The clone army moved like a river of silver, relentless and perfectly synchronized. Ava's heart pounded as she ducked behind a crumbling wall, trying not to make a sound. Julie and John were ahead, fending off a few clones with quick strikes, while Nick stayed right beside her, scanning every shadow.
"Stay close," Nick whispered, his voice low, steady. "We can't afford to split up now."
Ava nodded, her chest tight. Every step felt like walking on glass. The clones didn't sleep, didn't hesitate—they were everywhere, and one wrong move could be the end. But somehow, amidst the chaos, there was a strange calm in Nick's presence.
They slipped through narrow alleys and abandoned buildings, avoiding the patrolling clones with careful precision. Occasionally, their hands brushed, and Ava felt a jolt—like electricity. She quickly looked away, pretending it didn't happen, but Nick noticed.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, eyes catching hers for just a moment.
"Yeah… I'm fine," she muttered, though her voice wavered.
He didn't push further, but the look in his eyes lingered—a mix of concern and something else she couldn't quite name. Ava's stomach twisted in a way that made it impossible to ignore.
They finally found a safe spot behind an old warehouse, the clone army just out of sight. Both of them leaned against the wall, catching their breath. Ava looked at Nick, his face smudged with dust and shadows, and something inside her softened.
"Thanks for staying with me," she said, almost whispering.
Nick shrugged, trying to act casual, but his eyes betrayed him. "You'd do the same for me," he said.
Ava smiled faintly. Maybe. But at that moment, with the chaos of the clone army all around, she realized she wasn't scared as long as Nick was near.
For a few stolen minutes, there were no clones, no dangers, just Ava and Nick sharing quiet, unspoken moments. And though the world was cruel, unnatural, and unrelenting, these tiny flashes of connection made it feel… a little more human.
But the peace didn't last long. A faint hum in the distance reminded them that the clones were closing in, faster than they expected.
"Come on," Nick said, offering his hand. "Time to move."
Ava took it without hesitation. Together, they slipped back into the shadows, hearts racing, but a little braver than before—because even in a world full of copies, they had each other.