LOST

The new location, a hideout as they said, was nothing like she expected—though she wasn't sure what she had expected at all.

Dim lights flickered overhead as scents of old circuitry, oil, and something faintly metallic stains the thick air. A buzzing hum beneath the surface that made her nerves itch.

Holographic screens scattered around the cluttered space in a sickly green glow, casting shadows over crates of scavenged tech. Loose wires tangled like veins against the walls, flickering with occasional bursts of light.

Liora barely had a second to take it all in before someone shoved her forward.

"Keep moving," Small Eyes snapped, still glaring at her like she was a ticking bomb—pissed off for bringing a stray when they're already in danger.

No one spoke, but the tension was thick enough to choke on. Some exchanged wary glances, silent questions passing between them. Some turned away, uninterested. Others didn't bother hiding their unease. She was a presence that didn't belong there.

Her hands curled into fists, a subconscious attempt to ground herself. She didn't know these people. Didn't know this place.

But the unease in their eyes told her they weren't sure what to make of her either.

Flux sank into a battered chair with a sigh, flicking open his wrist device—one of the few that had started working again after whatever had happened to them. He barely spared her a glance, as if he hadn't just shielded her back there.

"Alright," The small guy said, crossing his arms. "Now that we're not running for our lives, what the hell do we do with her?"

Silence.

Then, a slow chuckle from the tall guy. His fingers ran through his hair, lazy, before settling on the handle of his knife—tapping once, twice.

The look in his eyes said he already had an answer.

"We should've left her out there."

Small Eyes was the first to break it, arms crossed with an expression sharp as he jerked his chin toward Liora. "We're already in deep, and now we've got a stray tagging along? No thanks."

"Agreed," another voice muttered from the shadows. "She could be a setup."

Liora stiffened at that, but Nyx let out a small sigh.

"Maybe instead of barking at her, we actually figure out what she is first?" His voice was calmer than the rest, but the way his eyes studied her made it clear he wasn't defending her—just looking for answers.

Liora swallowed, a static pulse ringing in her ears. "I didn't ask to be here." The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Small Eyes scoffed. "Yeah? And I didn't ask to be nearly shot at 'cause some rando couldn't keep the drones off her ass."

Flux smirked, before lighting another cigarette in between his lips. "Wouldn't be the first time, Blaze."

Blaze—Small Eyes—threw him a glare but didn't bother arguing. Instead, he turned back to Liora, eyes narrowing. "Fine. Let's make this simple. Why were they after you?"

"I… I don't know," she admitted, the truth bitter in her mouth.

Tall Guy made a noise of disbelief, raking his fingers through his hair again. "That's convenient, thanks!"

Her throat felt tight. What was she supposed to say?

That she had woken up in the middle of the city with a head full of static and no memory of why she was there?

Even now, standing here in the dim glow of flickering lights, something inside her whispered that she wasn't supposed to be here—she wasn't supposed to be anywhere else.

"I just... I don't know," she repeated, voice quieter. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to be running from."

Liora clenched her jaw, forcing her expression blank. No. Keep it calm. Keep it simple.

Nyx spoke up again, this time with a cautious tone. "Actually, let's talk about the real problem."

He lifted his wrist for everyone to see. The Xen-Link started flickering again until it finally glitched out. The room tensed.

"Yeah," another voice muttered. "That happened when she showed up."

A ripple of unease passed through them.

Tall Guy stepped closer towards Liora, gaze dark. "We should scan her."

Liora's breath hitched, gasping at their words. "Scan me?"

Flux leaned back, watching with mild amusement. "Relax, sweetheart. We're not tearing you open."

Tall guy answers, "It's just a check for trackers, implants—anything that screams 'liability.'"

Blaze grinned, but there was nothing friendly about it. "And if she's clean?"

Flux's smile sharpened. "Then we figure out what to do with her."