The observatory was colder now.
Jade sat cross-legged on the dusty floor, hugging her knees while Riley paced nearby, hands stuffed in her oversized hoodie. The dim glow from Riley's hacked device lit the room like a cheap flashlight.
For the first time since this nightmare started, Jade wasn't actively running. But her brain wouldn't slow down.
Riley finally broke the silence.
"You're quieter than I expected."
Jade blinked, voice flat.
"Sorry I'm not entertaining enough while reality eats itself."
Riley smirked, stopping in front of her.
"Snarky defense. Classic loop behavior."
"You talk like you've seen this before."
"I have."
Her casual tone made Jade feel uneasy. Riley crouched down so they were eye-level.
"You're not the first unstable thread, Jade. But you're… different. You're lasting longer than most."
Jade looked at her.
"How many others?"
Riley's expression shifted, briefly softer, almost sad.
"More than enough."
The word carried weight. And silence followed.
The metal door groaned as it swung open behind them.
Jade jolted, but Riley didn't flinch. She just glanced over her shoulder.
"Relax. It's your boyfriend."
Jade turned. Noah stepped into the room, his usual calm face a little more tense under the flickering light. His eyes locked on Jade immediately, scanning her like he was making sure she was still intact.
"You're late," Riley said flatly.
"I had to misdirect the observer car," Noah replied. "They're getting closer."
Jade's chest tightened. Observer car. That black sedan.
Noah moved to her side, lowering his voice.
"Are you okay?"
Jade nodded, but the nod was weak.
"For now," she whispered.
Riley stood and crossed her arms, watching them like she was studying a lab experiment.
"You two are adorable," she said dryly. "But while you were busy playing hide-and-seek, the Queen's proximity pattern narrowed. She's tracking you through behavioral anchors."
"English, please," Jade said, all these big words were starting to gt on er nerves.
Riley sighed.
"The more predictable your decisions, the easier it is for her to find you."
Noah cut in sharply.
"That's why I told you not to return to familiar places."
Jade snapped back.
"I didn't exactly have a manual for surviving my own erasure!"
The room tensed. Noah closed his eyes, calming himself.
"I know."
For a moment, Jade hated how tired his voice sounded. Silence stretched again before Riley broke it, this time gentler.
"Look, I get it. You're scared. You should be. But if you want to stay ahead of her, you need to stop thinking like a victim."
She tossed something toward Jade. A small metal disc the size of a coin.
"A stabilizer," Riley explained. "Short-term anchor. It'll give you a few hours of buffer if things glitch too fast."
Jade turned it over in her hand. It buzzed faintly.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
Riley paused.
"Because no one helped me."
Her voice dipped, the cocky tone slipping for just a breath. Enough for Jade to catch a glimpse of something real beneath the hacker persona. Something broken.
The door creaked again.
Jade's heart skipped, but this time it wasn't Noah or Riley's tech acting up.
"Jade?"
The voice was familiar.
Lexie.
Jade shot to her feet.
"Lex?" her voice cracked. "How did you..."
Lexie stepped inside, arms folded, visibly trying to stay calm but eyes darting between Riley and Noah.
" You weren't answering. And you've been... different lately. I was on my way to come see you then I saw you running out of your house like you were being chased. And your dad… he wass freaking out. So I followed you."
Noah stiffened, tense.
Riley immediately pulled her hoodie up, masking her face slightly.
Jade took a breath, forcing herself to think.
This was the first person who felt normal in days, but normal didn't feel safe anymore.
"Lexie, you shouldn't be here."
"No kidding." Lexie glanced around. "Mind telling me who your secret little friends are?"
'It's... complicated."
Lexie's gaze flicked to Noah. She frowned.
"I've seen him before. Around school. You're with him?"
Noah didn't respond. He simply watched Lexie quietly, his expression unreadable.
"Lexie, please" Jade tried, stepping between them. "You need to trust me."
"Like how you trusted me enough to vanish and not answer my calls for two days?" Lexie's voice cracked.
That hit Jade hard. Deeper than she expected.
"I'm sorry," Jade whispered. "I didn't want you dragged into this."
Lexie shook her head. Her voice softer now, but laced with fear.
"I don't know what's happening to you, but... it feels like you're slipping away. You're supposed to be my best friend Jade."
"I am... I'm trying not to, I really am" Jade's voice shook. "I swear."
For a long beat, the four of them stood in uneasy quiet.
Then Riley's device buzzed sharply.
"Incoming anomaly spike" she muttered. "Time to move."
Noah's tone was firm now.
"We can't stay here."
"Where do we go?" Jade asked.
Riley glanced at Lexie.
"You sure you want her tagging along?"
Jade hesitated.
Lexie looked at her, terrified, but loyal.
"Yes" Jade said finally. "If she's with me, I can protect her."
Riley sighed, but nodded.
"Alright. But you're doubling the risk."
They moved toward the back exit.
As Jade grabbed Lexie's hand and pulled her along, she whispered one last thing under her breath:
"Stay close. And no matter what you see... don't let go."