We Found Her
411 Words
They found her by tracking the blood.
Literally.
After days of scanning for Guardian frequencies, Kade finally caught a faint pulse—gold-tinged and flickering—deep in a dead zone on the edge of the city.
“It’s Soleil,” he said, eyes locked on the monitor.
Noctis didn’t wait for more words. He was already grabbing his gear.
Zane followed silently. Heart pounding. Hands shaking.
She’s alive… and you weren’t there.
The lab was underground—half-collapsed, flooded in shadows and static. Everything felt wrong.
Noctis led the way, blades of blood curled tight in his fists.
Kade hacked the lock. Zane stayed back, trying not to lose it.
You’re not strong enough for this, the voice whispered.
What if you see her and she’s afraid of you?
He shook his head, hard. “Shut up.”
They found her in a containment room—cracked walls, glowing restraints fried from the inside out.
She’d broken free on her own.
Soleil sat against the far wall, blood smeared on her jaw, her light flickering faintly around her body like a dying star.
When the door burst open, her head snapped up.
“...Noctis?”
He ran to her instantly, dropping to his knees. “I’m here. I’m here, I got you—”
Soleil leaned against him, eyes heavy. “Took you long enough…”
Zane hovered near the doorway, frozen.
Her gaze drifted to him—soft, warm.
“Zane.”
He opened his mouth—nothing came out.
Noctis glanced up at him, noticing. “You good?”
Zane nodded too fast. “Yeah. Just… tired.”
Later, back at the safehouse…
Soleil rested, finally asleep.
Noctis sat outside her room, jaw clenched. “If I ever see the people who did that to her again…”
“I know,” Kade said quietly.
Meanwhile, Zane stared at his own reflection in the hallway mirror.
He looked like himself.
But his reflection blinked late again.
The voice returned:
She’s back. But for how long?
You’ll ruin everything eventually.
It’s in you.
Zane shut his eyes tight.
From behind, Soleil’s voice cut through the haze:
“Zane?”
He snapped around, startled. “Y-Yeah?”
She gave him a tired smile. “Thank you. For coming.”
He swallowed hard. Forced a nod.
“Always.”
But when she turned away, Zane couldn’t even look at her.
You don’t deserve her trust.
You’re not done breaking things yet.
- Writer
