STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

And outside, the night sky changed.

***

Gasps rippled through the streets as citizens stopped in their tracks, staring upward.

Against the backdrop of the stars, the first message appeared.

YOU ARE NOT YOUR CHART.

Then, the starburst symbol bloomed across the sky, an explosion of light.

Lucien ’s prerecorded voice echoed through the city:

“The stars are not your masters. Your life is your own. Choose.”

For a fraction of a second, they had won.

***

Corin ’s curse was drowned out by the approaching boots. “Time to go!”

They bolted from the control room, the alarm blaring in deafening pulses.

Lyra led the way, quick and precise. Lucien followed, adrenaline burning through exhaustion.

A Steward rounded the corner ahead, raising their weapon.

Lyra ’s eyes widened, but before she could react, Lucien lunged.

He slammed into the Steward, driving them into the wall with enough force to knock them unconscious.

“Lucien!”

He staggered, gasping. “Go! I’m fine—just go!”

They ran. More Stewards behind them.

The alarm shook the walls.

Corin fired a concussive blast, sending one Steward stumbling.

A shot cracked through the air—barely missing Corin’s head. “That was a real shot! ” he hissed.

Lyra gritted her teeth. “They’re not playing around. Keep moving!”

Lucien spotted an auxiliary control panel—one of the grid’s nodes. “Wait! I need to do something.”

Lyra and Corin turned, disbelief flashing across their faces. “Lucien, are you insane?!”

He was already on his knees, working.

Lyra and Corin took defensive positions. The sound of boots grew louder.

Two Stewards rounded the corner.

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