n The old lady's eyes got big with fear. She grabbed Adam's arm tightly, her fingers bony but strong. "Quick, through the back door," she whispered sharply, pulling him toward a small, hidden exit at the back of the hut. Adam stumbled after her, his legs shaking like they might give out any second. His body felt weak, like it hadn't moved in years—which, he realised with a jolt, it hadn't. The air smelled like dirt and smoke, and his chest was tight with panic. "Hide in the bushes," she ordered, pointing to a thick patch of leaves just outside. "Don't make a sound. They're coming." Her green eyes were sharp, almost cutting into him, begging him to listen. Adam nodded, his heart pounding so hard he could hear it. He slipped through the door, staying low, and shuffled to the bushes. He burrowed into the leaves, the dampness sticking to his skin, and tried to make himself disappear. His breath came in short, quiet gasps, the cold ground biting through his clothes. Then, the front door of the hut exploded open with a loud crash. Heavy boots stomped inside, shaking the floor. A man's voice, cold and mean, cut through the silence. "Where is he, old woman?" The old lady's voice was strong, not shaky at all. "who?. You've got the wrong place." "Don't lie to me," the man growled, sounding like he was ready to snap. "We know he's here. Tell me where he is, or you'll pay with your life." "Kill me if you must," she said, calm as anything. "My job as a protector is done." There was a tense pause, like the air itself was holding its breath. Then, a loud bang made Adam flinch, his body jerking against the bushes. The old lady screamed, a sound that tore right through him. "Tell me where he is!" the man roared. "I don't know!" she cried, her voice cracking with pain. Another bang, and then—nothing. Just a deep, awful silence. Adam's stomach twisted. The old lady, who had saved him, who had shoved that strange device into his hands, was gone. His mind spun, caught between sadness and terror. He couldn't stay here. They'd find him next. He pushed himself up, but his legs wobbled like they were made of rubber. Eight years in a coma had turned his muscles to mush. He tried to run, but his feet caught on the ground, and he fell hard, branches scratching his face and arms. "Damn it," he muttered, the pain sharp but not as bad as the fear. "Why is this happening?" The question bounced around in his head, over and over. "Who are these people, and why do they want me?" He dragged himself forward, half-crawling, half-stumbling, the ground getting steeper as he went. His breath was ragged, his vision blurry from the effort. Finally, he reached the top of a hill and stopped, gasping for air. He looked down, and his jaw dropped. There was a city below, but it wasn't like any city he'd ever seen. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. Tall buildings stretched up into the sky, covered in shiny glass and… plants? Yeah, actual gardens growing on the sides of skyscrapers. Trains floated above the ground, sliding smoothly without touching anything, and little flying things—drones, maybe—zipped between the buildings like busy bees. The streets were full of people walking or biking, with hardly any cars in sight. Everything looked clean, bright, and impossibly advanced. Adam blinked, trying to make sense of it. "Has the world changed this much in eight years?" he whispered, his voice shaky. It didn't seem possible. When he'd gone into that coma, cities were loud, crowded, and full of traffic. This place looked like the future—way beyond anything he could've imagined. A noise behind him snapped him out of his thoughts. Something was moving in the bushes. His heart jumped into his throat, and he spun around, eyes wide. Someone—or something—was coming closer, the leaves rustling with each steP
END OF CHAPTER 2