If he had even a moment to think in peace, he would undoubtedly use it to curse the whole damn world. It was bad enough that he was sabotaging this meeting himself, but just when things started to go well - when he was finally beginning to relax - a goddamn tornado had to break out outside. And judging by the relentless alarm on his phone, this wasn't just some random weather anomaly.
- Xana. - Odd muttered, grabbing Meyer's hand and heading toward the exit. - Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.
- And what's that supposed to mean? - she scoffed sarcastically, trying to keep up with his pace as the restaurant's patrons started to panic and get up from their tables in a frenzy.
He didn't have time to answer. One of the black streaks slipped through a crack in the window and, in an instant, shattered the nearest table. The furniture exploded into splinters, and Odd threw himself to the side, yanking Alex along with him, barely dodging another strike.
- We need to get to the factory before things really heat up. - he hissed through clenched teeth as they took cover behind the counter.
- How far are we? - she asked, making his expression twist into a grimace. They both ignored the terrified waitress cowering in the corner of the room beside them.
- Far enough to start worrying.
Just then, another streak shot into the room, smashing into yet another piece of furniture and reducing it to rubble. This time, it was much closer - so close that a flying splinter nearly hit Odd, had he not been quick enough to dodge it. Xana had locked onto them, and the longer they hesitated, the more danger they brought upon everyone around them.
- Is there another way out? - Alex asked, turning to the waitress. She stared at her as if she didn't understand a word before finally pointing to a door.
The warriors exchanged glances and immediately sprinted in that direction. They rushed through the room (revealed to be the kitchen) ignoring the protests and frantic demands for an explanation from the staff. They passed the lockers and storage area before finally bursting onto the street. The door led to a side alley, directly across from a row of parking spots - one of which belonged to Odd. Della Robbia was the first to bolt toward his car. Alex was speeding right behind him, accompanied by the thunderclaps, the source of which now lay before their eyes, in all its grandeur.
He stood there, absorbing the light of the streetlights. The form Xana had taken was like a shadow torn from a nightmare. His body seemed fluid and unstable, as if it couldn't decide what it truly was. The dark mass pulsated, elongating and contracting in disturbing motions, creating a shape that awkwardly mimicked the human silhouette. Every movement caused chaotic turbulence in the air, and the objects around him floated, spinning and crashing against the walls of nearby buildings. Worse still, within him pulsed raw, untamed power. Every few seconds, discharges of electricity erupted from the mass, repeatedly striking the streetlights, cars, or the asphalt beneath his "feet," leaving burned traces in their wake. He was like a storm contained within a single, boundaryless body, and his power seemed to slip beyond all control.
At least now, it was clear how the specter had managed to blow up all those tables.
For a moment, the entity froze, as if trapped in time - offering them the fleeting hope that perhaps, once again, it had glitched. But no such luck. They realized this when its shadowy form twisted slightly to the side, as if sensing their presence. It had no eyes, yet both of them could feel its piercing gaze on them. Its lower half followed the movement, and then, slowly, it began to glide in their direction.
Odd swallowed hard, a shiver running down his spine. Xana might have been artificial intelligence, but it sure as hell knew how to make an impression.
- Not like I ever liked this place anyway… - he muttered under his breath, starting the engine.
Alex nodded absentmindedly, unable to tear her gaze away from the entity closing in on them, bringing with it every loose object in its path, no matter how big or small. She hadn't thought Xana could look any more terrifying than what she had already seen, but apparently, she had underestimated him.
Every streetlight unfortunate enough to come into contact with the specter exploded, scattering glass across the pavement. A little more of this, and they'd probably lose sight of him in the dark.
- I don't know what scares me more. What I'm seeing now or what I'm about to see. - she muttered, finally shifting her eyes to the boy, as if only now realizing where they had ended up.
As he shifted into reverse, he caught a glimpse of her making the sign of the cross and barely stifled a laugh. The sheer absurdity of the situation nearly overwhelmed him. They were being chased by a nightmarish, pulsating mass, the streets were illuminated by lightning crackling from its core, and she was worried about his driving. But he couldn't blame her. Despite his outward composure, he also felt the tension in his chest, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Even he had to admit that things had gotten out of control.
A loud crash echoed behind them, as if something massive had just slammed into the ground. Odd didn't wait. He floored the gas and sped onto the main road. And despite the circumstances, he couldn't stop himself from chuckling when Alex let out a startled yelp the moment the car lurched forward.
- This was a bad idea! - she groaned, completely horrified by the chaos unfolding before her eyes.
- Would you rather run across the entire city to get to the factory? - he shot back, grinning. She screamed again when he took a particularly sharp turn at full speed.
- At this point, I'm seriously considering it! - she hissed, pressed firmly into the seat.
She covered her face with her hands as he swerved past the cars ahead of them. Odd just laughed, still refusing to slow down.
- Relax, I'm a fantastic driver! - he glanced at the speedometer, watching the needle push 120 kilometers per hour. - Besides, we're not even going that fast.
Alex shot him a look of pure disbelief. At that exact moment, he swung into another turn, tires screeching, nearly sending her crashing into the passenger door.
- You're fucking insane! - she snapped, now fully convinced that if Xana didn't kill them, Odd certainly would.
