Chapter 16 – The Price of Survival

The cabin smelled of ash and wet earth.

Noah sat beside the small bed, his hand cradling a damp cloth that he ran gently over Alek's burning forehead.

Three days had passed.

Three days of fever, of tossing and turning, of nightmares so violent Alek would wake and reach for weapons that weren't there.

Three days of watching the strongest person he'd ever known break apart slowly under pain his body could no longer suppress.

Noah never left his side.

"You're safe," he whispered again and again. "You're not alone. Not anymore."

Alek never answered.

His breathing came shallow, lips dry and cracked. He murmured things—names, numbers, military codes. Sometimes, a name would pass his lips in a whisper.

"Noah."

And Noah's heart would tighten with both love and fear.

On the fourth morning, the fever finally broke.

Alek stirred.

Noah bolted upright, eyes wide. "Alek?"

A pained groan.

Then eyes fluttered open—unfocused, clouded with exhaustion.

"Alek, hey. I'm here."

It took a full minute before recognition crept into those storm-gray eyes.

"…Noah," Alek rasped.

Relief flooded Noah's face. "You're awake."

"…didn't think I'd make it."

"You almost didn't."

Alek tried to sit up. His whole body shuddered in protest.

Noah pushed him gently back down. "Don't. You're still healing."

Alek's gaze searched his. "You're okay?"

"I should be asking you that."

A weak smirk. "Then we're both bad at priorities."

They sat in silence for a while—Noah by the bedside, Alek trying not to wince every time he breathed too deep.

Noah brought him water. Soupy oats. He ate little, but didn't resist.

Later that day, Noah cleaned the blood from his chest. Old wounds reopened during the escape had scabbed over. But there were others—bruises that didn't make sense. Purple marks in geometric patterns.

Like someone had done them on purpose.

"What are these?" Noah asked quietly.

Alek looked down at his side, frowning. "...not from the fight."

"You didn't notice?"

"I was too busy not dying."

Noah's lips pressed into a thin line. "They're too neat. Too precise. Like… medical symbols."

Alek didn't respond.

He just stared at them for a long time.

That night, as the wind howled outside, Noah stirred from sleep to find Alek sitting up, sweat glistening on his back, his body trembling.

He was silent—but his breathing was ragged.

"Alek?" Noah sat up, heart pounding.

"I saw her again."

"Reva?"

"She said… she said I'd never be free. That I'm still carrying her work."

Noah reached for him. "It was just a dream."

Alek looked over his shoulder, haunted. "What if it wasn't?"

Noah didn't answer. He just wrapped his arms around him from behind.

Alek leaned into the touch. His breathing slowed.

"I don't want to lose this," he whispered. "You. Us."

"You won't."

"I might not be who you think I am."

"Then tell me who you are."

"I don't know anymore."

The following day brought calm skies and faint sunlight filtering through the trees.

Alek could walk again—slowly, with pain.

They sat on the cabin's porch, bundled in blankets. Birds chirped. Wind rustled the leaves.

A brief illusion of peace.

"You ever think we could just… stop running?" Noah asked.

Alek blinked at him. "You still think we're running?"

"Aren't we?"

Alek looked down at his hands. "Maybe."

Noah watched him closely. "What if we stopped?"

Alek turned to him, brow furrowed.

"What if we found somewhere to hide? Somewhere no one knows our names?"

"You'd do that?"

"I'd do anything to keep you safe."

Alek's jaw clenched. "And if they come? If I'm still a target?"

"Then we fight. Or we run again. But we stay together."

Alek didn't respond immediately. His gaze drifted to the treeline.

"I'm not used to someone choosing me," he murmured.

Noah took his hand. "Get used to it."

That night, as the fire crackled low, Alek leaned against the wooden frame of the bed, bare-chested, stitches and bruises stark in the firelight.

Noah came out of the bath wrapped in a towel, drops of water tracing lines down his chest and legs.

Alek stared.

Noah noticed, smirked. "Like what you see?"

"You're not making recovery easy."

"Then stop pretending you're still that broken."

Alek raised an eyebrow. "I'm still bleeding."

"Not where it matters."

Noah approached him slowly, towel slipping slightly down his hip.

Alek's breath hitched.

Noah straddled his lap, chest to chest.

"You said you didn't want to lose this."

"I meant it."

"Then take it."

Noah kissed him.

And this time, it wasn't slow or unsure.

It was fire.

Alek groaned, pulling him closer, burying his fingers in Noah's damp hair.

They kissed hard, fast—breathless.

The towel fell.

Hands roamed.

Their bodies moved in sync—like they'd been waiting for this exact moment since the first day their eyes met.

Alek kissed down Noah's neck, biting softly. Noah moaned, grinding into him.

"You drive me insane," Alek whispered.

"Then lose your mind."

Alek lifted him gently, walking him to the bed.

They fell together in tangled limbs and gasps.

The bed creaked.

Sweat beaded.

And when they finally broke apart, lying side by side, hearts racing—Noah smiled.

"I'm not scared anymore."

"Good," Alek murmured, kissing his shoulder.

"Because I think I love you."

Alek froze.

Then turned to face him.

"You think?"

Noah laughed. "I know."

Alek closed his eyes.

And for the first time, let himself believe it.

The next morning, a knock shattered the silence.

Three sharp, steady taps.

Alek bolted upright. "Stay back," he told Noah, already reaching for his knife.

Another knock.

Then—

"It's me."

Calen.

Alek opened the door slowly.

Calen stood outside, hands up, eyes wary. He was dressed in civilian gear, no weapons visible.

"What are you doing here?" Alek asked coldly.

"You think I wasn't tracking you?"

"You said you were going north."

"I lied."

Alek narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Because I had to be sure. I didn't know if you were compromised. If Reva got to you."

"She's dead."

"You sure about that?"

Alek didn't answer.

Calen sighed. "Let me in. Please."

Alek hesitated—then stepped aside.

Noah stared at Calen with suspicion, sitting wrapped in a blanket on the bed.

Calen offered a tired smile. "Glad you made it out."

"Why are you really here?" Alek asked.

Calen looked between them.

"I know what Reva did to you."

Alek's jaw clenched.

"I know about the implants. The ones in your spinal column. I know they weren't just tracking devices."

Alek stiffened. "How?"

"Because they used the same ones on me."

Noah's eyes widened.

"You're one of them?" Alek asked.

"I was."

Noah stood. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you don't have much time before the system comes online."

"What system?"

Calen's expression darkened. "The one that turns every enhanced into a drone."

Alek's blood ran cold.

Calen pulled a small chip from his pocket.

"This can disable it. But you'll need to let me in. Deep."

Alek stared at the chip. Then at Calen.

And for the first time in days…

He was afraid again.