?


    I leaned into Steven''s embrace and lulled myself with his heartbeat.


    Actually, ever since I was a child, hearing his heartbeat always made me feel at ease.


    I couldn''t understand it before this, but perhaps I never was some heartless monster-I was only slow to catch


    My heart had long since started beating in sync with his.


    "Stephie," Steven called my name, indicating that he was tired of standing.


    I suddenly recalled something and looked up suspiciously at him.


    "I never told you about Rachel switching sides, did I?'' I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    How did Steven know about it if I never told him, then?


    He behaved as if he was obediently staying in the room, all locked up, but in reality, he was far from it.


    Steven coughed diffidently. ''I... I made a blind guess. You mentioned that Zion and Eason had taken Sarah away. Who else would it be if not Rachel?''


    "Tell me, how did you manage to get in contact with the outside world?" I asked, grabbing his chin threateningly as I pushed him down the bed.


    Steven''s ears reddened, but he refused to reply. He was rather stubborn.


    "How did the kids manage to crack the passwords for all three doors so quickly?'' I was rather surprised.


    Clearly, Ashton and Xan had only managed to crack one a few days ago. How did they manage all three this soon?


    "I figured out your passwords," Steven replied, resigned. "I''ve been taking note of them every time you opened the password-protected doors."


    "You three surely know how to outsmart me,'' I said in a fit of anger. ''No breakfast for all of you tomorrow! I''ll starve all of you!"


    Steven chuckled before pulling me into his embrace and hugging me tight. "I want to sleep with you, Stephie." "Which kind of sleep are you talking about?" I asked.


    He contemted seriously before replying, "The normal one."


    I smiled. I made myselffortable in Steven''s embrace before quietly closing my eyes.


    It seemed like he was having a hard time sleeping. I leaned against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.


    Steven''s fingers continued to gently caress my hair.


    "Goodnight, Stephie," he whispered. He was probably dreaming of ordinary yet happy days.


    Dawn would alwayse. This time, it wasn''t just our battle or struggle alone.


    Rachel would fight for Zion, and Joel would fight to protect Eason. I would also work hand in hand with Steven.


    As for Michael, he was probably doing it out of his guilt for not trusting Stephanie back then. As such, he was doing his best topensate for it.


    Everyone had their own obsessions and beliefs.


    A single spark could start a prairie fire. Even an entity as huge as Genome Society would eventually fall to their destruction.


    If we weren''t meant to see the dawn, we could leave it for the next generation.


    The sess that we had worked and sacrificed for would eventually benefit our children. They would live


    ordinary yet happy lives in our ce.


    "The life I want to give you is so simple, Stephie," Steven said, his voice choked in sobs andced with


    remorse


    Like a moth drawn to mes, he sacrificed himself just to ensure that I would walk on the path of "happiness". Yet he was left battered and broken, with a profound sense of helplessness.


    Even though he was strong, his effort alone was still too insignificant.


    "The path ahead must be lonely, right?" I whispered while hugging him. ''You''re no longer alone now, Steven." Steven was finally no longer alone.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    He tensed up and cried in the dark of the night.


    He was no longer alone in this path he had me, Zion, Eason, and countless others fighting for justice. There was also Rachel, Joel, and those from the Rebels.


    We would press on without questioning whaty ahead.