The air in the car turns heavy.
I stare at the man in gray, pulse pounding.
Someone wants me dead. That much, I believe. But does this man want to help… or is he part of the hunt?
“You knew me before,” I say slowly. “So tell me—who was I?”
The man’s lips curve, but it isn’t amusement. It’s something colder. “That’s the problem, Rowan.” He taps the passport. “You were whoever they needed you to be.”
A sharp CRACK shatters the moment.
The rear window explodes.
I dive down as bullets rip through the car. The driver jerks the wheel—tires scream against pavement—glass rains down in shards.
“Go!” the man in gray shouts.
The car lurches forward. I twist, spotting movement in the side mirror—a figure on a motorcycle, helmet reflecting neon lights, a gun raised.
Another shot. The bullet slams into the door frame inches from my head.
Adrenaline floods my system. Move.
Without thinking, I yank the door handle and roll out.
The pavement slams into me hard—shoulder first, then knees. I tumble, momentum dragging me across the wet street.
Pain flares, but I pushe through, scrambling upright just as the motorcycle skids to a stop a few feet away.
The rider is fast—too fast. They swing off the bike in one fluid motion, gun already aimed.
A woman. Dressed in black, stance steady.
Even through the tinted visor, I feel her staring.
Then, a whisper of memory.
Her voice. Low, urgent. “If you ever see me again… run.”
The woman cocks the gun.
“Rowan,” she says. “Get on the bike. Now.”
YOU ARE READING
The Fractured Code: System Crash
Teen FictionBOOK 1: In a world where every thought, action, and memory is controlled by the Program, true freedom is nothing more than a myth. Society operates under the illusion of choice, but behind the scenes, an omnipresent system dictates every outcome. Ro...
