Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Beast
they looked awake.
"What now?" Rowan asked, his hand finding mine.
I looked at the horizon. The Aethel-Group’s ships were leaving, their sleek, silver hulls reflecting the morning light. They were cutting their losses. We were no longer profitable.
"Now," I said, "we learn to live without a script."
But as we turned to walk back to the survivors, a small, silver device on the ground chirped.
It was Mr. Vane’s pocket watch. It was cracked, its gears exposed. But the hands weren't moving. Instead, a small screen on the face showed a single word in glowing red letters: