[91] Two Steps Forward

October 7, 5:47am

Disgusting. This corner store worker has trash taste.

Xavier scowled at the energy drink in his hand, the lurid green liquid sloshing inside its plastic container. The label promised "XTREME KIWI BLAST," but delivered something closer to liquefied candy with a chemical aftertaste. Still, caffeine was caffeine, and after a sleepless night, he needed whatever he could get.

He leaned against the ferry rail, salt spray occasionally misting his face as the boat cut through the early morning waters. The sunglasses Ashley had given him—high-end Maison Crystalline with subtle pink-tinted lenses—proved their worth against the rising sun. The horizon glowed orange and pink, painting the waters between Nexus Point and the mainland in shifting colors.