Run… run… run…

  The rapid sound of Victor’s footsteps echoed in his ears like the drums of war, quickening with the pounding of his heart. The forest around him was dense; the colossal trees of Verdantiz stretched their branches like reaching hands. Yet he carved his path forward without awareness.

  At that same moment, alarm sirens suddenly blared, their wail reverberating through the trees like a scream of warning.

  Ilio froze in surprise and quickly raised the earpiece to his ear.

  “Those sirens… where are they coming from?”

  Alex’s voice came through the line, slightly distorted.

  “It seems they’re coming from behind… from the bridge leading to the capital.”

  Ilio turned toward Hamilton, his face almost devoid of expression.

  “That’s strange… could it be that we’re under attack now?”

  Hamilton’s face paled, his eyes widening with worry.

  “An attack—and you say it like it’s nothing! We’ll be trapped in Verdantiz… all of us!”

  Ilio replied with unsettling calm.

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Hamilton… I have a plan. But on one condition: it must be carried out exactly as I say. No changes. No hesitation.”

  Hamilton exhaled with restrained anger.

  “The arrogance of this generation… very well. Do what you must. But if you fail… I won’t forgive you. I’ll wipe that cold expression off your face forever.”

  “I’m grateful, Mr. Hamilton,” Ilio replied with artificial coolness. Then he raised his voice into the comms.

  “Attention everyone… listen carefully. Before we do anything, I want the enemy’s identity confirmed.”

  Alex answered quickly.

  “They’re the dogs… the Synced.”

  “The dogs, then…” Ilio repeated slowly. “Straight from the government. It seems our movements have begun to irritate them. But this is strange… we seized Ashval and they didn’t react at all. So it seems they want Verdantiz too. Fine… listen carefully. I have a plan. Follow it to the letter.”

  He paused briefly, then addressed Alex directly.

  “Alex… climb the nearest tall tree and report back. How many enemies?”

  “Understood.”

  Within seconds Alex had climbed a massive trunk, his binoculars fixed on the horizon. Instinctively he counted, then spoke.

  “This is strange… Ilio, their numbers are small. About fifty dogs.”

  “That’s good,” Ilio replied immediately.

  “How is that good?!” Alex shouted. “Ilio… what are you hiding from us?”

  “This isn’t the time for that, Alex. Now listen: spread out through the trees of Verdantiz. Hide above them. We’ll attack from above. As you know… they’re programmed. No instinct. No intuition. When I give the order to fire… don’t hesitate. As for Louis and Victor… stop monitoring them.”

  “What?!” Hamilton shouted. “Then who will watch them?”

  “I will,” Ilio answered firmly. “Come on, Mr. Hamilton… move into the forest. You can lead them well. I’ll stay in contact. And remember these words carefully: do not fire unless I give the order. Move… I’m counting on you.”

  Hamilton and the others hurried toward the forest, climbing the towering trees like cats and vanishing among the thick leaves.

  Ilio, however, remained where he stood.

  Through his binoculars he observed the large industrial building. No sign of anyone. No movement. No additional lights.

  He murmured to himself,

  “Good… now that the place is empty… won’t you show yourself, special case?”

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  ---

  The scene shifted suddenly.

  Debris everywhere. The bodies of dogs lay scattered across the ground like broken dolls—torn metallic shells, exposed wires dripping thick blue fluid.

  And in the middle of it all…

  Victor walked calmly through the carnage, his steps slow, his eyes empty.

  He suddenly stopped, looked down at his hands, and asked quietly,

  “Why am I here? What exactly am I doing here? I’ve… forgotten why I came to this place.”

  He shook his head violently, as if trying to drive the fog from his mind.

  “That doesn’t matter now. They said this is one of the four cities. I was in one when I met Ilio… then we went to Ashval. Three remain… and two capsules left. So the probability of one being here is quite high.”

  He clenched his fists slightly.

  “I want all my memories back. Without them… I feel like I have no meaning. No identity.”

  Suddenly… something moved in front of him.

  He turned.

  A dying body.

  One of the dogs.

  But it wasn’t merely a machine. Its eyes… were human—filled with pain and pleading.

  The image of the old woman he had killed earlier flashed across his mind for a split second, like a sharp stab inside his head.

  “My God… was it me who did this?” he whispered, his face turning pale. “Damn it… what a bastard I am.”

  Yet he soon shook his head again.

  “Strange… I don’t feel guilty. What is guilt anyway? What is regret?”

  His head bumped against the heavy metal door of the industrial building.

  He looked at it.

  “And now… how am I supposed to get inside?”

  He approached the slowly moving body, looking down at it coldly.

  “You poor thing… I’ll take this card. I really need it.”

  He lifted the body slightly and removed the identification card from its chest.

  Suddenly…

  The body spoke.

  Not with a mechanical voice—but with the weak voice of a dying human.

  “Kill me… please. Kill me… I want to join my family… please.”

  Victor looked at it, a strange hint of pity crossing his face.

  “So… it’s just as I thought. You poor soul. Seems like you didn’t choose this yourself.”

