A STRANGER A

s of the city precinct. The cold metal handle felt foreign under

here. The rational part of his mind screamed that he had no right. No claim. No proof. But the memory of

ld him: she is th

nametag that read Perez. He looked up, blinking, be

w, almost pleading. His throat was dry, his lips cracked fr

furrowed. "You ha

ut it's urgent. She needs to know so

up. Within moments, two uniformed officers a

I'm not armed. I just need to speak with her. Plea

een them, taut and fragile. Then a

gan. Who'

e real, living voice-sliced through the tension

rd, shaking, almost as if afraid th

but crisp uniform of the precinct. Her eyes immed

asked, her tone calm b

a. You're the woman I..." His words faltered, emotions spilling over,

eful step back. "I don't know what y

ssible. I-I remember you. I don't know how, I

're claiming you remember m

face, the connection he couldn't rationalize. "I... I woke up. No memory. Nothing. But your face-your

ser, didn't offer comfort. She was a detective trained in

ce firm. "I don't know who you are. And if

to find you-because someone's after me. And... an

ate-made her pause. She had seen fear before, terror painted across a face like an unspoken confessi

someone is afte

following me everywhere! I don't know why, I don't know how-but they'r

calculating, protective. "You expect me to believe that? Some man walks into my prec

"I don't have a choice! If I don't find you, if I can't

ion, but another, subtler instinct-the one she rarely acknowledged-stirred. Someth

e said finally. "One wron

. He followed her into the office, careful, cauti

esitated, then lowered himself into a cha

never leaving him. "Start talking

sniper, the fog, the drawing of her face, the bullet hole through the sketch. Words tumbled out of him

gh every possibility. This could be a delusion. A p

he door inte

ne here to see you," a u

wned. "W

r could answer, t

y and danger. He didn't smile. He didn't introduce himself. He simpl

surged in him, a gut-deep certainty

etective Morgan. I believe you have questi

aced. Whoever this man was, he carried the same danger a

" she demande

y. "Call me... a friend. But fri

he hum of electricity cut. Alarms in the distance began to blare faintl

They're here,"

flared. She glanced at Larry, then at

t begins. Right here. Right now.

reamed. He realized that nothing-no memory, no inst

loped them. And somewhere, beyond the walls of th

tighter. Larry leaned forward, fists clenc

oed in the room, hauntin

. And not everyone wi

m all spin. Glass shattered. Footsteps thundere

dropped. Ella'

e no lon

y's heart leapt as figures poured into the precinct l

nearest intruder. The crack of the gunshot ec

mber having guided him. He grabbed a heavy stapler, swinging at a masked figure lunging toward him. The man stumb

ith precision. Her mind was a blur of calculations-cover, angles, trajectories-while her eye

ollided with panic. He didn't know how to fight. He didn't know why he was surv

. He charged, using his body to push the intruder away. The man grunted, stumblin

nstinct, Ella driven by skill and adrenaline. But the

earlier drew a small device from his coat. He wasn't attacking, yet.

are you really?" she shoute

A guide," he replied evenly. "Someone who knows the stakes. Someone wh

masked figure charged at them from the opposite side. Larry threw himself forward,

shouted. "We need

s blaring, lights flickering. Larry felt every fiber of his being alive, every s

Larry's lungs burned. His muscles screamed, but he didn't stop. He glanced at Ella, moving like a s

landing. The stranger was already there, waiting.

old them off as lon

hesitate.

-fear, urgency, trust, recognition-burned into him. Then instinct took o

as the intruders cornered him, ducking and weaving with deadly precision. Larry's heart twisted in co

og swallowed him immediately, wet and cold against his face. He stopped to

harper, closer than he ex

scuring everything. And then, just ahead, her figure emerged from the mi

!" she

and jumped into the driver's side. The engine roared to life. Ti

after me. They..." His voice falter

ed on the foggy streets ahead. Her jaw was tight.

about you. About me. About us-whatever we are, or whatever w

fractured, instincts alive, emotions raw. He didn't understand, but one th

head. Larry froze. A figure-tall, black-clad, weapon

arry was thrown against the seatbelt. The fig

through the tensi

ang out. Bullets ripped through metal, glass, the air thick with smoke

avoiding a collision. Ella's hands

e the figure retreating into the fog.

rply. "We're not

r. "Then... what n

something unspoken passed between

ho's behind this. And Larry... we find out

nticipation, and a strange warmth-the te

adows moved. Danger was clos

eone-someone powerful, relentl

hunt had onl