NANA

Without a second thought, she turned and made her way toward the car. The engine idled nearby, abandoned by the one person who had tried to control the chaos. Nana approached it, her movements deliberate, almost mechanical. She grabbed the door handle, pulling it open with ease, as if the decision had already been made in her mind long before she'd even arrived here.

Ash, quiet and shadowed in the storm's gloom, followed her with a hesitant step. He said nothing, but his eyes flicked from Linda's fallen form to the girl who was about to drive them into the unknown.

"Let's go," Nana muttered, her voice as cold as the wind that howled around them.

She slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a roar that seemed to tear through the storm. The tires screeched on the snow-covered ground, and with a violent lurch, the car sped off, the world outside a blur of white and gray.

The stolen car sped through the frozen wasteland, but something inside Nana had gone still. Linda's blood was barely dry in the snow, yet Nana felt… nothing. No relief. No victory. Just a hollow space where her humanity once lived.

Ash didn't notice it at first. Not until Nana's grip on the steering wheel loosened, and a cold smirk crept across her face.

"Burn it all down?" Ash echoed, searching her face for the person he thought he knew.

Nana's eyes flicked to him, sharp and glinting.

"No," she murmured. "I'll rebuild it."

Ash's breath hitched.

"Rebuild what?"

"The world," she whispered. "My world."

The car's tires screeched against the frozen asphalt as Nana slammed the brakes, the vehicle skidding slightly before grinding to a halt. A faint glow ahead cut through the thick snowfall—a lone café, its flickering neon sign barely holding on. "Luna's Rest." The soft hum of the lights seemed to be the only thing alive in this desolate stretch of land.

Nana tightened her grip on the steering wheel, eyes narrowing. Ash sat quietly beside her, staring out at the café.

"Why stop here?" he asked cautiously.

Without answering, Nana opened the door. The bitter wind howled into the car, but she didn't flinch. Ash hesitated before following her out, pulling his coat tighter.

The bell above the café door jingled softly as they stepped in. The warmth inside was stifling compared to the storm outside. The place was nearly empty, save for a couple hunched over mugs of coffee in the corner and an old man at the counter, half-asleep.

Nana moved to a booth near the window, sitting down with an eerie calm. Ash followed but kept glancing around.

A waitress with tired eyes and chipped nail polish approached them. "Something to warm you up?" she asked.

Nana didn't look at her. "Coffee. Black."

Ash cleared his throat. "Same."

The waitress nodded and shuffled away.

For a moment, the silence between them stretched thin. Ash's breath fogged the window as he stared out into the storm.

"Nana…" he started, choosing his words carefully. "What happened back there with Linda… that wasn't—"

"Necessary?" Nana interrupted coldly, turning her steely gaze on him.

Ash swallowed hard. "That wasn't you."

Nana let out a soft, humorless laugh. "You think you know me?" She leaned forward, fingers tapping against the table. "Linda built her empire on blood and lies. She deserved worse."

Ash sat back, studying her. There was something off—something fractured.

The waitress returned, placing two steaming cups in front of them. Nana didn't touch hers.

"I'm not here to justify myself to you, Ash." Her voice was softer now but colder, detached. "I stopped here for a reason."

Ash frowned. "What reason?"

Nana's eyes slowly drifted to the corner of the café. The old man at the counter had vanished.

"We're not alone."

Ash's hand instinctively moved toward the weapon at his side.

A soft click echoed behind them.

The couple in the corner were standing now, their faces expressionless, arms hanging unnaturally still.

Nana's lips curved into a smirk.

"Found us."

Without hesitation, she flipped the table onto its side as a gunshot tore through the space where her head had been.

Chaos erupted.

Ash dove for cover, narrowly avoiding a second shot. Nana moved like a shadow, sliding behind the counter, knocking over coffee pots and plates. The waitress screamed and ducked as the glass shattered around them.

"You really thought they wouldn't send cleanup?" Nana growled, pulling a pistol from her coat.

Ash shouted over the gunfire. "We need to get out—"

BANG!

Nana's bullet struck the arm of one attacker, sending him crashing into a table.

"Cover me!" she snapped.

