Kay walked out slowly.
The air felt fresh, but something was off.
He found himself in a city.
Buildings were normal. Streets were clean.
People were there too.
But no one talked.
No one reacted.
Everyone moved in the same calm, empty way.
Kay walked closer to one of them.
A man passed by him.
Kay stopped him.
"Hey. Can you hear me?"
The man turned.
"Yes."
His voice had no emotion.
Kay looked at him carefully.
"Are you okay?"
"I am functioning normally."
Kay frowned.
"Do you remember your life?"
The man paused.
Then answered:
"I remember what is necessary."
Kay let go.
That answer said enough.
He stepped back and looked around again.
Everyone was like that.
"They didn't just store memories…" he said quietly.
"They changed people."
A large screen on a nearby building turned on.
"System Message:"
"Memory keeps you safe."
Kay looked at it.
"Safe from what?" he said.
A sudden pain hit his head.
Short but strong.
Images flashed quickly.
The girl.
The rain.
Her voice.
"Don't forget me…"
Kay held his head.
"I won't."
"Good."
The voice came from behind him.
Kay turned.
A man was standing there.
Dressed in black. Calm. Focused.
His eyes were different.
Not empty.
"Who are you?" Kay asked.
"Someone who still remembers," the man replied.
Kay stepped closer.
"You remember everything?"
The man shook his head.
"No. But enough."
Kay took a breath.
"Then help me understand what's going on."
The man looked at him for a moment.
Then said:
"You're marked."
"I know."
"Then we don't have much time," the man replied.
Kay stayed calm.
"I'm not running anymore. I need answers."
The man studied him, then nodded slightly.
"There are others like me," he said.
"People who didn't lose everything."
Kay's expression changed.
"Where?"
The man turned and started walking.
"Follow me if you want the truth."
Kay looked at the people around him one last time.
Then followed.
Above them, a small camera adjusted its angle.
"Target located."