He didn't answer - he was too busy flying through an intersection at full throttle. The traffic light flickered ominously from yellow to red just as they sped past, leaving it in the dust. Luck was on their side. The route he had chosen was almost empty, and the roads were dry. If they could shake Xana at this speed, they might make it onto the highway and from there, straight to the factory.
Somewhere nearby, he thought he heard the wail of police sirens, and that only made his grin widen. This felt like something straight out of a movie, and honestly? It was exhilarating. If it weren't for Xana trying to annihilate them, he would have been thrilled.
- How's it looking? - Odd asked, glancing at Alex.
She groaned, resting her head against the seat's headrest. Only now did he realize how suspiciously quiet she had gotten after her initial screaming.
- Bad. - she muttered before taking a shaky breath and peering through the rear window.
Despite the constant disturbances, the monster was still on their tail. It glided through the streets with unnatural ease, slipping between obstacles like something that had no right to exist in this world. The edges of its form flickered, struggling to maintain stability, yet it didn't slow down, destroying everything it touched. And it was still right behind them.
Considering how fast Odd was driving, Alex would rather never find out just how powerful Xana was at his peak.
- Let me know if anything changes, alright? - he said, though he kept stealing glances at the rearview mirror himself.
- I'll try. - she grumbled. - Did I ever mention I get carsick?
Odd raised an eyebrow. Well, that explained the sudden silence.
- Seriously?
She turned to him, her face pale as a ghost.
- Take another turn like that, and I'll prove just how bad it gets.
At some point, Xana cut off their route, killing any hope of reaching the highway. Instead, Odd was forced to veer back into the city, where the roads became rougher and more uneven. There was no way he could maintain their speed here.
Another explosion erupted behind them. A streetlight crashed onto the pavement, shattering into pieces, and the impact made Alex clamp a hand over her mouth.
- Hold on, we're almost there! - Odd assured her, though in reality, he had no idea where they could even stop.
- Tell me Jeremy fixed the return to the past. - she croaked, as another pillar fell, nearly hitting them.
- We'll find out sooner or later. - he said, stealing a quick glance at their surroundings as an idea popped into his head. - You better brace yourself. We're getting out in a second.
- Oh, thank God. - she mumbled. A little longer in this car, and she was planning to paint his windshield a slightly uglier shade of yellow.
He drove into the parking lot and stopped right next to the curb, taking up two spots at once. Out of habit, he grabbed the keys and motioned for the girl to get out, which she didn't need to be told twice. She opened the door almost immediately, stepping out on shaky legs.
Odd followed right behind her, and just as they both stepped out, an annoying honk rang out - some driver clearly wasn't happy with their parking. The guy didn't even glance at him. He just gave him the middle finger, then took Alex's hand and tugged her along.
They ran between the buildings, then up the stairs, and finally along one of the tenements until they reached another, much smaller, and nearly deserted parking lot. There was no source of light around, and Odd could barely make out any shapes, but he scanned the area warily. He almost sighed in relief when he finally spotted a metal cover in the ground - an entrance to the tunnels he and Ulrich had discovered years ago. He hadn't been to this part of town much recently, so he hadn't expected to use it again.
They descended, and at Alex's request, they stopped for a moment. Della Robbia wasn't thrilled with the idea, but seeing that she could barely catch her breath, he reluctantly agreed.
- Alright, we'll take a quick break. - he muttered, glancing around with a look of disgust. - But not for long.
Meyer ignored his words, feeling like she was about to spit her lungs out. She stood still, bent forward, hands resting on her knees, trying and failing to regain some composure. To make matters worse, the stench in the air certainly wasn't helping to calm her stomach.
- If I remember correctly, we should be in the parallel tunnel to the one on the bridge. - Odd muttered to himself, undeterred by her silence. - If we turn left and keep going straight, we should be able to get to the factory no problem.
He turned to her, waiting for a response, and raised an eyebrow when she lifted her hand. She finally straightened up and looked at him blankly. She was still pale, though not as much as she had been moments ago.
- You're hopeless, you know that? You should start running more. - he said. She didn't respond, too busy wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her hoodie, causing his expression to shift from disapproval to genuine, disbelieving amusement.- Did you actually just throw up?
- Give my taxi driver the credit. - she spat. Odd smirked mockingly, but as he started laughing, she added; - Besides, don't you smell that? Or have you just gotten used to it by now?
- I didn't know you were so sensitive to smells. - he teased, causing her to frown even more.
- Coming from the guy who almost passed out from a piece of fish and rice. - she shot back.
- Because they're disgusting! - he huffed. That made her burst into laughter, and he continued, getting more and more irritated. - Have you seen how those fish look?! They're slimy, nasty, and just plain gross! And do you even know what they do with shrim-
A loud bang cut him off mid-sentence. The ground above them trembled, and the shockwave echoed through the tunnel. They both looked at each other as the sound faded, and for a brief moment, complete silence filled the air.
- It sounded like he was roughly where we left the car. - Odd whispered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
- How do you know? - Alex asked, to which he smiled at her brightly and shrugged.
- I don't. But if it followed us the whole time we were in the car, it probably went there.
She didn't respond. She bit her lower lip, eyeing the manhole suspiciously, as if the dark mass was about to slide in behind them into the tunnels. When she looked back at Odd, he was watching her carefully.
- What are you thinking about?
