Page 31 of Us Defiant Few

The lines on his forehead deepened as she moved toward the door. But before she exited the room, his voice stopped her.

“Then why did you come and see me?”

Khalani froze before slowly turning.

Takeshi stared straight at her, chin raised, shoulders back, looking more like the deadly Captain she met in prison.

Lane specifically instructed her not to overwhelm him with memories he couldn’t access. If she revealed the depths of her emotions, it might do more harm than good.

But he deserved nothing but the truth.

“You were the only person who ever made the darkness feel like home.” Khalani swallowed. “You saved me more times than I can count, no matter the risk. So I don’t care how high the odds are stacked against us. I’ll be here to do the same for you, even if you don’t remember me.”

9

Quiet your mind and lend me your screams.

Khalani rubbed her eyes, the stone wall barely holding her up. She sat alone in the basement where they’d trained the previous night.

She should’ve gotten more sleep.

But her mind was a convoluted place where rest died.

She thought about Takeshi. The chip. Apollo.

Her birthplace called out to her, reminding Khalani of all the people she’d left behind.

She massaged her temple, desperately trying to focus on something else, when it happened.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her gaze flicked toward the stairs.

A figure descended, their face partially hidden in the shadows. The stranger wore a pristine black suit, adjusting cuff links as they calmly walked down the steps. But when the person reached the bottom, she scrambled to her feet, her mouth flying open.

“No hello?” Alexander Huxley asked, a mocking grin on his face.

“Wh—wh…wha—”

“What am I doing here? Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

She backed away, her shoulders hitting the wall as he took a measured step forward.

“No.” Khalani raised her hand, trying to dispel the illusion. “You’re not real. You’re dead.”

“Am I?”

Another step forward.

Her breaths grew shallow. His perfect face stared at Khalani like she was the one who owed him answers.

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

This isn’t real.

This isn’t real.

But apparently, she’d started speaking aloud, because he answered, “This is more real than you think.”