Quantum Fracture

The city hummed with a kind of aseptic perfection that set my nerves on edge. Every corner, every shadowed alley, felt like it was watching me, waiting for a misstep. The obelisk loomed in the distance, its faint glow pulsing in time with the ache in my chest. I didn't know how or why, but I could feel its connection to me.

I moved cautiously through the streets, sticking to the less populated areas. The drones were everywhere, their smooth, oval shapes gliding silently through the air. Occasionally, one would pause, its glowing blue eye scanning the streets below before continuing on its patrol.

The people here moved with a mechanical precision, their faces emotionless and their gazes fixed ahead. It was unnerving to see so many humans acting like machines. Whatever this reality was, it had stripped away individuality in favor of efficiency.

I ducked into an alleyway, pressing my back against the cold, metallic wall. My heart was racing, but I forced myself to stay calm.

"Focus, Kael," I muttered under my breath. "One step at a time."

The alley opened up into a small plaza, and I froze at the sight of a patrol unit standing at its center. The unit was humanoid in shape, but its body was sleek and robotic, with sharp, angular lines that glinted in the artificial light. Its head swiveled in smooth, precise motions, scanning the area with a glowing red visor.

I held my breath, waiting for it to turn away, but my luck ran out. The visor locked onto me, and the unit's posture shifted, its arms raising as it let out a shrill, mechanical alarm.

"Unauthorized individual detected. Stand down and prepare for processing."

Processing? That didn't sound good.

I bolted.

The unit's heavy footsteps pounded against the ground as it pursued me, its movements unnervingly fast for something so large. I weaved through the narrow streets, my mind racing for a plan.

Turning a corner, I spotted a stack of crates near the edge of a building. Without thinking, I scrambled up them, pulling myself onto the rooftop. The patrol unit hesitated below, its visor scanning for an alternate route.

I didn't wait to see if it found one.

From the rooftop, I had a clearer view of the city. The obelisk was closer now, its glow casting faint, angular shadows across the surrounding buildings. But the drones were thicker in this area, their patrols more frequent.

Before I could plan my next move, a sharp pain shot through my head. I staggered, clutching my temples as fragmented images flooded my mind.

---

The lab was bright, too bright. Figures in white coats moved around me, their voices muffled and indistinct. I was strapped to a chair, wires snaking from my chest and arms to a machine that pulsed with an otherworldly light.

"Subject is stabilizing," someone said, their voice sharp and clinical.

"Prepare for the next phase," another voice replied.

There was a surge of pain, and I screamed—

---

The memory shattered, leaving me gasping for air. My hands trembled as I steadied myself against the rooftop. These flashes were getting more intense, more vivid. And each one left me with more questions than answers.

Before I could recover, a sharp metallic clang pulled me back to the present. I turned to see another patrol unit climbing onto the rooftop, its visor locked onto me.

"Stand down," it ordered, raising its arm. A compartment opened, revealing a weapon that hummed with energy.

I didn't give it a chance to fire.

Spotting a gap between the buildings, I sprinted toward the edge and leapt, the wind rushing past me as I landed hard on the next rooftop. Pain shot through my legs, but I forced myself to keep moving.

The unit followed, its movements unnervingly fluid as it closed the distance.

I reached the far edge of the rooftop and froze. The gap to the next building was too wide to jump. I was trapped.

The unit advanced, its weapon charging with a high-pitched whine.

Desperation surged through me, and I turned to face it. My hands clenched into fists, though I knew I stood no chance against the machine.

Before it could fire, a sudden explosion rocked the rooftop, throwing me off my feet. The patrol unit staggered, its visor flickering as it turned to face the source of the blast.

A group of figures emerged from the smoke, their faces obscured by masks and hoods. They moved with precision, firing weapons that emitted pulses of energy. The patrol unit faltered under their assault, its metallic frame sparking as it collapsed.

Before I could react, one of the figures turned toward me.

"Move!" they shouted, their voice muffled by the mask.

I hesitated, but the urgency in their tone spurred me into action. I followed them as they retreated, weaving through the streets and alleyways until we reached a hidden entrance.

Inside, the air was thick and stale, the dimly lit tunnels a stark contrast to the pristine city above. The group led me deeper underground, their movements efficient and silent.

Finally, we emerged into a larger chamber filled with makeshift equipment and supplies. One of the figures pulled down their mask, revealing a sharp-eyed woman, her face determined and worn by hardship. She was older than me, but her posture and presence made it clear she had seen more than enough of this world's cruelty.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She narrowed her eyes at me before speaking, her tone filled with cautious authority. "My name's Seris Voss. I'm the leader of the resistance in this world. And you—" She paused, eyeing me with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. "You're not from here, are you?"

I shook my head slowly. "No, I'm not."

Seris studied me for a moment before motioning to the rest of the group. "We've been watching the Nexus Foundation for years. Their machines, their control over this place—it's all part of the bigger picture. And now you show up with their tech and a whole lot of questions. You're either a spy or something worse."

"I'm not a spy," I said quickly. "I don't even know how I got here. I'm just—"

"Trying to figure it out," she finished for me. "I get it. But figuring it out here is dangerous. You're in Nexus territory now, and they don't take kindly to outsiders."

I felt the weight of her words settle over me, a warning I couldn't afford to ignore.

"What's the Nexus Foundation?" I asked.

Seris's expression darkened. "A corporate conglomerate that controls everything. They've been using these obelisks to anchor their power, manipulating the city and its people. But it's all a facade. There's something far worse going on beneath the surface."

I took a step forward, the urgency in my chest growing. "The obelisk I saw—it's connected to me. I don't know how or why, but it feels like it's pulling me toward it."

"That's no coincidence," Seris said, her voice firm. "The Nexus Foundation has been trying to control those with an affinity for the obelisks. We've been trying to break their hold for years. If the obelisk you're connected to is one of theirs, then it's more dangerous than you realize."

I swallowed hard. The pieces were starting to fall into place, but there were still too many gaps in the puzzle.

"What's your plan?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Destroy the Nexus Foundation and everything it's built," Seris said, her eyes steely with resolve. "And that includes the obelisks. They're the key to their power."

I nodded, faking a smile of contempt even though I knew in my mind that my goal was something much different.

I needed answers as to who I was and whatever was happening around me and—although I didn't have a choice— I would play my cards right and get my answers without suspicion.

"Get some rest," Seris continued, her gaze softening for a moment. "Tomorrow, we're going after the obelisk. And you're coming with us."