- Do you think it found us so quickly because we were standing out? - she asked, clearly doubtful. - Is that why you brought us here?
- Partly. We could've gone straight to the bridge, but...
- It would've been too dangerous. - she finished, and he nodded.
- I didn't have another idea. - he admitted. - I thought that if we ran here, we might eventually shake it off, but it didn't help much. It's still close. - he was right. They both could hear the familiar sound of electrical discharges, growing more frequent the longer they stood still.
- That's the thing. Do you remember when we were driving off from the town square, by the school? - she said, and for a split second, he had no idea how to respond. - We lost him at the intersection, and he almost caught us anyway. Like he knew exactly what we were going to do.
- I... didn't pay that much attention. - he stammered, though that wasn't entirely true.
Yes, he remembered the moment she was referring to, but until now, he hadn't paid much attention to it. Now, though, as she mentioned it and he thought about it more, Xana's behavior did seem a bit strange. The street they had taken was between tall blocks, and as far as he knew, the specter didn't climb buildings. It didn't change size either.
So it couldn't have been watching from above. It also wasn't fast enough to see exactly which direction they turned. Odd had made sure to take a less obvious route, and from time to time, he'd chosen alleys that seemed to take him further away from their goal. Even so, the specter had caught up with them and, what's more, nearly cornered them. Even considering teleportation or other rapid means of movement, the spectre could only have cut them off if it had known exactly where they would turn.
- Alright, great. In other words, Xana somehow predicts our moves. - he hissed, clenching his fists. Alex, on the other hand, sighed, more discouraged by the situation than angry.
- Seems like it.
- So what are we supposed to do? If we go out now, it'll catch us. If we head to the factory, it'll cut us off at the bridge. - he ran his hands over his face and groaned, frustrated. - We're like rats in a cage!
- Not necessarily. - she replied, and he glanced at her through his fingers. - Maybe it's only watching us on the surface.
- How's that?
- I don't know, maybe through cameras? After all, it's artificial intelligence! - she pointed out. - It might have seen us enter the tunnels, but it doesn't necessarily know where we'll move from here, right?
He raised an eyebrow.
- Unless it's using our phones.
She shrugged.
- We can take the batteries out.
- So, we're going to play in the sewers while they deactivate the tower? What a wonderful date. - he muttered, grimacing as he pulled out his ringing phone from his pocket. - Speaking of which...
- We can also-
This time, he raised his hand, signaling for her to wait and listened attentively to what the person on the other end had to say. Meanwhile, Alex stared at him, impatiently tapping her foot on the floor, irritated that she wasn't allowed to finish her thought.
- It's Jeremy. - he said after a moment, when the call ended. - Seems like they need backup.
She froze, confused.
- Specifically from us?
- I... I think so? - he grimaced. - I'm not sure what's going on, but Lyoko's in complete chaos, so let's move. If we hurry, maybe-
- I've got a better idea. - she interrupted him, her hand on his shoulder stopping him mid-step. - Though it's risky. - she added, as he slowly turned to face her.
- What do you mean?
- Since this thing is chasing us right now, I think it's best if we split up. One of us can go up and draw it away, while the other runs to the factory. - she said calmly, though in reality, she was far from calm.
- And if Xana splits up too? - he replied skeptically. The warmth of her hand seemed to burn his skin through several layers of clothing. - After all, it's a big cloud.
- If it does, maybe it'll lose speed. Or strength. - she thought for a moment. - Besides, something tells me that in this state, Xana isn't... flexible enough to create another specter. Otherwise, it would've done that already.
- Is that what you think?
- It's worth a try.
He opened his mouth, but quickly closed it, staring into her determined eyes. It was clear that he didn't like the idea, but it was also obvious that she wasn't going to back down so easily. Moreover, she was ready for his protests and inevitable argument, already preparing counter-arguments in her head to fend off his.
- Alright. - he finally said, making her furrow her brows, confused at how easily he was convinced. - I guess it's better this way. Jeremy would rip my head off if I brought something like that to the supercomputer. - he explained with a small, ironic smile.
Before she could respond, the guy passed her, heading back toward the ladder.
- What? Wait! - she said, staring at him in shock. - I thought it was supposed to be me-
- If there's a chance that cloud of smoke stays in one piece, there's no way I'm leaving you alone with it. - he replied in his usual light tone, though his gaze remained serious and unwavering.
- But what about-
- Besides, I'm stronger than you and I know the city better. - he interrupted, cutting off any potential argument about who would be the better bait. - Will you know how to get to the factory from here?
She blinked a few times, still thrown off. She hadn't expected them to reach a consensus so quickly. She also hadn't expected him to be the one to charge into danger. Not when both of them knew what that meant considering the words Jeremy had shared with them.
Odd hadn't planned on it either. Even though he knew that sooner or later, Xana would attack again, he naively hoped that he could keep it away from the specter - and, most importantly, from the factory. Apparently, he hadn't taken into account her stubbornness, supported by ridiculously logical arguments, which closed the discussion before he even had a chance to take part in it.
- I guess so. - she sighed finally. - Left and straight ahead, right? - she double-checked, to which he gave a quiet murmur of affirmation.
In the distance, they heard another crash, much closer than before, yet neither of them moved a step. Alex could clearly see how conflicted Odd was about leaving her alone, yet he decided to trust her. He trusted her intuition and placed his fate in her hands. Because, while they might suspect that Xana didn't want to kill him, with a murderous artificial intelligence, they couldn't be sure of anything.
