The Voxlink message appeared. It disappeared moments after her. Even though the Voxlink was hacked, it was still safer to be secure.

  The white-haired cloak figure folded the letter and ripped it apart for good measure. He released them into the air as he drifted among the clouds. The mode of transportation was a glider known as a Zephyr Wing made in Crystalline City’s mountainous region of Windcrest. He had never seen one before, but the news broadcast had promoted it as a prototype that would successfully make a tremendous plight in the coming years.

  There were rumors that the Voxlink towers would be expanded to allow the signals to travel further, possibly broadening calls.

  His thoughts drifted to again. But the connection was too strong for him to ignore and push away. Only the power of the Dormant’s activation word would render him asleep again.

  His hands drifted to his pockets, and he felt a paper surface, an old Sepia print with two Children in it: a boy with a bowler haircut awkwardly smiling at the camera with his lips twisted oddly, and a girl younger than him, with two puffy puff balls and a wire along her teeth as she proudly showed them off.

  As Blackthorn’s voice faded into the background. Like he said, it wouldn’t be long before would fall back into sleep, and his Dormant Shadow would take over again.

  He looked at the picture, clearly remembering that day. It had never popped into his head once, but he saw it like yesterday. The girl had only recently gotten the wires in her teeth, and a group of boys started to pick on her. Naturally, he couldn’t stand bullies, let alone bullying

  Unfortunately, the bigger kids pushed him down, and the boys laughed. It wasn’t until she had enough of it that she punched the bigger boy in the eye, giving him a shiner.

  They never bullied anyone again. She was punished, but that gaping grin told it all. She didn’t care as long as there wasn’t a world where ‘bullies’ took advantage of people. She’d protect those who needed it or couldn’t fight back.

  It was her mantra, in a way, that led her to become a Locksmith and…

  The moment he knew he liked her, and even now– as he stared at the photo of them as children– he knew he loved her.

  But that’s why Blackthorn needed him to get away from her.

  “Must be a pretty intense photo.”

  The soft-spoken voice was from a girl two years younger than him, with silver pixie hair and blue highlights. The brown in her eyes seemed to twinkle when they reflected off the sun.

  He moved the picture away from his line of sight, breaking the link that kept Blackthorn away.

  The girl held up her hands in surrender. “But don’t let me take that moment away from you. I’m just making sure that all crew and cargo are good.”

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  He bobbed his head. Hoping she’d get the hint if he were silent– she didn’t take the bait.

  “That’s a cute picture. Cute kids, too. Is that you and your family or something?”

  He looked down and frowned. “Yeah, or something.” He looked at the picture a bit longer, as if staring at it would burn him, but somehow, he still had control over some parts of the body. He assumed it was from all those years he had been dormant; it would take time before he had complete control.

  “Or… am I wrong to assume that she’s more than that, like, a girlfriend or something?”

  She leaned against the railing of the Zephyr like he was.

  “Something like that… and more like the ‘girl who got away’ and only because I pushed her for her own good.”

  “Ah, I see.” The girl nodded. It makes sense; you have this whole ‘regrettable’ expression on your face, but my question is, does she know how you feel?”

  He parted his lips but then closed them again.

  “Feelings are simply fleeting and a distraction, don’t you think?”

  The girl sucked her teeth. “Mmm, I see. So I guess it was a bittersweet goodbye; no one planned for it, hence the moodiness you’re portraying.”

  He grinned. “Who says I’m portraying anything?”

  She shrugged. “Eh, just a little guess… it’s in the eyes like there’s another part of you screaming to get out.” Blackthorn mentally flinched at her perception but hid it away. “But hey, who am I to judge? Me and my family are smugglers paid to ask little questions and bring you and your… father? Wherever you wanted to go.”

  “I’m just the messenger.”

  The girl raised a brow, wondering about his answer, but knew she’d get no answer from him.

  “But on that note, is he fine? Any defects will be on me, so I would prefer to complete what I need to do without a hitch.”

  “Mmm. He’s still sitting where you left him in his seat. He stares into the abyss for hours as if nothing phases him.”

  Blackthorn nodded, and a strand of white hair fell into his eyes. “He’ll be fine. He’s not my father, more like a… family friend. I’m bringing him to see my father.”

  Something unsettling made his stomach churn at the mention of him calling Walsh his father. It was again, forcing his intrusive thoughts into him and how someone else raised him, someone he honestly thought of as a father.

  His inner voice was more hostile than before, and it would be increasingly difficult to shut it down.

  “Hey. Hey!” finger snaps pulled him back to attention. “You just went off somewhere. I guess it runs in the family?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” he said, more coldly and off-putting. There was a disappointed look on her face. “Look, I’m going to give you a warning. You seem to be… nice, but I’m someone you don’t want to get entangled with. You can even say I have a dark heart.”

  “Nice?” was all the girl said. She didn’t say anything, and he thought she’d walk away. Instead, she tucked the loose strand behind his ear—getting closer to him so that their chests almost touched—and looked him straight in the eye.

  “I’m the daughter of a rebel group that’s known as a terrorist across Aurum. You say you have darkness in you, but don’t we all? I have my darkness to bear, so I’m unwilling to carry someone else’s. However…”

  Her words trailed off, and her tongue glided across her lip. He looked down, then back into a new look in her eyes.

  “I’m all about distractions. We don’t need to be in that darkness alone, at least for a while.”

  The gesture was as clear as day, and even he knew what she was implying, but a distraction was not what he was looking for. Unless… That would prevent him from trying to take control, and he’d fall into despair, especially at the thought of her knowing. Not even their Kesync, a bond that connected their thoughts and emotions, would repair it.

  “Well,” The girl said, once more pulling him back. “When you figure out if it’s a you want, my room’s quarters are below deck. It was good to meet you….”

  “....Blackthorn.”

  She raised her brow and smiled. “Blackthorn. Jude Larkin, nice to meet you.”

  With the greeting in the air, he watched Jude strut away from him and down the length of the airship to the inside. She knew he was watching and gave an extra sway of her hips to entice him just a little bit to be inviting.

  With thoughts once more, he voiced,

  He knew what he’d do, and everything in him was trying to claw out of him.