  He knelt down, gently lifted the man’s head, and pressed the muzzle of his pistol against his forehead.

  He spoke softly.

  “Don’t hate me… I don’t want to kill you.”

  His finger began pressing the trigger…

  But it trembled.

  Sweat ran down his forehead.

  Suddenly he threw the gun away.

  “Impossible… death was never an option. Live… what if your family sees you? Do they really want you to die?”

  The dying man began mumbling confused words.

  “Thank you… thank you for… killing me…”

  Suddenly Victor noticed something.

  The man’s gaze wasn’t directed at him.

  It was fixed behind the hills.

  Victor felt it.

  A bullet coming.

  He remained still.

  It didn’t hit him.

  It struck the man’s forehead with perfect precision, killing him instantly.

  Victor’s heartbeat surged.

  He crawled quickly toward the pistol, grabbed it, ran to the door, opened it with the card, entered… and shut it behind him.

  ---

  In the forests of Verdantiz, the resistance forces led by Hamilton were spread across the giant trees, hidden perfectly, motionless like statues.

  The dogs arrived beneath them, their synchronized footsteps echoing across the ground.

  Hamilton whispered into the comms,

  “Ilio… they’re directly below us. What do we do now?”

  Ilio replied calmly, still watching the industrial building.

  “Do not fire. We won’t engage them. We’ll let them pass. We won’t risk unnecessary losses.”

  “We understand that… but what about the three of you?”

  “Don’t worry… I have a plan.”

  He cut the line and thought to himself,

  “Good… it seems they’ll come from this direction. I’ll change position and watch from in front of the building.”

  Ilio lay down in the green grass, binoculars aimed at the door.

  Suddenly Hamilton’s shout exploded through the comms.

  “Ilio! You bastard! Units, get ready!”

  “Hamilton… what happened?”

  “Where the hell were you, kid?! We’ve got a problem! Alex fell down there… it looks like he slipped!”

  “What? Fell right in front of them? Did it look natural?”

  “There’s no time for this! They’re right in front of him!”

  ---

  On the ground, Alex lay there, raising his hands in surrender.

  Three dogs stood before him, weapons aimed at his head.

  Fear spread across the resistance fighters.

  Hamilton shouted into the comms,

  “Ilio… what do we do?! Alex is scared… everyone’s scared… they’re waiting for your orders!”

  Ilio answered with a single word—cold and burning at the same time.

  “Don’t fire.”

  Then he continued calmly,

  “The ball is in your hands now, Hamilton. I already told you what should be done… but you’re the one leading them now. The decision is yours. Do what you think is best. I’m closing the line… I’m in a critical position.”

  Questions flooded Hamilton’s mind.

  What do we do? Attack? Leave him?

  He closed his eyes and thought desperately.

  “My God… what should we do? Damn it…”

  Finally he spoke into the comms.

  “Follow Ilio’s order. No one does anything reckless. Losing one person is better than losing many. Please… don’t act. I’m begging you.”

  In his silent comms, Ilio smiled faintly.

  “Well done, Mr. Hamilton. You chose correctly.”

  At that very moment, the dogs lowered their guns from Alex and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

  The resistance fighters—including Alex and Hamilton—remained stunned until the dogs were gone.

  Then Ilio announced the next step.

  Wait.

  Ilio removed the earpiece and threw it aside.

  He raised his binoculars again—

  And shock spread across his face.

  In front of the door…

  One of the dogs was examining the body that had been shot in the forehead.

  At that same moment…

  Louis had arrived.

  “Examining a body you just killed… as if you’re sad about its death. Damn you… special case.”

  Ilio jumped up and began running, shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice barely reaching Louis.

  “Louis! Louis! Watch out—it’s a trap! Watch out—it’s a trap!”

  Louis turned, seeing Ilio running toward him like a madman.

  “What is he yelling about? Why is he coming toward me like that? And that person… ah… the special case. He’s just standing there… not moving at all.”

  Then one word from Ilio’s shouting reached him clearly.

  “Trap!”

  Then again:

  “Stay where you are!”

  “Trap!”

  At that moment Louis noticed something.

  The building’s door was open.

  And in that instant…

  He realized Victor was inside the building.

  He stood alert, cautious, watching his opponent—while also waiting for Ilio, who was rushing toward him at full speed, hoping Victor was still alive.

  ---

  Inside the building…

  In the middle of a messy office—papers scattered, debris everywhere—Victor stood holding his pistol.

  He placed it on the table and looked around slowly.

  A strange sense of familiarity filled his chest.

  Then…

  He heard footsteps approaching.

  He turned quickly.

  His heart pounded.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  For who?

  The door opened.

  A dog entered.

  He closed

  the door behind him and locked it firmly.

  Victor stared at him in fear.

  “Who are you?”

  The dog stood there, looking at Victor from behind his mask.

  Then he spoke.

  His voice was familiar—calm, deep.

  “You think I’d answer that? I don’t remember you being this stupid. Fine… I am what you call R308.”

  To be continued…