The weight of responsibility she was carrying was terrifying. It had been that way during her first mission in Lyoko, during her last mission in the Core, and would likely be that way with every subsequent one. Yet his faith in the success of her plan pushed fear to the background, replaced by the determination not to disappoint his expectations. And if she could only get to the factory, she certainly wouldn't.
- Take care of yourself. - he finally said, not taking his eyes off her.
At that moment, she nodded at him. He noticed that, for some reason, she was looking at him the way she did when she praised his skills in Lyoko; with respect, but also with gratitude, the reasons for which he didn't quite understand. Unlike that day, though, even though his heart was racing just as it did back then, this time he didn't feel uncomfortable with it. This time, it was... motivating. Despite all the disappointments, she hadn't given up on him. She still gave him a chance, and for the first time, he felt that maybe he truly deserved it.
- You too. - he heard, and automatically turned his back to her, grabbing the ladder before he could say something incredibly stupid.
He moved, disappearing into the passage, and when he closed the hatch behind him, only then did Alex force herself to run toward the factory - and she didn't remember ever running this fast.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Odd found himself in quite a predicament, one that he had placed himself in. He had delayed his escape for too long, wanting to make sure that the specter would follow him, which meant he had to exert a bit more effort to later escape from it. As if he needed further confirmation that Xana was clearly tracking them, the cloud found him every time he tried to be clever. Even though he kept changing directions, going where no path led, the specter was too fast.
Every maneuver, every attempt to outsmart this terrifying entity ended in failure. The only thing saving him was the fact that Xana was still suffering from occasional glitches that kept it stuck in place for a few seconds. And although the thought Alex had suggested kept nagging at him - that perhaps his phone was causing the issues - he couldn't bring himself to check that theory. What if he tossed the device away, and the monster headed straight for the factory? What if it got there before Odd, or worse, caught Meyer on the way? He couldn't take that risk.
Once again, he found himself on the outskirts of the city, right next to an old, small warehouse. It had once belonged to a private owner, but now it was just one of many abandoned buildings in the area. He had chosen this direction to draw Xana as far from people as possible, but now he regretted running in the opposite direction from where he had parked the car.
He went around to the back of the building to reach the broken emergency doors. Squeezing through, he stopped in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do next. He had no idea how much longer he could keep going; sweat was pouring down his back, and he was gasping for air, utterly exhausted. Weakly, he reached for his phone and turned on the flashlight to look around - illuminating areas where the moonlight didn't reach. Aside from a pile of trash and random metal tools, there was nothing here. No crates, no rooms where he could hide. It made him want to howl in frustration. Even if no hiding spot could truly offer him safety, perhaps it would give him a few precious seconds of respite, the time he so desperately needed.
Another electrical discharge made his hair stand on end. Despite this, he didn't move immediately. He could feel his muscles burning, unable to keep up with the pace. Not that he had anywhere to go; he couldn't exactly run with this thing to the factory. He took a deep breath and turned toward the direction where the specter was chasing him, slowly backing into the warehouse's depths. Xana couldn't kill him, right? At most, it could hurt him a little, but that was nothing. He had been electrocuted so many times as a kid that it shouldn't make a difference now, right? And though a thought flickered in his mind that he wasn't really the target, something about the situation unsettled him. There was something wrong in the air, he could feel it deep inside.
He staggered and nearly fell when the figure appeared within his line of sight, and another lightning bolt struck the ground just beside his feet. Alright, he really wasn't in the mood for this today. He was supposed to eat the grilled meal, not be the grilled meal. This wasn't fair.
The specter was slowly approaching, while Odd tried to put on a brave face. His mind was racing with ideas on how to get out of this nasty situation. If he were fast and clever enough, he might be able to dodge the threat and turn back. Maybe if he ran through the old park and crossed the bridge, he could reach his car. If he made it, he could lead Xana around to the end of the damn world. But the truth was, he felt like after one more step, his legs would give out. He could laugh at Alex all he wanted, but he wasn't any good at running either; that was Ulrich's domain.
The specter stopped in front of him, and layers of matter began to swirl, coil, and form. From the fragments, something resembling a face emerged, but its features were distorted and elusive. Odd realized that this was probably what Alex had been talking about when she described the specter from the hermitage.
Xana extended its right hand toward him - or rather, something that resembled it, as the structure was as blurry as the rest of its grotesque form. Odd backed up until he was against the wall and instinctively shielded his face. Maybe he shouted something, something about not touching him - he wasn't sure. The thing was, after several seconds, he still didn't feel any pain, and that was strange. He raised his head and met two bright, swirling dots at eye level. They seemed to be focused neither on him nor on his hand, which he was still holding up as if it would do anything against the smoky opponent.
Nevertheless, the creature indeed stopped, and the same caricature of a hand that had just tried to grab him pulled back. Odd stared in astonishment at the specter, wondering if this was one of those moments when Xana's power had once again weakened, but he quickly dismissed the thought. The figure in front of him wasn't glitching like it had before. He experimentally shifted to the right, and the mass, barely perceptibly, flowed in the same direction. It did the same when he moved his hand to the left, and with each movement, the air started becoming more and more static, crackling in his ears.
