CENTI

chapter 6

CH 6: VIPER RETURNS

Two weeks.

Two weeks in a safehouse in rural Canada. An old log cabin. No power grid. Wood stove.

Ryze was teaching CENTI-07 how to control her ice. "Breathe. Don’t fight it. It’s part of you. Like breathing."

"Like this?" She held out her hand. A small snowflake formed.

"Good," Ryze said. He almost smiled.

Inside, the other kids were eating soup. For once, it was quiet. For once, it felt almost like family. Like what he’d never had.

Then the lights died.

The stove went out.

Red emergency lights clicked on.

"Get down!" Ryze yelled.

The roof exploded.

Snow and wood and smoke filled the air.

A figure dropped through. Landing in a crouch. Perfect. Silent.

VIPER.

Alone this time. No soldiers. Just him and his black katana. The mask reflected the firelight.

"Hello, little brother," VIPER said. His voice was muffled. "Miss me?"

Ryze stepped in front of the kids. "Leave them out of this. This is between us."

"Orders are orders," VIPER said. He tilted his head. "Terminate CENTI-01. The rest are property of CENTI. To be returned to facility for reconditioning."

He moved.

This fight was different. No talking. No testing.

VIPER’s katana was a blur. Ryze barely blocked with an ice shield. The force threw him through a wall and into the snow.

Outside.

"You’re getting weaker," VIPER taunted, walking out. "The timer? How much time left? 170 days? 160? You look tired."

Ryze didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He focused. Fire in the right. Ice in the left. He slammed them together.

A steam explosion. 20 feet radius.

VIPER was thrown back but rolled and came up running.

They clashed again. On the ice. On the trees. On the roof of the cabin.

Steel met fire. Ice met steel.

Ryze caught the katana blade with his bare fire hand. It burned. The smell of his own skin. He didn’t flinch. He roared and slammed his ice fist into VIPER’s chest.

VIPER flew back and crashed into a pine tree. The tree cracked in half.

Silence. Only wind. Only breathing.

VIPER laughed from the ground, clutching his ribs. Blood on the mask. "Good. You’re finally strong. Kazuo will be pleased. Or angry. We’ll see."

He stood slowly. "See you soon, CENTI-01."

He opened a portal. Blue light. Buzzing.

"Run while you can."

Gone.

Ryze collapsed to his knees. The pain was worse now. Sharp. Deep in his chest. Like something was cracking.

CENTI-07 ran to him. "Are you okay? You’re bleeding!"

Ryze forced a smile. Blood on his teeth. "Yeah. We need to move. New location. Tonight."

They had to run again.

177 days left.

And VIPER was getting closer every time.