Imminent danger

All of Emma's disbelief about the improbable action of the members of the said Golden Menorah fell to the ground at the same instant she realized what was happening. The blonde woman's eyes seemed to suffocate her with the simple act of facing her, drowning her in the blue sea of her irises.

The girl's mind was filled with doubts about what was going on and options for getting around that problem, although nothing seemed to make sense to her. The only thing she could do was to calm down and try to act sensibly, not letting the tension prevail over her mind.

- I don't know who you're talking about, did you confuse me with someone else? - she said, trying his best not to stutter.

- Your staging is flawed, Fox Girl. I'll give you one more chance to redeem yourself with our cause. - she said, reaching out to the girl. - Come on, it doesn't have to be that way.

The proposal seemed tempting, as Emma could no longer think of any other viable and safe escape method. With his eyes, he probed everything around him and put his mind to the maximum.

Faced with his perception, time seemed to slow down slowly. Within a few seconds, several options were added and discarded to the girl's mental list, until she noticed something. That something, for someone not used to the big city routine, could mean nothing. But for Emma, it meant her salvation. On the big digital watch that flew over the city, it marked exactly 7:30 in the morning.

"That's it!" she thought, smiling as soon as she realized the chance she had. She walked away from her stalker a little bit, throwing a sharp look at her.

- As you may already know from the poll you took in my life, I study at one of the largest universities in the country. I can't just abandon her to support you. - she said, standing firm in her voice.

- You know, I also had no reason to leave the life I knew as mine before joining the organization. When I politely refused, they said they could fill up my bank account, and who wouldn't accept such a lot just for doing that kind of work?

- Did you get in for the money? Don't you think you're being a little greedy? - she smiled disdainfully, annoying the blonde a little.

- And you're playing hard the hard way! What do you think you're gonna get out of this conversation anyway?!

- Time. - she answered, pointing his finger up, confusing the woman in black.

- Time? What do you mean by that? - While asking, the woman noticed that the volume of people on the street was gradually increasing as the seconds passed.

- Rush time! - Emma announced, running and passing the woman, that she could not react in time. Before she could think of running, she was swallowed up by the crowd, leaving very little room for her to run. When he noticed that he was at a loss, he took his cell phone in his pocket and dialed a number.

- Hummingbird, I need help! Send any agent here, anybody! Bye. - she concluded, walking again at the same moment.

A few meters away, Emma zigzagged among the people, walking more quietly to blend in with the crowd. As soon as she noticed that she had lost her stalker, she sighed with relief, and soon after she laughed at her own situation. A few minutes later, she was finally close to the university campus, and with twenty minutes to spare.

On the way, she pondered the previous events, trying to understand how all this had happened in such a short time, and soon after it made the greatest revelation of the 21st century for the whole globe. Apparently, the group that was after her, The Golden Minor, was after her for believing that she would support them since she had revealed to everyone the greatest secret of the 21st century, the Re:Birth Project, which transferred the minds of dead people to a digital world where they could live for all eternity.

By linking the dots, she could understand that the consequences of her actions could be even greater than she estimated they would be. She observed everything around her and, even though she was used to the life of the big city, she felt a little suffocated by it all. Luckily, the planet was not at risk, since the environmental projects of the year 2022 had practically zeroed pollution worldwide. However, the unbridled advance of progress has affected human society, changing it profoundly.

"Not everything that is buried should be brought to light"... she remembered the phrase her father always said, accumulating a bit of regret for his actions.

She was banished from her thinkings by the city's digital bell ringing, marking the time of 7:45 in the morning. When she noticed this, she walked as fast as she could to get to his university on time.

With ten minutes to go before she was late, she finally made it to the Columbia University campus.

The moment she stepped on the path leading to the main buildings, she felt very relieved and secure, as if all she had gone through before was nothing more than a dream. The family buildings hugged her in an invisible but cozy grip.

In class, she could barely concentrate because of the assumptions she made in her head. The dread overpowered her in such a way that she didn't even leave the classroom during the break. The clock was unfavorable for the university student, who wished that those eight hours inside the institution would never end.

However, time passed quickly, and before she could notice, it was time to go home. The great sun was already setting when Emma left the campus filled with uncertainty and fear. Looking around, there was nothing unusual, it was the same city she knew so well. The neon lights had already begun to materialize where the sun's rays were weakest, announcing that the afternoon frenzy would soon begin.