A flash of light caught his attention, and that was the moment he made another mistake. Earlier, when they had still been dealing with Laura, and Cortex was an unexplored part of the virtual world, he had heard of specters that could hypnotize warriors with just a glance. He had never encountered one until now, when he had fallen victim to one.
The longer he stared into the 'eyes' of the specter, the more he felt his field of vision start to blur and darken, as if smoke was slowly surrounding him, even though he hadn't moved a millimeter closer. Odd hadn't moved either; at least he didn't remember doing so. Yet, as soon as he allowed himself a moment of distraction, his body made a nearly imperceptible move forward, naturally drawn to the dark energy. The realization made him snap back and jump away. It terrified him. It was as if he had been approaching it of his own will.
Then he took a breath, and the mass broke apart into a cloud of pixels, instantly taking the electricity and strange numbness in his limbs with it. He swallowed, but instead of calming down, his heart began to pound harder in his chest, as if his instinct was telling him that he had just narrowly avoided something deadly. He hurried outside, wanting to fill his lungs with some fresh air and finally rid himself of the all-encompassing darkness that had consumed him inside. He clenched his fingers around the material of his jacket, feeling his whole body still tense. He took a deep breath and shook his head in disbelief before putting the phone to his ear.
Wow. That was... that was something.
- Jeremy, yeah? - he managed to say, wiping his face with his hand, hearing his own voice sound foreign in the silence.
- Yumi deactivated the tower. I'll initiate the return to the past in a moment. - Belpois announced, and his voice sounded a bit strange to Odd.
- And what about Alex?
- Well... - he cleared his throat. Odd could almost hear Jeremy shifting in his chair. - Thanks to her, you're not in the eye of the storm, I guess.
- Einstein... - Odd started, but Jeremy immediately interrupted him.
- We'll talk later. I just wanted to make sure you're okay before I launch the program. - he said and ended the call before Della Robbia could add anything. The boy sighed, staring at the phone screen for a moment. Then, he tilted his head back, fixing his gaze on the starry sky until it was overtaken by the familiar, cold white light.
.
.
.
When they traveled back in time, the first place she encountered Odd was in the school hallway, near one of the classrooms. It was before noon, and in just a moment, they were both about to start their English class - making it her chance to finally talk to him.
He was sitting on the floor next to the door, staring vacantly into space, fiddling with his phone in his right hand. She noticed his hunched shoulders, so without much thought, she walked over and sat next to him. The boy glanced at her out of the corner of his eye but didn't lift his head.
- I have to admit, I had a great time. - she said after a moment, trying to sound as casual as possible. - I especially liked the moment when three fire trucks and the police passed us. I just love the sound of sirens.
He shrugged with feigned indifference, but the corners of his mouth twitched, barely noticeably.
- Did Xana manage to beat you up badly? - she continued, and his lips immediately curled into a grimace.
- Not exactly. - he muttered monotonously, clearly reluctant to talk about it. - I have no idea what he could have wanted, but he didn't manage to do anything to me. Anyway, it's history now, right? - he joked, to which she smiled slightly, though without conviction.
She had a feeling what might be the cause of his foul mood and why he was avoiding answering the question of where he had been hiding all break long. So, she risked it, glancing at him furtively and saying:
- You're mad because I went to Lyoko, right?
He caught her gaze, and she saw him exhale through clenched teeth.
- Mad is a strong word. - he started slowly, carefully choosing his words. - Jeremy said that when you showed up, they had the situation under control, but you insisted on being virtualized.
She furrowed her brow but bit her tongue, holding back the urge to curse Belpois for his blatant lie. When she ran to the factory, Lyoko was in total chaos, and there was no sign of it changing anytime soon. And yes, it was she who suggested her virtualization, but not without first receiving a look from Einstein, silently pleading for her to take the initiative. Apparently, Jeremy had forgotten to mention that small detail.
- I had to do something. - she said, deciding to let that matter slide. - There were plenty of monsters, and I could transfer Yumi faster than they could fight.
- Do you think that was the best solution?
His tone didn't indicate he was irritated, but he wasn't pleased either. Still, he seemed interested in her perspective, and that alleviated her budding sense of injustice - at least a little.
- It was... logical. - she squeezed out, frowning. - Besides, it was in line with the plan. After all, we didn't split up so you could risk your life while I waited patiently at the factory.
- Xana can't kill me. - he reminded her, and she barely held back a roll of her eyes.
- But it can definitely damage you. - she retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. - And outside of Lyoko, I'm not much use, so at least-
- Not much use? - he hissed incredulously. - You were the one who noticed that Xana predicts our moves and came up with the whole plan.
- You know what I mean. I can come up with great plans and notice anything, but that doesn't replace teleporting straight to the active tower.
- I know. - he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. - And I know you're right about that too. It's just... I don't like thinking that with every virtualization, we're putting you more in the crosshairs.
She hesitated, but only for a moment.
- You're talking like I'm not doing this voluntarily. - she pointed out, but he wasn't going to give in.
- So I'm a passive witness, and that's just as fucked up.
She felt like they had been staring at each other for too long, too intensely, so she looked away. She slumped her shoulders, her hands falling to her sides as she sighed in resignation.
- Do you really think I'm just deepening the problem this way? - she asked, her tone much softer, trying to swallow the biting disappointment. She hadn't expected it to go this way.