Ash fired blindly toward the second assailant while Nana vaulted over the counter, landing with brutal precision. She kicked a chair into the man's knees, forcing him down before slamming the butt of her gun into his temple.

Silence returned as quickly as it had broken.

The café was in ruins—glass shards, overturned tables, and the smell of burnt coffee filled the air.

Nana straightened, brushing dust from her coat.

Ash stared at her in disbelief.

"You planned this," he muttered.

Nana smirked. "Not exactly. But I had a feeling."

Her gaze flicked to the bodies on the floor.

"They're sending more."

Ash's stomach tightened. "We need to move."

Nana turned toward the exit, but something made her pause.

A distant hum.

Low and mechanical.

Her eyes darkened.

"They're here."

Outside, the snowstorm seemed to scream as black vehicles emerged from the white haze, their headlights cutting through the storm.

Nana didn't wait. She grabbed Ash by the arm and yanked him toward the back door.

"We're done playing defense," she hissed.

They burst out into the cold, sprinting through the snow.

Somewhere in the distance, a voice crackled through a comm system.

"Subject located. Do not let her escape."

But Nana was already gone, her figure disappearing into the blizzard.

And this time, she wasn't running.

She was hunting.

The snowstorm swallowed them whole. Icy wind tore at their clothes, howling like a beast in the dark. Nana led the way, her movements swift and precise, boots crunching through the thick snow. Ash struggled to keep up, panting, glancing nervously over his shoulder.

Behind them, black-clad soldiers spilled out of the vehicles, weapons raised, moving like shadows through the storm. Red laser sights cut through the blizzard, sweeping the landscape.

Nana… what the hell have you done? Ash thought, teeth clenched.

Nana didn't slow. She darted between skeletal trees, weaving through the frozen forest.

"We can't outrun them forever!" Ash shouted, his voice nearly lost in the wind.

"We don't have to," Nana snapped back, eyes sharp. "We just have to make it to the river."

Ash's stomach dropped. "The river? In this storm?"

Nana didn't answer. She simply pushed forward.

Behind them, gunfire cracked—sharp, precise. Bullets hissed past, striking trees and kicking up flurries of snow.

"They're closing in!" Ash yelled, pulling his gun and firing blindly over his shoulder.

Nana suddenly slid to a halt near a cluster of jagged rocks. She crouched low, motioning for Ash to do the same.

"Stay quiet."

Ash dropped beside her, chest heaving.

Through the curtain of snow, figures approached—dark shapes moving slowly, methodically.

Nana's eyes narrowed.

"Watch this," she muttered.

Reaching into her coat, she pulled out a small, spherical device—metallic, covered in tiny grooves.

Ash's eyes widened. "What the hell is that?"

"A reminder."

With a flick of her wrist, she rolled it toward the soldiers. It barely made a sound, disappearing into the snow.

Seconds stretched thin.

Then—

BOOM!

The ground erupted in a violent blast of light and sound. A shockwave tore through the trees, knocking soldiers to the ground. Snow and dirt exploded into the air.

Ash flinched, shielding his face.

When the smoke cleared, the forest was deathly still.

Ash stared at the carnage, stunned.

"Holy—"

Nana was already moving.

"Let's go."

They broke into a run again, racing toward the distant roar of water.

The trees thinned, and the frozen river finally came into view—a wide, black ribbon cutting through the snow. The current was strong, ice floes bobbing on its surface.

Ash skidded to a stop at the edge. "You're not serious."

Nana didn't hesitate.

"Serious enough."

She grabbed a thick branch lodged in the snow, snapping off its frozen limbs. Without another word, she stepped onto the cracking ice.

Ash paled. "Nana! That's suicide!"

Nana glanced back, a wicked smirk on her lips.

"Then keep up."

The ice groaned beneath her weight, but she moved fast, using the branch to test the ice ahead.

Ash cursed under his breath and followed.

Behind them, soldiers reached the treeline, weapons raised.

"Targets on the ice!" one barked.

Gunfire erupted.

Bullets shattered the ice around them, sending icy shards into the air.

The ice cracked, split, and groaned.

Ash slipped, catching himself.

"Nana!"

