Chapter 11: Crossroads

The workshop was quieter than usual, the hum of machinery muffled under the weight of anticipation. Henry sat at the workbench, a crude map of District 14 spread out before him. Rafe leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, while Mia sat silently in the corner, her arms wrapped around her knees. The air between them was tense, charged with unspoken fears and frustrations.

“We don’t have much time,” Rafe said, breaking the silence. He tapped the map with a calloused finger. “The enforcer’s already in the district. If we’re lucky, we’ve got a day, maybe two, before they find you.”

Henry studied the map, his jaw tight. The routes Rafe had marked were familiar—places he and Mia had often used to avoid patrols or scavenge for parts. But now, they felt like nooses tightening around him.

“What do you suggest?” Henry asked.

Rafe smirked, but there was no humor in it. “We take the fight to them. Hit them before they hit you.”

Mia’s head snapped up. “Are you insane? You’re talking about going after an enforcer. They’re trained killers.”

“And what do you think happens if we sit around waiting?” Rafe shot back. “They’ll find us. And when they do, it won’t just be Henry they take.”

“That’s not an excuse to be reckless,” Mia said, her voice trembling. “We should be finding a way to hide, not—”

“There’s no hiding,” Henry said quietly, cutting her off. He looked up, meeting her gaze. “You saw the footage, Mia. They’re tracking me. Wherever I go, they’ll follow.”

Mia’s face crumpled, and she turned away, her shoulders shaking. Henry felt a pang of guilt but pushed it aside. He didn’t have the luxury of second-guessing himself—not anymore.

That night, the trio moved through the district under the cover of darkness. Rafe led the way, his movements swift and deliberate. Henry followed close behind, his senses heightened by the faint hum in his chip. He could feel the city around him—the distant buzz of drones, the faint pulse of the power grid, the chaotic rhythm of hundreds of signals converging and diverging.

Mia trailed behind, her steps hesitant. Henry glanced back at her, his stomach twisting. She didn’t want to be here. He knew that. But he also knew she wouldn’t leave him—not unless he forced her to.

They reached an abandoned warehouse near the edge of the district, its windows shattered and its walls streaked with graffiti. Rafe motioned for them to stop, crouching low as he peered through a crack in the door.

“This is it,” he said. “The enforcer’s using this place as a staging ground. Drones, gear, maybe even backup. If we take it out now, we might have a chance.”

Henry swallowed hard, his palms slick with sweat. “What’s the plan?”

Rafe turned to him, his smirk returning. “You’re the one with the magic chip. Figure it out.”

Inside, the warehouse was a maze of rusted machinery and stacked crates. Henry could feel the presence of drones, their signals brushing against his mind like static. The enforcer was here too—he could sense their movements, deliberate and controlled, like a predator stalking its prey.

Mia grabbed his arm. “Henry, are you sure about this?”

He nodded, though his heart was pounding. “We don’t have a choice.”

They moved cautiously, sticking to the shadows as they navigated the space. Henry reached out with his mind, tapping into the drones’ systems. The connection came easily, the machines bending to his will like extensions of his own body. He redirected one of them, sending it into a patrol route that would clear their path.

But the effort left him dizzy, his vision blurring for a moment. Mia noticed and tightened her grip on his arm. “You’re pushing too hard,” she whispered.

“I’m fine,” he said, though he wasn’t sure if he believed it.

They found the enforcer in the center of the warehouse, standing beside a console that glowed faintly in the dim light. The enforcer’s helmet glinted, its smooth surface reflecting the flickering lights of the drones around them. They moved with unnerving precision, their every step measured and deliberate.

Rafe pulled a small pistol from his coat, but Henry held up a hand. “Wait.”

“What?” Rafe hissed. “We can’t just stand here.”

Henry stepped forward, his connection to the amplifier flaring to life. The hum in his chip became a roar, the city’s systems lighting up in his mind. He could feel the drones, the console, the faint vibration of the power grid beneath their feet.

The enforcer turned, their helmet tilting as if studying him. “You,” they said, their voice cold and mechanical. “You’re the anomaly.”

Henry’s breath caught. The presence he had felt through his chip—the one that had been watching him—it was here, inside the enforcer’s voice.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Henry said, his voice shaking.

The enforcer took a step closer. “You are a threat to the system. Surrender, and your termination will be painless.”

Rafe raised his pistol, but before he could fire, the enforcer moved. In a blur of motion, they closed the distance, knocking the weapon from his hand and sending him sprawling to the ground.

Henry reacted instinctively, reaching out with his mind. The drones around the enforcer froze, their lights flickering as he seized control. He turned them on their master, their weapons humming to life.

The enforcer didn’t flinch. With a wave of their hand, the drones collapsed, their systems shorting out in a shower of sparks. Henry staggered, the backlash hitting him like a physical blow.

“Henry!” Mia cried, rushing to his side.

The enforcer advanced, their movements predatory. “You cannot win,” they said. “You are an anomaly. An error. And errors must be corrected.”

Henry’s vision blurred, but he forced himself to stand. The hum in his chip grew louder, more insistent. He reached out again, this time tapping into the power grid beneath the warehouse. The energy surged through him, raw and unfiltered. He could feel the wires, the circuits, the flow of electricity.

With a roar of effort, he directed the energy toward the enforcer. The ground beneath them erupted in a burst of light and sound, the console exploding in a shower of sparks. The enforcer staggered, their armor scorched, but they didn’t fall.

“Go!” Henry shouted, grabbing Mia’s hand. Rafe scrambled to his feet, and the three of them ran, the enforcer’s cold, mechanical voice echoing behind them.

“You cannot escape. The system sees all.”