The world didn't sound the same anymore.
Everything felt… distant.
Muted.
Like Maya was underwater, watching everything happen from far away—but unable to stop it.
Ethan collapsed.
Right in front of her.
And for a moment—
Maya forgot how to breathe.
"Ethan…"
Her voice came out broken.
Small.
Unfamiliar.
The guards surrounded them quickly.
Efficient.
Precise.
Weapons raised.
No room to move.
No room to fight.
"Don't move," one of them warned.
But Maya didn't hear him.
She was already moving.
She dropped to her knees beside Ethan, her hands trembling as she reached for him.
Blood.
Too much blood.
"No… no, no…" she whispered, panic rising in her chest.
Ethan's eyes fluttered open slightly.
Weak.
But still focused.
Still stubborn.
"Hey…" he murmured faintly.
Maya let out a shaky breath.
"I'm here. I'm here."
Her hands hovered over him, unsure what to do.
She had never felt this helpless.
Never felt this afraid.
"You shouldn't have come," he said, his voice barely audible.
Tears slipped down her face.
"You think I would just stay there?" she snapped, her voice breaking.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Even now.
Even like this.
"That's exactly why…" he whispered.
Before he could finish—
A guard stepped forward and pulled Maya back roughly.
"Get away from him."
"No!" she struggled, her voice rising.
"Don't touch me!"
But they were stronger.
Too many.
Too controlled.
Ethan tried to move.
Tried to stand.
But his body refused.
The man in black stepped closer, observing the scene like it was nothing more than an experiment.
"Take him," he ordered calmly.
Maya froze.
Her heart dropped.
"No—"
Two guards lifted Ethan up.
Careless.
Rough.
Like he didn't matter.
"Stop!" Maya screamed.
Her voice echoed through the empty road.
Desperate.
Raw.
But no one listened.
She struggled harder.
Fought back.
But it was useless.
Then—
Something snapped.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly.
Deep inside her.
Her breathing slowed.
Her body went still.
And her eyes changed.
Cold.
Focused.
Different.
The guard holding her frowned slightly.
"Hey—"
Maya turned her head slowly—
And grabbed his wrist.
The world exploded into visions.
But this time—
She didn't get lost in them.
She controlled them.
She dug deeper.
Forced more.
Pulled everything out.
Memories flooded her mind—
Codes.
Locations.
Names.
Weaknesses.
The guard gasped.
His knees buckled slightly.
Maya released him.
He dropped.
Unconscious.
Silence fell.
Everyone stared.
The man in black's expression shifted—
Just slightly.
Interest.
Maya stood up slowly.
Her hands steady.
Her breathing calm.
"You want to use me?" she said quietly.
Her voice no longer trembled.
"Fine."
The air felt heavier.
"I'll cooperate."
The guards exchanged glances.
The man in black studied her carefully.
"On what condition?"
Maya's eyes flickered briefly toward Ethan—
Being dragged away.
Barely conscious.
"You keep him alive."
Silence.
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then—
The man in black nodded.
"Done."
Maya looked back at him.
Her expression unreadable.
But inside—
Something had already changed.
She wasn't breaking anymore.
She was choosing.