But Nana was already near the middle, eyes locked on the opposite shore.

Then—

CRACK!

The ice beneath them gave way.

Ash plunged into the freezing water, gasping as the cold stole the air from his lungs.

Nana didn't fall. She leaped forward, rolling onto solid ice, then spun back.

Ash struggled, limbs numb.

"ASH!"

Without thinking, Nana slid on her stomach, reaching out.

"Grab my hand!"

Ash fought against the current, reaching desperately.

Their hands connected.

With a guttural scream, Nana pulled him up, dragging him onto the ice.

More gunfire.

"We're out of time!"

Nana didn't wait. She ran.

The ice shattered behind them, soldiers firing relentlessly.

But the far shore loomed closer.

Finally, they reached solid ground, collapsing in the snow.

Ash coughed violently, teeth chattering.

Nana stood, soaked and breathless.

She turned back, watching the soldiers hesitate at the broken ice.

"They won't follow."

Ash looked up at her, wide-eyed.

"What now?"

Nana's eyes glinted in the storm.

"Now we make them regret chasing us."

Nana's breath curled in the frigid air as she scanned the treeline. The soldiers had stopped at the riverbank, hesitant to cross the fractured ice. Their shouts echoed faintly over the storm.

But one of them—reckless or desperate—had broken from the group. A younger soldier, moving along the river's edge, searching for another way across.

Nana's eyes narrowed.

Without a word, she slipped into the shadows of the trees, moving like a ghost. Ash barely noticed she was gone until it was too late.

The soldier trudged forward, muttering curses under his breath, gun raised.

A blur of motion—

Nana was on him.

She lunged from the dark, grabbing him by the collar and wrenching him off his feet. His weapon clattered into the snow.

"Stay quiet," she hissed, slamming him against a tree.

The soldier gasped, struggling, but Nana pressed a cold blade against his throat.

Ash appeared behind her, panting.

"Nana—what are you doing?"

Her grip tightened.

"We need information."

The soldier trembled, eyes wide.

"P-please! I don't—"

"Who sent you?" she demanded, voice low and deadly.

The soldier stammered, fear choking his words.

"W-we're under orders! Sector Command sent us! We're just—just supposed to retrieve the asset!"

Nana's eyes darkened.

"The asset."

The word rolled off her tongue like venom.

Ash shifted uncomfortably.

"Nana, we have what we need. Let's just—"

But she didn't let go.

Her grip tightened, her metallic fingers creaking.

"You think I'm just something to retrieve?" she whispered, leaning in closer.

"N-no! Please! I'm just following orders!"

A cold smirk tugged at her lips.

"So was I."

Without hesitation, she drove the blade into his throat.

The soldier gurgled, eyes wide in shock, before crumpling lifelessly into the snow.

Ash recoiled, horrified.

"Nana! What the hell was that?"

She wiped the blade on the soldier's uniform, her expression void of remorse.

"No loose ends."

Ash stared at her, chest heaving.

"He—he could've told us more. He could've—"

"He told us enough."

Her eyes cut to the soldiers across the river.

"They're not here to talk. Neither am I."

Ash swallowed hard, unnerved by the cold edge in her voice.

Nana turned, already moving deeper into the forest.

"Come on. We're wasting time."

Ash hesitated for a moment, glancing down at the dead soldier, the red stain spreading across the snow.

Then he followed.

And for the first time, he wasn't sure if he was more afraid of the soldiers chasing them—

Or the woman leading him into the dark.

Ash followed Nana through the tangled forest, his breath ragged in the cold air. The wind howled through the trees, swirling snow around them like ghosts.

But it wasn't the storm that unsettled him.

It was Nana.

The way she moved now—calculated, cold. As if killing that soldier hadn't been a decision, just instinct.

Ash couldn't shake the image of the soldier crumpling into the snow.

"Nana," he called cautiously, trying to keep pace, "what's the plan?"

She didn't slow down.

"We move forward. We find the others before they find us."

Her voice was distant, hollow.

Ash gritted his teeth.

"And then what? More bodies? More blood?"

Nana stopped so suddenly that Ash nearly collided into her.

