Chapter 9: The Aftermath

The storm had passed, leaving behind a world washed clean by rain. Alice stood on the deck of the boat, her hands gripping the railing as she stared at the horizon. The sun rose slowly, its golden light spilling over the flooded ruins of Miami. The air was still, the hum of the Core's energy replaced by an eerie silence.

Kai was gone.

The weight of that truth pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She had watched him sacrifice himself to stop the Convergence, to save the world from the Core's grasp. And now, she was alone.

But not entirely.

The boat's engine sputtered, drawing her attention. She turned to see a figure standing on the shore, their silhouette stark against the rising sun. Alice squinted, her heart skipping a beat.

"Kai?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The figure raised a hand, and for a moment, hope flared in her chest. But as they stepped closer, she realized it wasn't Kai.

It was Liang.

Her grip tightened on the railing. "You."

Liang Xu looked older than she remembered, his face lined with exhaustion and grief. His clothes were torn and stained, and he carried a makeshift bag slung over his shoulder. He waded through the flooded street, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Alice," he said, his voice hoarse. "I'm glad you're alive."

She didn't respond, her mind racing. The last time she'd seen Liang, he had betrayed them, siding with Blackthorn to further his own ambitions. But now, he looked… broken.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone cold.

Liang stopped a few feet from the boat, his eyes scanning the wreckage around them. "I came to help."

"Help?" She laughed bitterly. "You're a little late for that."

He flinched but didn't argue. "I know I don't deserve your trust. But I'm not with Blackthorn anymore. They… they left me for dead."

Alice studied him, searching for any sign of deception. But all she saw was regret.

"Kai's gone," she said, her voice breaking. "He stopped the Convergence, but it cost him everything."

Liang's shoulders slumped, his expression crumbling. "I… I didn't want this."

"You didn't want this?" she snapped, her anger boiling over. "You helped create the Core! You handed it to Blackthorn on a silver platter! And now Kai's dead because of you!"

He didn't defend himself, his head bowed in shame. "You're right. I made mistakes. Terrible mistakes. But I want to make things right."

Alice clenched her fists, tears streaming down her face. "You can't bring him back."

"No," Liang said quietly. "But I can help you finish what he started."

She stared at him, her mind racing. She didn't trust him—not after everything he'd done. But she couldn't deny that she needed help. The world was in shambles, and she couldn't rebuild it alone.

"Fine," she said finally. "But if you betray me again, I'll kill you myself."

Liang nodded, his expression grim. "Understood."

They spent the next few days scavenging the city for supplies. The flooded streets were eerily quiet, the only sounds the lapping of water and the occasional cry of a bird. The survivors they encountered were few and far between, their faces hollow with fear and exhaustion.

Alice and Liang worked in silence, their interactions tense but functional. He didn't try to justify his actions, and she didn't ask. There would be time for that later—if they survived.

On the third day, they found a working radio in the ruins of a police station. Alice fiddled with the dials, her heart pounding as static crackled through the speakers.

"Is anyone out there?" she asked, her voice trembling.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a faint voice responded.

"This is Captain Elena Reyes of the New Horizon. Who am I speaking to?"

Alice's breath caught. "This is Alice Carter. I'm in Miami. The Convergence… it's over."

There was a pause, and then the voice returned, stronger this time. "Alice, we've been searching for survivors. Can you give us your location?"

She glanced at Liang, who nodded. "We're near the Eden Hotel. But be careful—the city's flooded, and there are… things in the water."

"Understood. Hold tight. We're on our way."

The radio fell silent, and Alice slumped against the wall, her legs giving out. For the first time in days, she allowed herself to hope.

The New Horizon arrived at dusk, its sleek hull cutting through the flooded streets like a knife. Alice and Liang stood on the roof of the Eden Hotel, watching as the ship approached.

A small boat was lowered into the water, carrying a team of soldiers and a woman in a military uniform. Captain Elena Reyes stepped onto the roof, her sharp eyes scanning the area.

"Alice Carter?" she asked, her voice firm but kind.

"That's me," Alice said, stepping forward.

Elena nodded, her gaze flicking to Liang. "And you are?"

"Liang Xu," he said, his voice low. "I'm… with her."

Elena studied him for a moment before turning back to Alice. "We've been monitoring the situation since the Convergence. What happened?"

Alice took a deep breath, her mind racing. "The Core… it was trying to merge all the timelines into one. Kai—he stopped it. But it cost him his life."

Elena's expression softened. "I'm sorry."

Alice nodded, her throat tight. "What happens now?"

"Now," Elena said, "we rebuild."

The New Horizon was a floating fortress, its decks bustling with activity. Survivors from across the country had gathered here, their faces a mix of fear and determination. Alice and Liang were given quarters and fresh clothes, but sleep didn't come easily.

That night, Alice found herself standing on the ship's deck, staring at the stars. The sky was clear, the storm clouds gone. But the weight of Kai's absence was a constant ache in her chest.

"Can't sleep?"

She turned to see Elena approaching, her hands clasped behind her back.

"No," Alice admitted. "Too much on my mind."

Elena nodded, joining her at the railing. "I understand. The world's changed, and not for the better. But we'll get through this. Together."

Alice glanced at her, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you helping us?"

Elena smiled faintly. "Because we need people like you. People who've seen the worst and still have the strength to fight."

Alice didn't respond, her gaze returning to the stars. She thought of Kai, of his golden eyes and the way he'd smiled at her in the observatory. He had believed in her, even when she didn't believe in herself.

And now, it was her turn to carry on his legacy.

The next morning, Alice and Liang were summoned to the ship's command center. A holographic map of the world was projected in the center of the room, its surface marked with glowing dots.

"These are the remaining Arks," Elena explained, pointing to the dots. "Blackthorn's anchors for the Convergence. We need to destroy them before they can regroup."

Alice studied the map, her mind racing. "How many are there?"

"Twelve," Elena said. "Spread across the globe. It won't be easy, but it's necessary."

Liang stepped forward, his expression grim. "I can help. I know how the Arks work—their weaknesses, their defenses."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "And why should we trust you?"

"Because I have nothing left to lose," he said, his voice steady. "And because I owe it to my son."

Alice glanced at him, her chest tightening. She still didn't trust him, but she couldn't deny that they needed his knowledge.

"Fine," Elena said finally. "But you'll be under constant surveillance. One wrong move, and you're done."

Liang nodded, his jaw clenched. "Understood."

As the meeting adjourned, Alice found herself standing alone in the command center. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on her, but for the first time in days, she felt a flicker of hope.

Kai had given his life to stop the Convergence, but the fight wasn't over. The Arks still stood, and Blackthorn was still out there.

And she would stop them.

For Kai.

For the world.