Mei's Pov

The cold floor pressed hard against my legs. I curled my arms tight around my knees, trying to hold myself together, but my eyes—traitors that they are—wouldn’t stop clinging to his.

Rui.

I was sure, so sure, I’d never seen him before tonight. And yet… my body betrayed me with every breath. The weird familiarity in my chest, the way his gaze scraped against my insides like he’d lived there before. It made no sense, and the not-knowing gnawed at me worse than the fear of soldiers bursting back through that door.

Rui shifted slightly, tugging a wince at his mouth as the injury in his side reminded him of literal pain. His dark hair fell forward and obscured his face as he steadied himself on his knees. Beside him, the wind rushed through the broken window, bringing with it a sliver of cold that lifted the tips of my hair and brought me back to the present.

Then—his hand moved, making a small deliberate motion. Curling all, his palm opened, and with all five fingers, he beckoned, telling me to come closer.

I froze. My brows pinched tight. My lips curled inward, chewing at the bottom one before I muttered, “What?” But he didn’t answer, only steadily repeated the gesture.

Against every screaming alarm in my head, I moved.

One palm on the floor. Then the other. Dragging my knees forward across the metal tiles, each inch echoing louder than it should have in the thick silence. My chest burned, but I leaned in anyway, close enough that the air between us was warm, charged—just a hand’s span separating my face from his.

That’s when he moved. Sharp and suddenly, his lips darted toward mine.

My body went into reflex panic as my heart struck my ribs. I threw myself backward so forcefully that my spine cracked against the chilly bunk as I pushed against the ground with both palms. Like a weapon dropped, the clang echoed throughout the room.

My eyes were huge, my breath feral. “What did you just try doing?”

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t look sorry. His expression was calm—too calm per say. Slowly, he sank back into his crouch, sinking his shoulders in.

And then—my chest betrayed me.

The pounding started again. Not normal panic this time. A thundering, bone-deep drum that shook me from the inside out. My vision pulsed at the edges. And then the sharp pain hit, slicing through my skull.

“Ah—!”

I pressed both palms to my forehead, gritting my teeth hard enough to squeak. My eyes clenched shut, squinting against the fire tearing through the back of my head. It lasted five seconds—five unbearable seconds—before the pressure eased, leaving only the echo of pain and the sound of Rui’s ragged breathing.

When I finally blinked my eyes open, Rui was still calming watching me. Too damn composed for someone bleeding out in my room. Cruel. That’s what it was. Pure cruelty.

“You saw it,” Rui’s voice came, sharp and cutting — too close to the tone my father used when cornering me. It grated like steel.

I raised my gaze, still panting, as sweat prickled down my skin.

“You felt it too. You saw it, didn’t you?” His voice pressed heavier this time.

My brows furrowed.

“We’ve kissed before. And I know you just saw that.”

The words froze me. My breathing slowed, heavy and uneven, as I studied him, searching for cracks in his certainty. But he wasn’t wrong. During those searing seconds of pain, fragmented, frantic, but real flashes had torn through me. Rui’s face had burned through nearly every single one.

Finally, I forced my lips apart. “I… I saw flashes. Memories. They looked familiar. And your face was there, yes, but…” I hugged my knees tighter, curling into myself. “I can’t even tell if those memories are mine.”

I swallowed, staring into the metal floor’s reflection. Then I looked back up. “Who are you, really?”

He hesitated. “I… I’m not so sure myself.”

“What is that even supposed to mean?” My voice cracked in frustration.

“I don’t know.”

“Then why are you here?” My tone rose with irritation, louder than I’d meant.

“Partly because I was on the run.” He exhaled slowly, tightening his chest with pain. Then, his eyes locked onto mine. “And because I need you to come with me.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes hard enough it almost hurt. Turning away, I let the sarcasm bleed into my tone as I turned back. “You want me to come with you? You can’t even stand up straight. I think your injuries are making you talk nonsense.” I pushed myself halfway up, ready to leave this bizarre scene behind.

“There is—” He cut off with a sharp grunt, gritting his teeth, clamping one hand over the wound at his side. “There’s something inside you.”

I froze.

“Something vital to this city… and something dangerous.”

My body stiffened. “Inside… me?” My brows knitted, as my lips curled with disbelief.

A gasp tore out before I could stop it, and I instinctively wrapped both arms around my ribs. “Wait—are you planning to sell my kidney?”

The ridiculousness slipped out before I could filter it. My tone dropped to mock-serious as I covered my side.

“Do people still traffic organs in this age?” I narrowed both eyes.

Rui didn’t laugh. He didn’t even blink. “Not your organs.” He leaned forward, grimacing through his pain. “A code.”

My throat went dry.

“…A code?”