Even so, she knew she couldn't run away forever. The only person who could save her was herself, and she knew it. Once again, she took a deep breath and focused on the alternative routes she could use to get home, drawing a perfect mental map, with escape routes and exits if necessary. "I'm not gonna lose this fight", she thought, starting to walk.

She noticed everything along the way, not letting a single detail go by. Nothing unusual was captured by her field of vision, which comforted her a little. Since she lost the woman in black, nothing strange had happened again. "Did they give up on me? I hope so"... she said in his mind.

The shortcuts quickly led her to her building, which glowed in the twilight landscape. All around, the familiar prismatic dawn had already begun to plunge New York into the bright sea of lights and glares, leaving Emma with a bit of a longing for the simplicity of her former home, as was always the case.

She entered the building and used the elevator to climb up to his floor, feeling confident and safe for finally reaching her home. When she stood facing the door of her apartment, she smiled slightly, happy to be home after everything that had happened that day. She spun the handle and entered the residence, going straight to his room, throwing the backpack on her bed and taking off his coat.

Meanwhile, she realized something that changed everything in that situation. Something simple and routine she always did was different. Unfortunately, it was too late to run.

- I... I closed the door when I left...

The sound of footsteps began to get closer and closer until it stopped at the bedroom door.

- You'd be surprised how easy it is to break into apartments like this today - said a female voice behind it.

Emma turned quickly, facing a tall woman, wearing a white overcoat, who looked back with her big, penetrating amber eyes. She had short silver hair, unlike anything Emma had ever seen.

- Don't worry, I won't hurt you - she said, trying to reassure Emma.

- And who are you in the first place? I don't remember inviting you to tea.

- Emma Adams, who attends Columbia University, has been separated from her parents since she joined the university. Has hack as a hobby, using the name of White Fox when practicing acts. Your jokes won't work on me, give it up.

Seeing that all her chances of convincing the woman in front of her were nil, she sat on her bed and began to laugh, laughing at her own misfortune. When she finally stopped laughing, she stared at the lady in white with a smile.

- All right, you got me, I can't defend myself against that. So, what happens now? - she questioned, a little more reassured by the peaceful appearance of his unwanted guest.

- As you may have noticed, we are chasing you because we want your help to realize our ideals. The Golden Menorah wishes to halt the abusive progress of humanity, no matter what the cost. All this connects in Project Re: Birth, and at the same time connects to you.

- So you mean I'm to blame for all this? Just for giving the truth to the people? People deserve to know what's happening on this world.

- However, in doing so, you ended up starting a war between religions, scientists and a large part of the world's population. And with the Golden Menorah, it couldn't be any different. That's why I'm here, trying to convince you to come in peacefully.

- Log in? Why would I affiliate myself with such religious delirium? - ...she inquired, dropping herself into bed shortly after.

- I don't expect you to call the other thousands of lives at risk, but I think you call yours - she spoke in a disdainful tone. - They're extremists, if you don't help them, you'll die.

When the silver-haired woman said that, Emma swallowed dry. She wanted to imagine that it was just a bluff to convince her, but the seriousness in the face of the person in front of her ruled out any questioning about it.

- You can't come back without taking me, can you? - Emma questioned, even though she already knew the answer.

- No. My mission is to get you out of here, for good or for bad.

- Do I have a choice? - Emma inquired, trying one last chance, even though she already anticipated the answer.

- If it's the choice of coffin decoration... - she replied, comically, smiling next.

The tension inside the girl's mind has intensified to abnormal levels, uncontrollable for someone of a weak mind. However, she no longer had any options or means to escape. It was accepted or die, and the answer was obvious.

- Okay, I'll take it. But I warn you, if I die, you better be waiting for me in hell.

- I'm glad you agreed. - As soon as she finished speaking, the woman in white removed a pistol from her clothes, shooting Emma directly in the neck. Meanwhile, the weapon was armed with a tranquilizer dart, which would make the young woman sleep in a few moments.

- What the fuck is that?! - she struggled, trying to get out of bed, but fell backward because of the progressive loss of his senses.

- I have configured the machine so that you appear far away from the other members, so what happens from now on is at your own risk. Our paths will cross again, Emma Adams - The lady in white said before the girl totally lost consciousness.