MEETING AVA CROSS

CHAPTER FOUR: AWAKENING AGAIN

Darkness faded slowly.

Not all at once — just enough for pain to return first.

Benjamin groaned.

“…Yeah… I’m alive.”

His eyes opened halfway.

Blurry ceiling.

Dim light.

Quiet.

Too quiet.

“…Not the street.”

That was the first thing he noticed.

He wasn’t outside anymore.

He was lying on something soft — a bed.

Clean.

Not broken.

Not covered in dust or blood.

Benjamin’s eyes snapped open fully.

“Okay… that’s new.”

He sat up too fast.

“Ah—!”

Pain shot through his ribs, forcing him to stop.

“Yeah… still hurts.”

System Status:

Energy: 2/10 (Recovering)

Condition: Stabilized

Benjamin blinked.

“…Recovering?”

“Relax. You’re not dying.”

The voice came from across the room.

Calm.

Confident.

Familiar… in a strange way.

Benjamin turned.

And froze.

A girl leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

About his age.

Sharp eyes.

Calm expression.

Like she wasn’t surprised by anything anymore.

“Who are you?” Benjamin asked immediately.

She didn’t answer right away.

Instead, she pushed herself off the wall and stepped closer.

Studying him.

Carefully.

“…So it’s true,” she said.

Benjamin frowned.

“What is?”

She stopped in front of him.

“You’re a Host.”

Silence.

Benjamin’s eyes narrowed.

“…You too?”

For the first time—

She smiled slightly.

“Yeah.”

System Notification:

Nearby Host detected

Benjamin exhaled slowly.

“Okay… good. I’m not crazy.”

She tilted her head.

“Debatable.”

“…Wow. First conversation and you’re already like this.”

She shrugged.

“You survived your first encounter, fought an Emergent Entity, and escaped Kade.”

Pause.

“You’re either lucky… or dangerous.”

Benjamin leaned back slightly.

“Or both.”

She didn’t deny it.

“…Name?” he asked.

“Ava,” she said. “Ava Cross.”

Benjamin nodded.

“Benjamin Freed.”

“I know.”

“…Of course you do.”

A brief silence settled between them.

Not awkward.

Just… cautious.

Benjamin looked around the room.

It was small, but organized.

Screens on one side.

Tech equipment.

Strange devices he didn’t recognize.

“You brought me here?” he asked.

Ava nodded.

“You collapsed two streets away from a patrol route.”

She crossed her arms again.

“You were about to get captured.”

Benjamin rubbed his head.

“Yeah… I noticed they really wanted me.”

“They want all of us,” Ava said.

That made him pause.

“All of us?”

Ava walked over to a nearby screen and tapped it.

It lit up instantly.

Images appeared.

Different people.

Different locations.

Different fights.

Benjamin’s eyes widened.

“…No way.”

“They’re Hosts,” Ava said.

“Just like you. Just like me.”

One of the clips showed someone lifting a car.

Another — someone surrounded by glowing energy.

Another—

A figure flying.

Benjamin leaned forward.

“…This is bigger than I thought.”

Ava glanced at him.

“You have no idea.”

System Prompt:

New Information Detected

Updating database…

Benjamin looked back at her.

“So… what is this system really?”

Ava’s expression shifted slightly.

More serious.

“…A test.”

He frowned.

“For what?”

She met his eyes.

“To see who survives.”

Silence filled the room.

Benjamin leaned back again.

“…Yeah. I don’t like that answer.”

“You don’t have to like it,” Ava said. “It doesn’t change anything.”

He exhaled.

“…Fair.”

Another thought hit him.

“Wait… you said you saved me.”

Ava nodded.

“Why?”

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she turned slightly away.

“…Because you fought.”

Benjamin blinked.

“What?”

She looked back at him.

“You were outmatched. Low energy. Injured.”

Pause.

“But you still went back in.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“That means something.”

Benjamin scratched the back of his head.

“…Yeah, well… someone had to.”

Ava studied him again.

Longer this time.

“…Maybe you’re worth the trouble.”

“…Wow. I feel honored.”

For a second—

Just a second—

She almost smiled again.

Then—

A loud beep cut through the room.

Both of them froze.

Ava turned sharply to the screen.

Her expression changed instantly.

Serious.

Focused.

“…That’s not good.”

Benjamin’s stomach tightened.

“What is it?”

She zoomed in on the display.

A red marker pulsed on the map.

Close.

Too close.

“Another Emergent Entity,” she said.

Benjamin swung his legs off the bed.

“…Already?”

Ava nodded.

“And it’s stronger than the last one.”

System Alert:

High-Level Threat Detected Nearby

Benjamin stood up slowly.

Pain still there.

But manageable.

“…Guess I don’t get a break.”

Ava grabbed a small device from the table.

“Definitely not.”

Benjamin looked at her.

“You’re going too?”

She gave him a look.

“What do you think?”

He smirked slightly.

“…Good.”

For the first time—

He wasn’t alone.

System Notification:

Team Formation Detected

Bonus synchronization unlocked (minor)

Benjamin blinked.

“…Wait, what?”

Ava raised an eyebrow.

“You getting messages too?”

“…Yeah.”

She nodded once.

“Then keep up.”

She moved toward the exit.

Benjamin followed.

Heart racing again.

But this time—

Not from fear.

From something else.

Excitement.

As the door opened, the night air rushed in.

Sirens in the distance.

Energy in the air.

Danger waiting.

Benjamin cracked his knuckles.

“Alright…”

This time—

He was ready.

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