She turned, her eyes sharp and gleaming under the dim light.

"Do you think they'd spare me if they caught me? Or you?"

Ash opened his mouth but couldn't find an answer.

"They turned me into this," she hissed, holding up her mechanical arm. "They erased who I was. I won't let them do it again."

Her eyes softened—barely.

"I won't let them touch you either."

Ash stared at her, something sour rising in his throat.

"That's not why you killed him."

Nana's expression darkened, but she said nothing.

The forest suddenly felt colder.

In the distance, faint voices echoed—soldiers, closing in.

Nana turned back, moving faster.

"Come on."

They moved in silence until the forest thinned, and ahead, lights flickered through the snow.

A crumbling outpost.

Old, abandoned—but shelter.

Nana crouched low, scanning the area."Stay here."

Ash grabbed her arm."Nana, wait—"

She ripped free.

"I said stay."

Before he could argue, she slipped into the dark.

Ash cursed under his breath.

What the hell was happening to her?

Inside the outpost, Nana moved like a shadow.

The walls were rusted, the ceiling half-collapsed.

But she wasn't alone.

Two soldiers sat near a dim lantern, their guns leaning against the wall.

Nana's eyes narrowed.

Perfect.

She crept closer, silent as death.

One soldier laughed softly."Can't believe they're making us freeze out here for some machine."

Nana's grip tightened on her knife.

She lunged.

Steel flashed.

A choked scream.

Blood on the walls.

The second soldier barely turned before she was on him.

A brutal snap of his neck.

Silence.

Nana stood over them, breathing steady.

No hesitation. No mercy.

She grabbed their comms, tuning into the frequency.

Static. Then voices.

"—Sector Command, unit compromised. Suspect is armed and dangerous—"

Nana's lips curled.

Good.

She smashed the radio against the floor.

Ash crept into the outpost, his breath catching in his throat as he stumbled upon the bloodied scene. Two soldiers lay lifeless, their bodies crumpled in awkward angles, their blood slowly pooling across the cracked floor.

Nana stood over them, calm, controlled. She wiped the blade of her knife against one soldier's sleeve, her expression unreadable.

Ash's stomach twisted.

"Nana…" His voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed in the hollow room.

She didn't turn.

"What did you do?"

Slowly, Nana straightened, her head tilting just enough to glance at him from the corner of her eye.

"What I had to." Her tone was flat, chilling.

Ash instinctively took a step back.

"This wasn't necessary! They—"

Nana spun on her heel, her knife flashing as she closed the distance between them in seconds.

She grabbed Ash by the collar and slammed him against the cold wall, the tip of the bloodied knife pressing just beneath his chin.

"Don't you dare tell me what's necessary."

Her voice dropped to a vicious growl, low and sharp.

"You think they'd hesitate to put a bullet between your eyes?" she hissed. "You think mercy works on people like them?"

Ash's hands trembled as he gripped her wrist, his breath ragged.

"Nana, stop—"

She pressed the blade harder, a thin line of red surfacing on his skin.

"If you interrupt me again," she whispered coldly, "I'll decide if you're still useful."

Ash's eyes widened.

For a moment, the only sound was the wind screaming outside.

Then, just as suddenly, Nana released him.

Ash crumpled forward, coughing, hand to his throat.

Nana turned away, slipping the knife back into its sheath without a second glance.

"Keep up or stay behind. I don't care which."

She stalked toward the doorway, her silhouette swallowed by the shadows.

Ash remained frozen, heart pounding in his ears.

What is she turning into?

But when she disappeared into the dark, he forced himself to follow.

Because whatever Nana had become, he feared what would happen if he wasn't there to stop her.

Nana's foot slammed down on the gas pedal as they sped away from the factory, the wheels of the vehicle spinning wildly on the icy road. The heavy hum of the engine reverberated through the air, a strange sense of urgency pulling them further into the unknown.

Ash sat beside Nana, still struggling to process everything that had just happened, the sheer weight of their actions settling into him like a crushing wave. But there was no time to dwell on it now. The factory—Tesseris—was behind them, but the journey ahead was far from over. The road ahead blurred beneath them, the world flashing by in streaks of white as snow continued to fall relentlessly.

