BEEP.
BEEP.
BEEP.
The rhythm was wrong. Too fast. Too loud.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP—
Pssssss.
Steam hissed through the room, bleeding crimson light across cold metal walls.
Thump.
A skinny foot touched the floor.
Then another.
A heavy sigh escaped the body still half-bound to the futuristic chair, its breath uneven, shallow—matching the screaming sirens that flooded the chamber with red. Tubes tore loose as the figure dragged himself forward, wires clattering behind him like a severed tail. A thin blue gown hung loosely over a malnourished frame, the glow behind him staining his skin pale.
He stumbled toward the elevator.
DING.
Psssssshhh.
The doors slid open. Steam poured in first.
The boy collapsed against the mirrored wall, chest heaving. His eyes slowly adjusted, blinking against the light—until he noticed the reflection staring back at him.
"What…?" he whispered.
He leaned closer, hands rising to his face, fingers tracing sharp cheekbones, sunken eyes, unfamiliar angles.
"Is that… me?"
His gaze dropped to his hands. Too thin. Too fragile.
The elevator hissed again as it came to a stop.
The doors opened.
Steam stepped out first—then cleared.
Weapons were raised.
Katana poised. Guns steady.
And then—
"Michael."
Alice's voice cut through everything.
His head snapped up.
"Michael?" he echoed. "How do you know my name?"
"Oh boy," Jax muttered under his breath.
"And who are you?" Michael continued, panic creeping in. "Where am I? Where's my mom? Where's my sister?"
"Calm down," Shan said gently, stepping forward.
Weapons lowered. Relief spread quietly through the room.
Alice approached him slowly and sat beside him, close enough for warmth.
"Michael," she said. "Do you remember me?"
He frowned, studying her face. "I remember your voice. It sounds like my mom."
"That's because I am your mom."
Silence.
"No way," Michael said quickly. "If you're really her—what was my elementary teacher's name?"
Alice didn't hesitate. "Ms. Noluthando. You called her Ms. Nolu. She was African. Your favorite teacher."
Michael froze.
"And you tried to propose to her," Alice added, smiling softly.
His breath hitched. Then he laughed—broken, disbelieving.
"It really is you… Mom."
Tears spilled as he wrapped his arms around her. Alice held him tight, like she was afraid he'd disappear again.
"You've changed," Michael said quietly.
"How so?" she asked.
"You're stronger. Physically."
Mika stepped forward, draping a blanket over his shoulders. "Hey. I'm Mika. Nice to finally meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Michael nodded, then glanced at the others. "Who are they?"
"That's Mama's Fangs," Alice said. "My family. And that's Bai Shan. We're sheltering in his mansion."
"Mansion?" Michael frowned. "Weren't we supposed to be at Obsidian's HQ?"
"Obsidian?" Jax blurted.
Hana elbowed him hard.
Shan and Alice exchanged a look.
"That's… what I need to tell you," Alice said softly. "But not tonight."
Later, the city slept.
The night air cut cold as Alice drove through Aesthetic City. Michael sat beside her, bundled in blankets, sipping nutrients while ruined streets passed by in silence.
"How old am I again?" he asked.
"Twenty-six."
"So I really slept through a decade," he chuckled.
"Lucky you."
They laughed. Just for a moment.
They reached the hill overlooking the city. Aesthetic City sprawled below—broken, alive, stubborn.
"Mom," Michael said. "Why did the big guy react like that when I mentioned Obsidian?"
"That's Jax," Alice replied. "Obsidian isn't what it promised to be. During the Fracture, they closed their gates. Only opened them for employees."
"Then why were we there?"
Alice stayed silent.
"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked.
Michael's eyes widened.
"Evelyne…" His breath quickened. "She got shot—then everything went black."
"Obsidian opened fire when they found us," Alice said quietly. "So much blood that night."
"Where's Eve?" Michael grabbed her arm. "She was breathing. I saw it."
Alice looked away.
"She's missing," she said. "Her body was taken. I've been searching ever since."
A lie.
Michael relaxed, tears falling as he hugged her. "Then we'll find her. Together."
He fell asleep in the car soon after.
Alice stepped out, letting the wind hit her face. She walked behind a tree—
And broke.