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Omnis’ throat worked. “I have to.”

Zero exhaled, shaking his head with a shrug. “Guess you’ll have totryagain.”

Omnis’ jaw ticked.

Zero’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And this time—don’t play the fucking saint.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Omnis Becomes

The silence pressed in like a weight, like the universe itself was holding its breath. Her mind still spun with what happened. How? What was it? Could it have been Ethan? Was he… in on all of this? Stopped in to play along?

Her phone rang, staking her breath to the walls of her lungs. She snatched it and looked.

Oh God,Ethan.

She panicked. What if ithadbeen him? What if ithadn’t?

She answered and her breath caught then blasted, “Ethan?”

There was a pause, then, “Hey, Cat.”

She closed her eyes, pressing her hand on her chest. The sound of his voice melted something in her. Not angry, not distant. Almost… like he missed her. Needed her.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d call,” she admitted, gripping the phone tighter, her mind racing with what needed to be said and how to say it.

A sigh. “Yeah. Sorry. It’s been—” Another pause. “Listen, I don’t have much time. We’re heading out. There’s an evac op. Some people are stranded and we gotta get them out.”

Every ounce of hope sank to the very bottom of her.

Stranded. People needed him.

She stared into nothing as air moved in and out of her lungs.

“How long… will you be gone?” The words felt pre-recorded.

“I don’t know yet,” he said, his voice slipping into that place that wasn’t there. Wasn’t with her. Something cracked inside her. “I just wanted to let you know.”

“Right,” she barely said, her throat tight.

Voices moved around in the background with sounds of him leaving.

Something desperate suddenly clawed up inside her.Ask him to stay. Ask him anything.“Ethan?” she whispered.

“Fuck. I got a call coming in. Text me.”

The line cut.

She closed her eyes, her breaths shuddering out. “Be safe,” she barely whispered, tears falling. “I love you.”

****

Omnis entered the chamber, moving with purpose. The air inside was thick with waiting and charged with something… off.

He slowed as he neared the center of the room, stopping just before the chair that had anchored every lesson before this one. His fingers flexed at his sides as he took her in—and immediately, everything shifted.

White.