Love's Ashes, A Bitter Return

ee years, but for me and Chloe, o

ashes. We lived in the Core, a fortified sector powered by salvaged tech and our own code.

son and Noah Ca

equals. They called themselves "project runners," their c

es fixed on me. "Not just this city. The whole

a deep partnership. We can't do it alone. We need your expertise, your infr

xicating. A world without the constant fear, without the daily struggle for resources

was a constant, warm presence. He talked about a life after the project, a quiet life, just the two of u

d that thrived in the chaos outside, launched a full-scale digital assault. Their target was

aimed at ripping his consciousness from the net

lled, her fingers flying across her con

The strain was immense. A familiar, sickening ache bloomed behind my eyes-my digital illness, a chronic condition that flared under ex

world dissolved into a blur of static and pain. My last coherent thought was

hurt my eyes. Jake was by my side, his face a m

he whispered. "Y

t of the story before the words were even spoke

side me, a void the med-bay

g me it would be okay,

hat I found out wha

Noah. It was supposed to be a simple operation, crucial for our counter-attack. Bu

efenses, exploiting her, leaving her digitally and personally violated in ways I couldn't b

before our assembled team

s voice ringing with cold fury. "For what t

rescue, echoed the promise. "Vengeance is not

nd. They were our protectors, our avengers. W

ing past the main server room late at night. The door was slightly ajar. I heard

e was saying. "Your move with Chloe drew their f

od ran

had shown everyone else. "Chloe's resilience was a known factor. And Ava

old wall, the world ti

ice dropping even lower, "it's all for Olivia

a name synonymous with privilege and power. They weren't buildi

just the ste

, it all came rushing back, twisted into a new, mons

suffering was a gambit. We wer

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