Chapter 80
The night wore on, thick and heavy, and the mood inside the campervan matched it perfectly. The cold blast from the AC did nothing to cool the storm of emotions swirling in Karl’s head. Valencia, lounging in her seat like she owned the world, seemed to be enjoying every second of the tension. Her calm, almost predatory gaze never left him. Meanwhile, Karl’s mind raced, torn between moral dilemmas and the relentless weight of the system he was up against. It felt like walking a razor’s edge, every step more precarious than the last.
The campervan hummed softly as it rolled down an empty road lit by flickering streetlights. Shadows danced across the interior, giving the space an almost eerie feel. Layla sat in the back, as silent as a ghost. She hadn’t said a word in what felt like hours, but Karl knew better than to think she wasn’t paying attention. Layla was always listening. She was the kind of presence that lingered, even when unnoticed.
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[ Quest Reminder ]
[ Keep your emotions in check. Focus on the main goal. ]
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Karl closed his eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. The words flashed in his mind like a neon sign, relentless and impossible to ignore. He knew what they meant—what they demanded of him. There was no room for distraction, no space for emotional outbursts. But Valencia? She was making it damn near impossible to stay focused.
"Karl," her voice cut through the silence like a blade, sharp and deliberate. "What’s the plan when we get to Unrill? I mean, surely you’ve got some grand strategy, right?" Her tone was light, almost playful, but there was an edge to it, a subtle challenge. Her gaze slid sideways to him, her lips curving into that infuriatingly knowing smirk.
He cleared his throat, forcing himself to sound neutral. "First step? Find Zoey. She’s tied to all of this. Layla’s situation, the mess we’re in... she’s involved."
Valencia leaned back, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Zoey, huh?" She let the name hang in the air before sighing, her expression shifting to one of faint disappointment. "Well, I guess that’s something."
Karl’s jaw tightened as his grip on the steering wheel hardened. "I never thought my life would end up like this—caught in the middle of some massive conspiracy. An online platform turning people into mindless sheep. It’s disgusting. Especially when it’s kids who end up suffering the most."