ights of the stage blinding me. My head throbbed. One moment, I was falling, the city skyline spinning around me. The

s al

ed my lungs, a sensation I thought I' d never feel again. This was real. I had

e Future is Now." I recognized the faces in the front row-CEOs, industry giants, and the ever-present tech journali

e, the influencer Brittany Hayes, was scheduled to give a keynote speech. A spe

tight and unnatural. He kept glancing at his watch,

ng a little behind schedule," he announced, his voice straining to so

d through the auditorium. The schedule was tight,

ed it out, my heart pounding in my che

rittany

you go up there and stall for me? Just say some smart mar

tion. In my past life, I had agreed. I had gone on stage, trying to salvage the situation for her, onl

st was repeating itself,

me, I knew

is wasn't just a second chance at li

ver the screen, and I pressed the power button, holding it down

on the face mask from my pocket. Blending into the cro

, laced with desperation. "We know she' s a senior executive from Brittany's

ound, searching for my face. A few peop

ad down, my body hidden amo

ll. Let th

crime, and I was going to watch the criminal hang herself. Brit

n my past life, trying to help her was like steppi