The city never noticed.
Cars passed.
People talked.
Life moved forward like nothing had changed.
But for Aren Voss—
Everything had.
They didn't stop running until the noise faded.
Until the pressure disappeared completely.
Until even the memory of that suffocating presence felt distant.
"…here."
Iris stopped abruptly.
Aren followed her gaze.
An old building stood tucked between two taller structures, its walls worn, windows cracked, and entrance half-hidden by shadows.
Abandoned.
Or at least—
It looked like it.
"You live here?" Aren asked.
Iris stepped inside without answering.
"…for now."
The inside was quiet.
Dust-covered floors. Broken furniture. Faint light slipping through shattered glass.
But something felt… off.
Not dangerous.
Not hostile.
Hidden.
Aren stepped further in, his eyes scanning instinctively.
"…this place is layered," he muttered.
Iris glanced back.
"…you can feel that already?"
Aren didn't reply.
Because he wasn't just feeling it—
He was understanding it.
The mark pulsed faintly.
"Energy distortion detected."
"…so it's intentional," Aren said.
Iris leaned against the wall, arms crossing.
"…it keeps people like them out."
A pause.
"…not completely," she added.
"…but enough."
Silence settled between them.
Not tense.
But not comfortable either.
They were still strangers.
Still threats.
Just… not immediate ones.
Aren sat down on a broken chair, his body finally relaxing slightly.
For the first time since everything started—
He wasn't moving.
"…so," Iris said after a moment.
"…what exactly are you?"
Straight to the point.
Aren let out a quiet breath.
"…I don't know."
She didn't look convinced.
"…that thing earlier," she continued.
"…you were about to use it again."
Aren's gaze shifted to his hand.
The mark remained still.
But he could feel it.
Waiting.
"…it reacts," he said.
"…to threats."
Iris narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…that's not normal."
Aren looked at her.
"…I figured."
A brief silence.
"…you almost lost control," she added.
Aren didn't deny it.
"…yeah."
The honesty caught her off guard.
Just slightly.
"…and you still used it," she said.
Aren leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting toward the cracked ceiling.
"…because we would've lost."
Silence.
Then—
"…fair."
Iris looked away.
"…but next time," she said quietly,
"…if you lose control…"
Aren turned his head slightly.
"…you'll stop me?" he asked.
A pause.
Then—
"…I'll try."
A faint smirk appeared on Aren's face.
"…good."
For a moment—
That was enough.
But the quiet didn't last.
"…that organization," Aren said.
"…who are they?"
Iris's expression shifted.
More serious.
"…there's more than one," she replied.
"…but the one we saw?"
A brief pause.
"…they're collectors."
Aren's eyes narrowed.
"…meaning?"
Iris looked directly at him.
"…they take things that don't belong."
A pause.
"…people included."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…and me," Aren said.
"…I don't belong."
Iris didn't answer.
Because she didn't need to.
"…you're not just rare," she said instead.
"…you're dangerous to them."
Aren's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…and to you?"
The question hung in the air.
Iris didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes met his—
Steady.
Unwavering.
"…I don't know yet."
Honest.
Aren nodded slightly.
"…fair."
Another silence followed.
Then—
"…we can't stay here long," Iris said.
"…they'll track the disturbance."
Aren stood up slowly.
"…then we move."
Iris tilted her head slightly.
"…you're just going with it?"
Aren looked at her.
"…standing still gets me caught."
A pause.
"…and I don't plan on that."
For the first time—
Iris smiled.
Slightly.
"…good."
Because for the first time—
They were aligned.
Not by trust.
Not by choice.
But by necessity.
Outside—
Far above the city—
A faint pulse spread through the air.
Invisible.
Silent.
But not unnoticed.
Somewhere—
Something responded.
And whatever it was—
It wasn't human.