Chapter 18

  Sky City. Megapolis Street.

  The laboratory and the agents chasing them are now behind, dissolved in the mist of hidden secrets. Through clenched teeth and trained composure, Yulia and Alex move through the gleaming streets — the upper levels of Sky City, where the evening wraps everything in golden reflections of glass and steel. Here, everything seems flawless, perfect. But behind the mirrored gloss of shopfronts, behind the polished facades that shine like cut stones, hides something else — an elusive shadow that no light can drive away.

  In front of them, almost silently, a vehicle stops. Sleek, mirrored, like a drop of mercury.

  “Take us to the hotel,” Yulia orders firmly. Her voice is calm, but within that calm hides tension.

  The vehicle glides forward smoothly, weaving through the traffic. It moves like an animal following its master — no questions, no hesitation.

  The city around them lives its own life. There's no place here for ordinary people. Everyone who dares to breathe this air becomes part of the machine, part of the system. So many lights, transparent panels, spirals and motion. The entire world is designed to conceal, to hide, to mask. Beneath all that gloss lurks a threat, and Yulia and Alex know it.

  “Arrival complete,” says the system’s voice gently, like a monotone lullaby before a storm. “Welcome. You may exit the vehicle.”

  The car halts. Yulia and Alex step out in silence, enveloped in the fog of inevitability. Though their footsteps are inaudible, both feel the invisible line that separates them from whatever awaits behind the next door.

  **

  The hotel lobby greets them with sterile luxury: marble, vertical gardens, ambient music, the faint scent of fresh flowers. Everything here is refined, calculated, devoid of excess emotion. Behind the desk stands a woman with bright crimson hair, her face motionless, like a mask. She speaks like an automaton:

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Welcome. Public areas and additional services are at your disposal. Please, make yourself at home.”

  Yulia and Alex check in using forged documents. The process runs flawlessly, without the slightest delay, as if their data were already preloaded and verified. The administrator, with a slight, barely perceptible smile, points them toward their room. The elevator lifts them up into the private apartment zone.

  The door opens; they step inside. Spacious, soft lighting, comfort. All the world’s problems vanish, leaving only peace.

  Alex drops onto the wide bed without hesitation, stretching out his arms as if trying to absorb all the softness.

  “Luxurious place. Most important — it’s safe here. Yulia, we’re clear, right?”

  Yulia doesn’t look up from her device, scanning the room. Her eyes narrow with focus; she barely registers his question.

  “Scanner’s clean,” she says calmly. “No tracking, no marks.”

  Alex looks at her, but his earlier confidence begins to fade. He sits on the edge of the bed, frowning.

  “They found the lab too fast… They don’t usually work like that. Got any theories?”

  Yulia scoffs lightly, her gaze darkening.

  “I do. They’ve been ordered to eliminate us. Quietly. No traces. And fast. We’re caught in something really dangerous.”

  Suddenly she freezes. Her eyes widen with realization.

  “We need to warn Ivan,” she says sharply, pulling a small disposable comms device from her pocket. “We dragged him into this, and he’s… he’s no fighter. He was just helping.”

  Alex stands, concern flashing in his eyes. He walks over, his face losing its usual composure for a brief second.

  “Yeah… I just hope he didn’t become a priority. We need to vanish. I’ll contact Ivor — that smuggler can hide us at one of his bases.”

  He pulls out another device — smooth and unadorned — quickly types a message and sends it. Then he moves closer to Yulia, wrapping an arm around her waist.

  “And for now…” he says with a faint smile, “we lie low and rest.”

  **

  Somewhere in a district on Earth.

  Ivan loves three things: helping friends, making money, and nights with beautiful women. This week feels like a gift from the universe: he helped Yulia and Alex, distracted the guards at the stadium, got paid, and dove headfirst into celebration.

  The night was wild, and the morning is lazy and carefree.

  He steps out of the hotel room carefully, not wanting to wake his companion. A light smile plays on his face, thoughts drifting to breakfast — maybe even another day of rest.

  As he steps onto the street, he notices a vehicle passing by — unremarkable, blending in with traffic. But in the next second — a click. Barely audible. Almost unnoticeable.

  An electronic shot. Silent. Light and precise.

  Where Ivan stood just a moment ago, slow, smoldering ash settles. Everything around remains quiet, as if the city itself didn't notice.

  No panic. No screams. Just a cool Earth morning, as if nothing ever happened.