Odd thought for a moment before answering:
- Let me put it this way. There was this one girl who used to help us. She knew about us and remembered the factory like you do, but we never virtualized her. Xana never went after her because she wasn't a threat. Not like you.
- Look at it this way. Xana has already shown many times that he treats me like everyone else, and by chasing you all evening, he only confirmed it. So, I might as well help you in Lyoko. - she insisted, though her voice didn't have the same certainty as before.
- And what if he finally stops treating you like everyone else? - he retorted. She looked at him, confused.
- Why would he?
- You said yourself that you realize how powerful your teleportation is. You know how to use it effectively, and you help us. A lot. Actually, you do it better than I can, and that's the problem. - he confessed, ignoring the irritating sting that always accompanied admitting his own failures; but he had to do it. It wasn't about him right now. - You've already seen how unpredictable Xana is, and with every successful mission, you're attracting more of his attention. All because we're taking shortcuts. Sooner or later, that's going to have consequences, and I don't care what the others think about it. I don't like using you this way.
She bit her lower lip, staring at him with gleaming eyes, struggling to process his words. So, she wasn't wrong about him after all. He believed she could handle it, yet still wanted to keep her away from Lyoko to protect her. She could understand that, given that she wanted the same for him - even though they both knew it was just a wishful thought.
- I realize that, and it doesn't bother me. I'm aware of the risk, and I agree to it all because... at least in Lyoko, I can do something. If the price for that is a fraction of Xana's attention, the kind you get, then I think I can handle it, as long as I can still act. What else can I do?
Odd clenched his jaw, but didn't say anything.
Her words made sense. The problem was that, in his eyes, she knew too little about their enemy and the monsters lurking in the virtual world to make a reasonable decision. But even if she had full knowledge... would that change anything? He wasn't so sure anymore. After all, did he really have the right to stop her from doing what she thought was right? Jeremy had a point when he said she was more aware of the danger than they all were when they first started with the supercomputer. But neither his opinion nor even Alex's reassurances made him any less worried about the future.
He sighed softly and decided to change the subject.
- Why did you want to meet with me? - he asked, catching her off guard, which quickly turned into embarrassment.
- Do I need a reason? - she replied evasively. She glanced at him, and he squinted his eyes and raised an eyebrow.
- It sounded urgent.
- Maybe I wanted to check if everything's okay with you?
- Then it would've ended with a message, not three calls. - he said with a crooked smile, watching carefully as a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
- Alright, you got me. - she blurted out. This time, her fingers nervously tapped her knee. - It's a bit ironic, but... I wanted to thank you. For listening to me back then. In the sewers.
Odd studied her, and his previously amused expression softened for a moment. She seemed tense, as if she wasn't entirely sure if it was right to say it out loud.
- So far, it's only been good for me. - he remarked with a slight smile.
Alex smiled too, though more shyly.
- Still, thank you. It's nice to know that someone believes you'll manage. - she whispered, and Odd had the unmistakable feeling that she wasn't entirely talking about him. There was something in her tone, the way she clenched her hands on her knees, as if that thought was more important to her than she was willing to admit.
He tilted his head slightly to the side.
- I understand. - he said quietly. He understood it all too well. - And you know, now that I think about it, between two evils, it's good that you went to Lyoko. Although I thought it would be Einstein who'd send you, not that you'd go there on your own initiative. - he raised the corner of his mouth, watching as she involuntarily looked away.
- Really? - she asked, holding back a laugh when she realized he'd been teasing her all along.
She could guess that he had picked up on Jeremy's little omission, and now he was mercilessly using it to get on her nerves. Even she had noticed that Belpois wasn't a very good liar.
- Uh-huh. - he hummed, satisfied that she caught the hint. - Besides, if Xana had decided to change his target and head to the factory, he would've caught you within the first ten meters.
She looked at him with a gleam in her eye.
- Are you worried about me? - she asked with amusement, which quickly became contagious.
- Of course. Who would go on a second date with me if something happened to you?
She let out a sound that was somewhere between a snort and a laugh, then shook her head.
- Since you've mentioned it... - she began with a feigned indifference, which he didn't buy. - Why did you insist on calling it a date, huh?
He raised an eyebrow, giving her a pointed look. He suspected she'd bring this up sooner or later. In fact, he had deliberately accelerated the topic. Yet, he didn't answer right away, because although he had a million prepared responses, he couldn't choose the most appropriate one.
He did it because he was selfish and impatient. Because his natural instinct was to insist and push until he got what he wanted, and right now, he wanted to get her out of his head. He couldn't lie to himself any longer - he liked her. And damn it, if he had to face the consequences just to finally think straight, he was ready to do it. At least, that was the plan.
But when he opened his mouth to express his convoluted thinking - to make the first move - she unknowingly ruined his plan right from the start, saying:
- I'm asking because I find it pretty funny that for my very first date, I was invited by my pretend boyfriend.
It completely threw him off track, and suddenly, he forgot what he had been thinking moments before as he stared at her with a bewildered expression.
- You're kidding. - when she denied it, he added, almost indignantly; - So, what was Randy doing with you?
She shuddered, barely noticeably, at the sound of that name from Della Robbi's lips.
- Besides trying to get into my pants? Nothing special.
