Lost in Tomorrow

Chapter 13: The Phantom's Gambit

The smirking stranger moved like a shadow, flickering in and out of sight. One second they were standing beside Joon, the next—they vanished, reappearing behind one of the cyber-hybrids.

Joon barely had time to process what he was seeing.

The hybrid lunged, its mechanical arms extending unnaturally fast, but the stranger simply phased through it. The hybrid's strike passed through them like a ghost through mist.

Joon's breath hitched.

What kind of power was this?

The stranger pivoted smoothly, their dagger flashing in the dim light. In a single, calculated movement, they drove the blade into the hybrid's exposed circuitry. A spark burst forth, and the machine let out a distorted, static-filled screech before collapsing.

"Not bad," the stranger mused, spinning the dagger before vanishing again.

Joon barely had time to react before another hybrid charged straight at him.

His instincts took over.

Joon dove sideways, barely dodging the hybrid's outstretched claws. He reached out with his mind, trying to read it, predict it—

Nothing.

A cold dread settled in his stomach. These things had no consciousness. No thoughts.

He was fighting something completely empty.

Joon clenched his fists. Then I'll have to rely on instinct.

The hybrid twisted, preparing for another strike—

And then it stopped.

Joon blinked.

The hybrid froze mid-motion, its mechanical limbs trembling. Its glowing blue eyes flickered wildly, as if it was struggling against something invisible.

"What the—?"

Then, without warning, the hybrid was hurled backward by an unseen force, crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch.

Joon's heart pounded. He knew what that was.

Telekinesis.

His mind raced. Could it be—?

A voice called out over the chaos.

"Move! We need to get out of here!"

Joon turned, spotting Sohyun weaving through the wreckage, leading the remaining Resistance fighters toward an emergency escape.

The new stranger flickered beside him, as if appearing from thin air. "Hey, mind keeping up? I'd rather not get crushed down here."

Joon swallowed his questions and nodded. This wasn't the time.

Together, they ran.

---

The Collapse

The underground chamber shook violently as explosions tore through the base. The cyber-hybrids were relentless, pursuing the Resistance through the crumbling tunnels.

Joon could hear screams behind him, Resistance members falling one by one.

His chest tightened.

Just like Haneul.

He pushed the thought away. He couldn't afford to freeze. Not now.

They turned a corner, and a massive steel door came into view.

"That's the exit!" Sohyun shouted.

A fighter rushed forward to open it—only for a hybrid to impale him from behind.

Joon skidded to a halt as blood splattered against the cold metal.

The hybrid ripped its claw free, its glowing blue eyes locked onto Joon next.

Joon braced himself—

But the stranger moved first.

They flickered out of existence, reappearing behind the hybrid and driving their dagger into its spine. The blade phased through its armor, striking its core.

A final, dying spark.

The hybrid crumpled.

The stranger exhaled, shaking off the dust. "Damn, I love being me."

Joon turned to stare at them. "Who—what are you?"

The stranger grinned.

"Just someone who knows how to disappear when things get ugly."

Sohyun ignored their banter. She shoved the door open. "Everyone, move!"

They surged forward, escaping into the maze of tunnels. Behind them, the last remnants of their underground haven collapsed into ruin.

---

A Temporary Safe Haven

Hours passed before they stopped running.

The survivors—only a fraction of the Resistance—gathered in a small, abandoned storage facility beneath an old industrial sector. The air was thick with exhaustion and grief.

Sohyun stood apart from the group, her face unreadable.

Joon sat down against the cold metal wall, trying to catch his breath. His mind reeled.

The Resistance was crippled.

The cyber-hybrids weren't just soldiers. They were something far worse.

And then there was the stranger.

Joon turned to where they sat, casually flipping their dagger between their fingers as if they hadn't just fought through hell.

He studied them more closely.

They were young, maybe his age. Slender but wiry, their black clothing blending into the shadows. Their face was sharp, their dark eyes carrying an unmistakable spark of mischief.

They caught Joon staring and smirked. "Like what you see?"

Joon scowled. "I just want to know who the hell you are."

The stranger stretched lazily before offering a hand. "Name's Rin. And you?"

Joon hesitated, then shook their hand. "Joon."

Rin grinned. "Well, Joon, you owe me for saving your ass back there."

Joon exhaled sharply. "I had it under control."

"Oh? Is that what you call flailing around while almost getting impaled?"

Joon glared. Rin just laughed.

Sohyun sighed, interrupting them. "Enough. We need to focus."

She turned to Rin. "Why did you help us?"

Rin leaned back. "Well, I happened to be in the area, and watching you guys get slaughtered didn't seem fun, so... I figured, why not?"

Joon narrowed his eyes. "You're not with the Resistance, are you?"

Rin shrugged. "Nope. I work alone."

Sohyun crossed her arms. "Then why risk yourself?"

Rin tilted their head, their smirk fading slightly. "Let's just say I don't like the Architects any more than you do."

Joon could tell there was more to that answer. But before he could press further, Sohyun spoke again.

"We lost too many people today," she muttered. "We need a plan."

Joon took a breath. "First, we need to find the Traveler."

Sohyun nodded grimly. "If the Architects are hunting him, he's our best lead."

Rin perked up. "Traveler?"

Joon turned to them. "Someone else from the past. A telekinetic."

Rin whistled. "Damn. You guys have all the fun."

Joon exhaled. "We need to find him before the Architects do."

A heavy silence followed.

Then, Rin grinned.

"Well, lucky for you... I'm pretty good at finding people."

Joon's eyes widened. "You know where he is?"

Rin tapped their temple. "Not exactly. But I know where to start looking."

Sohyun's expression darkened. "Where?"

Rin's grin widened.

"The Neon District."

Joon frowned. "And what's there?"

Rin's eyes gleamed.

"Answers. And maybe—if we're lucky—a way to fight back."

Joon exchanged a glance with Sohyun.

The battle wasn't over.

It was just beginning.

---

Elsewhere...

Deep within the Architects' headquarters, a screen flickered to life.

A voice crackled through the intercom.

"We found the Traveler."

A shadowed figure leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

"Capture him. Alive."

The screen distorted, revealing a lone figure standing atop a ruined skyscraper.

Their coat billowed in the wind.

And as they raised a hand, the entire building shuddered.

A smirk crossed their lips.

They had been waiting for this.