Instead, he nods once and moves us behind a massive pine, setting me down carefully in the shadow of its trunk. His hands linger on my arms—steadying, protective.
“Stay low,” he says quietly.
Then he positions himself between me and the valley below.
The change is instantaneous. Absolute.
The gentle protector disappears. In his place—someone harder. Colder. A warrior assessing a battlefield.
He scans the crash site; systematic, precise. Not panicked. Clinical. His eyes track movement patterns, taking in positions and angles with unsettling efficiency.
“Eight,” he murmurs. “No… nine. Two at the perimeter. Third circling west.”
His voice has changed. Clipped. Professional. Like he’s done this a thousand times before.
I stare at him. This isn’t survival instinct. This is training. Military assessment from someone who’s commanded troops, even if he doesn’t remember.
Who are you, K?
“Armed. Moving in search pattern. Coordinated.” He tilts his head, listening to something I can’t hear. “Professional.”
My heart hammers against my ribs. “Can they see us?”
“No. We are upwind. In shadow. They look for bodies, not witnesses.” His gaze never leaves the valley. “But they are thorough. They will expand the perimeter.”
The certainty in his voice should comfort me. Instead, it adds another layer to the mystery.
This man, who doesn’t know his own name, just gave a strategic breakdown like a trained operative.
What did you do, K? Before you woke up here?
Movement below catches my eye. One of the operatives speaks into a radio. I strain to hear, but the distance is too great.
Then the wind shifts.
“—crash site secure. No additional survivors located.”
My breath stops.
Another voice, crackling through static: “Wreckage confirms three passengers. Two captured. One unaccounted for.”
My breath catches.
Two captured.
Luke. Ember.
Are they alive? Dead? Locked up somewhere?
The operative continues: “Continuing sweep pattern. Will report findings.”
K’s hand finds my shoulder. Warm. Steady. A silent question:Are you alright?
I nod automatically, lying.
Because I’m not alright. Luke and Ember are in trouble. And the Syndicate is hunting me. And I’ve dragged this strange, kind man into the middle of it without warning. Without permission.
K goes very still beside me. I glance at him, then pause to pay closer attention.
