The rain had slowed a bit.
Like the city itself was catching its breath.
But Nadia wasn't.
"Slow down—"
"I am."
"You're not."
"You're just tired."
She shot Varma a glare as they crossed another dimly lit street.
"My lungs are on fire."
"You're still talking. That's a good sign."
"That's your medical assessment?"
"It's efficient."
She let out a frustrated breath.
"Remind me again why we're still walking?"
Varma didn't break stride.
"Because stopping is predictable."
"And walking randomly in the rain isn't?"
"It's not random."
Nadia muttered under her breath.
"Of course it isn't."
They turned into another lane.
This one quieter.
Older buildings.
Most windows dark.
A stray dog lifted its head as they passed—then went back to sleep.
Varma finally slowed.
Not stopped.
But slowed enough for Nadia to catch up properly.
She took the chance.
"Alright," she said, wiping rain from her face, "explain something to me."
He didn't look at her.
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Whether you'll listen."
She scoffed.
"I've been doing nothing but listening."
"Not really."
That hit.
She frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Varma stopped.
Turned.
Faced her fully.
"It means you hear the words," he said, calm as ever, "but you don't adjust to them."
Nadia blinked.
"…adjust?"
"You're still thinking like someone outside this."
His tone wasn't insulting.
Just… precise.
"And what am I supposed to think like?" she shot back. "You?"
"No."
"Good."
"How to survive."
Silence.
That word landed differently.
Nadia crossed her arms.
"I am surviving."
"For now."
She stared at him.
"You really don't sugarcoat anything, do you?"
"No."
Nadia felt like kicking him on the legs.
"Good," she said quietly.
Varma studied her for a second.
As if checking something.
Then he nodded once.
"Then listen carefully," he said.
Something in his tone shifted.
Not louder.
Not harsher.
Just… sharper.
"We're going offgrid."
Nadia exhaled.
"Okay. Define 'offgrid.'"
"No phones."
"Already lost mine." Nadia said.
"No digital payments."
"I don't carry cash."
"You have to and You will."
She rubbed her temples.
"This keeps getting better."
"No patterns."
"No routines."
"No contact with anyone from your past."
That one made her look up.
"What?"
Varma held her gaze.
"They'll be watching your connections first."
Nadia's stomach tightened.
"My friends have nothing to do with this."
"They have everything to do with you."
"That doesn't mean—"
"It means they're leverage."
The word hit hard.
She looked away.
Jaw tightening.
"…they wouldn't do that," she said.
Varma didn't respond immediately.
When he did, His voice was quieter.
"You've already seen what they're willing to do."
Images flashed in her mind.
Gunshots.
The explosion.
Fu Liang's calm voice.
Collateral damage.
Her hands clenched.
"…so I just disappear?" she asked.
"Yes."
"And they just… let it go?"
Varma's expression didn't change.
"No."
A hollow feeling settled in her chest.
"Then what's the point?"
Varma stepped closer.
Not aggressive.
Not forceful.
Just enough that she had to look at him.
"The point," he said, "is to choose when you're found."
Nadia frowned.
"That sounds like losing, but slower."
"It's not losing," he said.
"It's control."
A pause.
Then she asked "…and if we don't do this?"
Varma didn't hesitate.
"Then they control everything."
Silence.
The rain picked up slightly again.
Soft.
Constant.
Nadia let out a slow breath.
"…fine," she said.
Varma nodded once.
Like that was enough.
"But," she added quickly, "you don't get to just issue commands."
A faint pause.
Varma raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Yes," she said, stepping closer.
"I'm not one of your… what ever you used to have… what are they called lackeys"
"Operatives?"
"Yeah. That."
"I know."
"Then act like it."
Varma watched her.
Something unreadable passing through his expression.
Then "Alright," he said.
Simple.
Direct.
Unexpected.
Nadia blinked.
"…that was easier than I thought."
"I adapt."
She huffed a small laugh.
"Convenient."
They walked again.
This time Not rushed.
Not tense.
But focused.
After a few minutes, Nadia spoke again.
Quieter now.
"You said no contact with my past."
"Yes."
"…what about my work?"
"No."
"My apartment?"
"Burned."
She stopped.
"Excuse me?"
Varma didn't.
"Not literally," he said.
"Operationally."
She caught up quickly.
"That's not comforting."
"It's accurate."
Nadia ran a hand through her hair again.
"So everything I had—"
"Is now a liability."
She let out a breath.
"Great. Fantastic. Love that for me."
A brief silence.
Then "…there is one more thing," Varma said.
Nadia didn't like how he said that.
"What."
Varma slowed.
Just slightly.
"They may already have someone close to you."
Her chest tightened instantly.
"No."
"Yes."
"No, that's not—"
"It's likely."
She shook her head.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"That's not helpful!"
"It's honest."
Nadia stopped walking.
This time completely to a standstill.
Varma took a few more steps.
Then stopped too.
Turned back.
"Think," he said.
Her mind raced.
Faces.
Names.
Conversations.
"No," she said again, quieter this time.
"They wouldn't—"
"They don't need to 'would,'" Varma cut in.
"They just need access."
A long silence stretched.
Nadia's voice dropped.
"…there's one person."
Varma didn't interrupt.
"My editor," she said.
A beat.
"She knew I was digging into the port case again."
Varma's eyes sharpened slightly.
"When did you tell her?"
"…three days ago."
Another pause.
Varma exhaled slowly.
"That's enough time."
Nadia felt something twist in her chest.
"You think she's involved?"
"I think she's exposed."
"That's not the same thing."
"No," Varma said.
"It's worse."
Silence.
Rain continued.
Nadia looked down.
Then back up.
"…I need to know."
Varma didn't immediately refuse.
Which scared her more.
Finally—
He said—
"Then we check."
Her breath caught.
"But," he added, "we do it my way."
Nadia nodded.
No hesitation this time.
Varma held her gaze for a moment.
Then "Good."
They turned down another street.
Darker.
Quieter.
More dangerous.
But this time Nadia didn't hesitate.
Because now She wasn't just running.
She was choosing where to go.
And somewhere
Far away
Screens flickered.
Eyes watched.
Data updated.
And a single line appeared on a monitor:
TARGET MOVEMENT PREDICTED.
INTERCEPT WINDOW: SOON.