Too steady, really.
It annoyed her how that steadiness made her want to fall apart all over again.
"I wasn't going to," she shot back, sharper than she meant to.
He didn't flinch or back away.
Zeynep tried to step around him, needing some space. Air. Room to think without him staring at her like that, as if he could see everything she wasn't saying.
But his hand was still on the door, still on her side. Not blocking her, not holding her back. Just... there. It was weird; he didn't connect like this with anyone else, but he felt familiar to her in a way she couldn't explain. And she could tell he felt it too, like they'd somehow met before, even though they hadn't.
They were standing way too close now. The tension wasn't loud or chaotic; it was this soft, magnetic pull between them. It brought out both the worst and best in them. They weren't touching, but every nerve ending was buzzing with the energy of it all.
"If you keep looking at me like that," she said quietly, her voice almost getting lost between them, "I might start thinking you actually care."
He clenched his jaw.
Then, honestly and softly, he replied, "I don't really know what this is, Zeynep. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel something. I'm human too, before just a stranger."
Her eyes shot to his, wide and shaky.
Something sparked between them.
Without saying anything else, she walked past him, their shoulders brushing. She was close enough to feel his warmth, close enough to sense his tension.
He didn't stop her.
But he turned slowly, watching her go.
He wondered what she was hiding. A girl on the run wasn't a good sign, and being in the forest all alone was even worse.
He also couldn't shake the thought that she might be an undercover agent sent by his enemies, or maybe she was genuinely in trouble. He just couldn't figure it out.
In that moment, in the forest…
The woods were pretty quiet, just some leaves rustling in a light breeze. Sunlight peeked through the trees, creating soft golden spots on the mossy ground. Birds chirped happily in the distance, totally unaware of the storm brewing inside her.
Zeynep wandered around aimlessly, her boots sinking into the damp dirt as she maneuvered past a bunch of tall trees that all looked alike. The air felt crisp, but not too cold, with a hint of pine and fresh mud. It was peaceful, almost too calm for the chaos swirling in her chest.
She paused beside a crooked birch tree, its bark pale and flaking like crumpled paper. Leaning her forehead against it, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The light was changing, not fading but getting brighter like it does just before noon. Shadows grew thinner and sharper, yet it did little to ease her unease.
"I should go back," she murmured to herself, breaking the stillness.
She turned and retraced what she thought was the same path.
But nothing looked familiar.
A knot twisted in her stomach. She spun around slowly, checking the trees. Her breathing got shaky.
The forest had swallowed the trail whole.
I didn't venture that far. There's no way...
But every direction looked identical now, endless trunks, dappled sunlight, and the quiet hum of nature.
Panic crept up her spine.
She turned left, then backtracked. Took a right. No luck. Her hands were shaking. Her heart raced, and her breath got shallow.
Then she heard it.
A soft crunch behind her. The unmistakable sound of footsteps.
Zeynep froze.
A chill ran down her spine despite the sunshine above.
Slowly, she turned around...
And when she saw what was behind her, she was stunned.
Back to the cabin.
Zayden stood there for what felt like ages, probably around 10 to 15 minutes, just watching her figure fade into the trees.
Then he finally moved.
He headed inside the cabin, went straight to his room, and grabbed his old rifle from behind the stove. It felt familiar, even though it was a bit worn out. He threw it over his shoulder, grabbed his coat, and stepped out into the chilly morning air.
His target wasn't far off. There was a hunting hut, tucked away under some rocky hills, a little hidden by nature, and an old radio tower. Inside was Leo, a guy who was a good twenty years older than Zayden. He was quiet and the only one Zayden trusted to keep tabs on the shady world he wanted to leave behind.
When Zayden walked in, Leo didn't look surprised at all.
"Hi, Leo," Zayden said as he closed the creaky door behind him.
"You're not flying under the radar anymore," Leo replied. "And neither is she."
Zayden's face stayed neutral, but those words hit hard.
"They're aware you're back," Leo went on, laying a worn-out map on the table. "They know why you went quiet after that incident. But now you're back on their radar, and they're following your scent."
Zayden just stared with narrowed eyes.
"And the girl you saved? They've got questions about her, too. Oh, and Lunel's missing since that whole thing went down."
Zayden's jaw tightened. "How? Where is he? Last thing I knew, he was alive and his chip was beeping."
Leo shook his head. "No signs, no sign of a break in, nothing. But someone's got eyes on you. I can't figure out where Lunel is, or if he's even still alive, I don't know".