"Nana, where are we going?" Ash asked, his voice filled with uncertainty, even fear.

She didn't answer immediately, her eyes fixed on the path ahead, a calculated coldness to her every movement. "Somewhere safe," she finally replied. "Somewhere we can regroup."

The wind howled outside, rattling the vehicle, but Nana's grip on the wheel didn't waver. Her expression was distant, locked in thought as her mind raced ahead, planning their next move. She needed something, someone to help her finish what she'd started—someone who could help her tap into all of her potential.

After what felt like hours of driving through the desolate snow-covered land, they reached the edge of a small town, its lights flickering in the distance. A towering, sleek building stood out amidst the small cottages and empty streets, almost unnervingly pristine. Above the entrance, a sign flashed with the name:

The Lazarus Clinic.

The vehicle skidded to a halt in front of the imposing glass doors, the wind whipping around them as Nana stepped out, the cold air biting at her skin. Ash followed her closely, his breath visible in the air as he looked up at the clinic in awe.

The Lazarus Clinic was unlike anything he'd ever seen—its white marble exterior gleamed like a beacon in the night. The building was surrounded by a massive, immaculately-kept garden, with sculptures and exotic plants that seemed to thrive even in the middle of a snowstorm. It didn't seem possible, but somehow, it was here, hidden away in the middle of nowhere.

Ash turned to Nana, a frown forming on his face. "What is this place?"

"A place for the rich and powerful," she said, her voice flat. "A place for them to cheat death."

The two walked toward the entrance, the automatic doors sliding open with a soft hiss. The interior was just as pristine as the exterior—white walls, soft ambient lighting, and the smell of antiseptic mixed with something strangely sweet, almost floral.

A well-dressed woman in a white coat approached them, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Her eyes flickered briefly over Nana before focusing on Ash.

"Welcome to the Lazarus Clinic," she said with a professional smile, her voice smooth and calm. "You must be here for the treatment."

Nana gave a nod, her expression unreadable. "I need to see your director."

The woman hesitated for a moment, a subtle flicker of concern crossing her face, but she quickly regained her composure. "Of course. Right this way."

She led them down a long corridor, passing rooms filled with state-of-the-art medical equipment. Ash couldn't help but glance into one of the rooms as they passed, catching a glimpse of a man lying on a table, his body hooked up to machines. The sight made his stomach churn—this was no ordinary clinic. These people weren't here for a simple checkup. They were here to save themselves from death, no matter the cost.

They reached a large door at the end of the hall, and the woman knocked before opening it. Inside, a man sat at a sleek desk, papers and monitors scattered before him. He looked up as they entered, his eyes glinting with curiosity. His suit was expensive, and his demeanor gave off an air of calculated confidence.

"You must be Nana," he said, his voice smooth but with a hint of intrigue. "We've been expecting you."

Nana didn't acknowledge his words, instead walking toward the center of the room. She looked around, her eyes scanning the various machines and monitors.

"What's your connection to Tesseris?" she demanded coldly. "What do you know about the experiments?"

The man's smile never wavered, but Ash could sense the slight tension in his shoulders. He steepled his fingers, his gaze never leaving Nana. "Tesseris? Well, that's an interesting topic. We have…certain connections with various organizations, you could say. As for your experiments, I'm afraid you're not the first to come to us with questions."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he sized Nana up. "But you're not here for answers, are you? You're here because you want to change the world. And we can help with that, of course. We specialize in giving people…a second chance."

Ash glanced at Nana, who had grown silent, her mechanical hand flexing at her side. The weight of the conversation hung in the air, heavy with unspoken promises.

"And what do you want in return?" Nana asked, her voice colder now, more calculating.

The man smiled again, but this time, it didn't seem entirely sincere. "Nothing for you, Nana. But for those who need it, we offer a chance to…live again. Through our cutting-edge medical procedures, we replace organs, regenerate tissue, even extend lifespans. The question is, what will you do with that gift?"

Nana's eyes gleamed. This was the answer she'd been searching for. This was the next step in her journey.

She stepped closer to the man, her gaze intense. "I want power. And I want the world to know who I am."