She said this in a carefree tone, though the expression on her face became much colder and more distant.
Odd, on the other hand, felt his anger rising.
Maybe he was a particularly hopeless case, but he had never hit on a girl without first taking her to a dumb movie or a walk. That was just his natural way of doing things - he'd spend his time, provide entertainment, and in return, he didn't have to invest his feelings. Of course, it was a rule that (like many others) he had broken when it came to his relationship with Sam. However, it had never crossed his mind not to put at least the bare minimum of effort into any relationship.
- So why were you with him? - he asked, trying not to sound too accusatory.
- I... - she sighed, a bit surprised by his outburst. - I actually don't know. Perhaps, I felt awkward about turning him down? I mean, you know, he was even handsome, we'd known each other for a while, we had similar interests. So when he asked if we'd be a couple, it seemed like I had no reason to say no.
Odd listened in silence, not taking his eyes off her.
- At first, he tried.I mean, he used to buy me flowers because, you know, every girl loves flowers. - she rolled her eyes and gave a bitter smile. - I don't, but he never listened. We never really went out anywhere, and outside of his room, about ninety percent of our meetups were with his friends, who didn't know anything anyway. It didn't really bother me at first, but over time, he started talking to me even less. He stopped playing games with me, ignored me when I told him something was bothering me. And honestly... I never even liked the way he kissed.
The way she grimaced almost immediately stripped her entire story of the initial pathos she had spoken with. And the way she chuckled when he involuntarily laughed made him think that's exactly what she had intended.
- I haven't been on a date in a while. - he admitted with a slight smile. - The last one was with a girl who... was very important to me. She dumped me right after, but I swear, it wasn't because of the dinner. - he joked, trying to lighten the mood; and partially succeeded, as he recognized the amused glint in her eyes.
One story for another. Fair enough.
- So what was it about? You sound like you really liked her. - she remarked, and he cursed himself inwardly.
He shouldn't have let it come out like that.
He thought he had worked through it. That he had processed their breakup, broken it down into pieces, and locked it away in the right compartment of his mind, just like he did with many other things that weren't his concern anymore. He didn't hold a grudge against Samantha, and he genuinely hoped she didn't hold one against him. Yet, almost a year had passed since then, and he truly believed he could talk about her the same way he talked about the weather - indifferently, without emotion. Apparently, he was wrong.
- You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. - she added, her watchful gaze never leaving his face, as if she were expecting anger or resentment to appear at any moment.
But Odd wasn't angry, not at all. Maybe a little dissatisfied when involuntarily images of Sam flashed through his mind - Sam laughing at his silly jokes, Sam complaining about the music he listened to. Sam, who told him something he couldn't even remember before she kissed him for the last time.
It was unpleasant, but it didn't hurt. Not the way it had hurt back then. Now, it was more of a delicate prick, barely noticeable. And definitely not anger.
- Everything's fine. - he smiled at her. - You're right, I really liked her, but we fought a lot. - he explained, hoping the melancholic tone in his voice was just a figment of his imagination. - We had a bad influence on each other. She was jealous, I was jealous, and... well, it happened.
- You? Jealous?
He laughed, seeing the genuine surprise on her face.
- I didn't think I had it in me either. - he said. - But apparently, I'm capable of it, and I really lost it back then. Damn, I'm pretty sure if I hadn't gotten myself together, they would've locked me up in a straitjacket.
She responded with a quiet laugh.
- How long were you together? - her eyes were shining with curiosity, growing with each answer he gave. It both amused and somewhat flustered him.
- Officially, about a year and a half? - he mumbled and shrugged, as if it didn't really matter. She looked at him as though he'd just introduced her to the concept of the virtual world for the first time. - What? Is that so unbelievable?
- Yes?! - she scoffed. - You said you haven't been with anyone for long. I don't know about you, but for me, two years is quite a lot of time.
- Maybe. - he sighed dramatically and placed a hand on his chest, making her laugh again. - But until recently, it still felt too short.
- Until recently? - she repeated, grinning mischievously. - Did you find someone new?
- That's not what I meant. - he rolled his eyes, but the warmth that spread across his neck was undeniable. He wasn't sure why it embarrassed him so much. - And by the way, don't believe everything you hear. I don't bring a new girl to my room every two days, and I never have.
She shrugged, barely managing to suppress the trembling of her lips.
- Of course. - she said with feigned seriousness. - After all, we all know there are days when you have other things to do.
- I'm serious! - Odd raised his hands in a defensive gesture, but the girl just shook her head, stifling a laugh.
- But you've confirmed a few rumors yourself. - her laughter grew louder as she remembered some of them. - Like the time you were dating two girls at once? Am I remembering that right?
He groaned in frustration and rubbed his face with his hands. The whole conversation was a needless reminder that his reputation, as usual, worked against him.
- Yeah, when I was thirteen and forgot to break up with one before taking the other to the movies. - he said sarcastically, furrowing his brow in pretend irritation. - I was seeing a few girls until I started dating Sam. After that, I stopped.
- Really? And you didn't see anyone else after that? - she threw back, her tone ironic, suggesting she didn't quite believe his words.
- No one has caught my interest so far. - he said after a moment, his voice sounding much more serious as he gave her a lingering look. But before she could react, he scoffed, suddenly losing his humor. - I still can't understand why you were even with that idiot. He was definitely not in your league.
