Chapter 13 - Chapter 12: Night Run

The stairwell was narrow, concrete, lit by flickering emergency strips. Elara and Kai took the steps two at a time, boots pounding in rhythm. Behind them, the safe house door hung open like a wound, bodies cooling inside. They burst into the back alley—trash-strewn, reeking of rain and rotting food. Neon bled around the corner, painting everything red and blue. Kai grabbed her hand—firm, instinctive—and pulled her left into Mong Kok's maze of back lanes."Stay close," he said, voice low. "Drones will be up soon."Elara matched his pace, lungs burning. The bandage on her arm throbbed, but adrenaline kept it distant. She could still feel the echo of his thumb on her skin from the first-aid moment—possessive, protective. It grounded her now. They turned sharp right into a covered market lane—closed for the night, stalls shuttered, red lanterns swaying overhead. Dried fish and incense hung thick in the air. A low buzz cut the night—drone rotors. Two of them, red eyes sweeping from above . Kai yanked her under a low awning, pressing them against a shuttered stall. His body shielded hers, arm braced above her head, chest close enough she felt his heartbeat against hers. Cedar and musk wrapped around her—grounding, intoxicating. The drones passed—close enough she felt the downdraft on her face. One hovered for a second, red light sweeping inches from Kai's boot. Then they moved on. Kai exhaled against her hair. "Too close."They slipped out, sprinting again. The lane opened onto a main road—busy even at this hour. Taxis, scooters, delivery bikes weaving through crowds. Kai spotted a black electric motorcycle chained to a pole—low, sleek, keys still in the ignition. The owner must have stepped away for a smoke. He vaulted on, hot-wired it in three seconds. Elara climbed behind, arms locking around his waist. The engine hummed to life—silent, electric, fast. Kai gunned it. They shot into traffic like a bullet. A delivery truck swerved—horn blaring. Kai leaned hard left, tires screaming, missing the bumper by inches. Elara tightened her grip, cheek pressed to his back, wind whipping past. Behind them, a black SUV roared out of a side street—headlights high, accelerating fast. Another followed. Curator cleanup crew. Kai wove between cars—threading gaps that shouldn't exist. A taxi cut in front; he swerved right, rear tire kissing the curb. Sparks flew. Elara glanced back. The SUVs were gaining—two blocks behind, pushing through traffic. Kai took a hard right into a pedestrian alley—too narrow for cars. The lead SUV tried to follow, scraping paint, metal shrieking against brick. The bike shot through—lanterns swaying wildly overhead, stalls flashing past in a blur of red and gold. A drone dropped down ahead—red eye locking on them. Kai twisted the throttle. The bike surged. The drone dove—trying to block. Elara reached into her jacket, yanked the multi-tool, and hurled it—blade out—like a throwing knife. It struck the rotor with a metallic clang. The drone wobbled, spiraled, crashed into a stall—wood splintering, red light winking out. Kai glanced back, eyes wide. "Nice throw."Elara grinned, adrenaline singing. "Had to do something."The bike righted itself inches from the curb. They burst onto Nathan Road—main artery, packed with night crowds and neon. Horns blared as he cut through lanes, weaving between double-decker buses and taxis. Elara looked back. The SUVs were still there—gaining, relentless. Kai took a sudden left—into an underground parking garage ramp. Down they went—dark, echoing, concrete walls flashing past. The SUVs followed, tires squealing. At the bottom, Kai cut the lights, killed the engine, coasted into a shadowed corner behind a row of vans.Silence.They sat still, breathing hard. The SUVs roared past—searching the lower levels. Kai waited ten heartbeats. Then eased the bike back out, lights off, creeping up the opposite ramp. They emerged on a quiet side street—city lights glittering ahead. Kai finally spoke, voice low over the hum of the bike."We're clear. For now."Elara rested her forehead against his shoulder, arms still locked around him. The adrenaline crash hit hard—shaking, heart racing—but she didn't let go. Not yet. "Where to?" she asked, voice soft against his back."Old contact. Kowloon side. Safe for tonight."She nodded, tightening her hold just a fraction. The city blurred past again—endless, alive, indifferent. But she wasn't indifferent. Not to the danger.Not to the proof they carried.And not to the man she was holding onto as they raced into the night.