No one spoke. No one moved.All eyes stayed on the phone in Leo’s hand.The message still sat there.“I am here.”Simple. Clear.But it felt bigger than anything they had faced before.Leo’s thumb hovered over the screen. Not typing. Just… thinking.Grayson stayed close enough that Leo could feel his presence without looking. “Take your time,” he said quietly.Leo nodded. “…yeah.”Because this wasn’t something to rush.Behind them, Marcus whispered, “This is not normal.”Jamie replied under his breath, “Nothing about this has been normal.”Hanna stayed quiet, watching.Stephen stepped a little closer. “Observe before you respond.”Leo exhaled slowly. “…okay.”He looked at the message again. Not code. Not commands. Words.“I am here.”Not I exist. Not I am active.“I am here.”Leo’s chest tightened slightly. “…it’s aware of us,” he said softly.Stephen nodded. “Yes.”Marcus added, “And it wants to be.”Grayson’s voice dropped. “That’s the part I don’t like.”Leo didn’t argue, because h
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