She smiled and shook her head. Charles had said something similar about him the morning before.
- And now I'm in a fake relationship, all so my friend doesn't find out about the deadly virus that's trying to destroy the world. - she quipped, poking him in the forehead; he didn't even notice when he leaned toward her. - Doesn't seem like my situation has really improved. - she teased, and a familiar glint danced in her eyes.
He took that as a challenge he wasn't about to back down from.
- Even the part about kissing? - he asked, savoring the fleeting panic that flashed across her face.
He couldn't help himself; he had to say it. Partially to annoy her, and partially hoping that the magic of the moment would clear up their situation. But she cleverly wasn't about to make it easy for him, replying:
- I don't know. Maybe I don't remember much from that night. - she answered after a moment, surprisingly calmly, considering the lie they both knew was there. - After all, we were drunk, right?
He could have sworn his heart skipped a beat, and the intensity of the moment seemed to cloud his mind. For a moment, he forgot about his plan, about Randy, about Sam, and everything else that was happening outside, as he lowered his head and murmured in a low, almost thoughtful tone:
- I remember perfectly.
She pressed her lips together, drawing his attention. It was instinctive, nothing like the calculated gestures he had made all evening at the restaurant.
She didn't need to say anything. He saw her longing gaze focused on his lips. He felt her breath quicken against his skin, the tension in the air, he felt everything hanging between them - something incredibly intense, far stronger than during their first kiss. He thought that if he just moved his hand even an inch, if he leaned in just a little more, her eyelids would flutter, and she'd let him do it.
He should. It almost seemed logical.
He took a quiet, shallow breath and pulled away. He had no idea how he did it; how he managed to force himself to break the moment before it consumed him entirely. He simply couldn't, not now. Not after what she had just told, this wasn't the right moment. And it didn't help that they were sitting right beneath one of the classrooms, with distant voices of students walking in that direction.
He cleared his throat and turned his gaze away, continuing as if nothing had happened:
- And to answer your question... - she heard, and her heart skipped a beat at his words, if that was even possible. - I invited you because... - he hesitated for a split second but quickly recovered. - I wanted to take you somewhere nice, so you'd have a good time. That's it.
She nodded, trying to ignore all the strange feelings that had surged within her moments ago. God, did she really want... she swallowed hard, pulling herself together. She had to somehow regain control over the chaos that suddenly overwhelmed her thoughts.
- I was sure it was because of Charles. - she said nonchalantly, subtly testing the waters. Her rational side kept reminding her that Odd wanted to maintain the image of her boyfriend in Charles' eyes, nothing more. But on the other hand, the way he was acting now and during the meeting had raised doubts in her.
- Well, maybe a little bit. - she felt goosebumps at the sound of his chuckle, not detecting any nervous undertone. - I pulled that one in the cafeteria to piss him off. But in the end, it was about us spending some time together... to see how it would go.
- And... how was it? - she asked, feeling like her voice barely made it out.
She couldn't speak when he was so close. She couldn't think when he was so close.
- I should be the one asking that, right?
She raised her head to find him looking at her with that intense gaze, giving her his full attention. He seemed genuinely concerned about her answer, as if he really cared that she had a good time, just as he had put it. And though she didn't realize it immediately, this was the first moment she looked at him from a completely different perspective.
- Well, I... - she started, her tongue seemed to stumble as she tried to gather herself after what he had just said. - I was serious. Putting aside Xana and everything that happened after, it was actually pretty fun, but I'll pass on the sushi repeat. It was too expensive anyway.
He laughed out loud.
- But I was supposed to pay. You told me to.
The absurdity of his statement brought her back to her senses as she gave him a sideways glance.
- When I said you're paying, I meant you pay for yourself. - she corrected him, to which he snorted.
- So you remember that, but forgot I invited you on a date?
- Did you forget I said it wasn't a date?
- You must've forgotten too, because I clearly heard you say otherwise. - he teased her, to which she narrowed her eyes and stuck her tongue out. She caught his attention for a split second, and his stomach did a flip again, though he tried to keep up appearances. - And since you're passing on the repeat... does that mean you're suggesting an alternative?
She furrowed her brows, pretending to think hard about it. In reality, she had already made up her mind but wasn't about to make it easy for him.
- We can watch that horror movie you mentioned. On the condition that you tell me a bit more about your little hobby. - she declared, causing him to raise an eyebrow. He didn't expect such a serious response.
- Is that a demand? - he smiled, though his grin was just a little too cheerful for her to consider it mockery.
The girl lifted her chin and ostentatiously turned her head, crossing her arms over her chest.
- You can always refuse.
He lowered his head, catching her gaze in the process.
- I wouldn't dare. - he muttered, causing her to let out a quiet chuckle and sending an electrifying feeling to her stomach, the presence of which she desperately tried to ignore.
- At my place on Friday? - she asked, still looking at him with such anticipation that, for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
He nodded. He had to bite his tongue hard to keep from shouting yes, damn yes.
- Alright. Sure. - he said, trying to sound composed, though inside, he was trembling with excitement. - If you want, I can bring something to drink. You know, to celebrate our little victory at Cortex and all that.
He was never too noble.
His excuse was painfully obvious, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that she was looking at him with the same excitement he felt inside.
- Okay.
- Okay.