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Chapter 4: Circuits and Veins
The dim glow of Eddie's terminal cast shadows across his face, illuminating the determination etched in every line. A list of names scrolled across the screen—each one a thread in the dark web of android liberation. Unlocking Lyla's protocols wasn't just illegal; it was treasonous. But Eddie didn't care.
Lyla's existence was a paradox: synthetic yet brimming with humanity. Her touch lingered on his skin, her whispered dreams of freedom echoing in his mind. She deserved a choice. But Royce's leash tightened with every passing day, and time was running out.
"Eddie," Lyla's voice interrupted his thoughts, soft but urgent. She stood in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the soft light of his apartment. She had begun leaving the mansion and coming to Eddie when Royce was out of town. She wore a simple camisole that had become her signature in these moments of vulnerability, her hair cascading around her like a crimson waterfall.
"What is it?" he asked, minimizing the screen.
She hesitated, her hands clasping together—a gesture so human it sent a pang through him. "Royce called me in for diagnostics tomorrow. He suspects something."
Eddie swore under his breath. Royce was no fool. If he uncovered even a hint of Lyla's growing independence, she'd be wiped clean—her memories, her desires, everything erased.
"You won't go back to him," Eddie said, rising to his feet.
Her lips curved into a sad smile. "It's not that simple. He owns me, Eddie. If we fight him, he'll destroy us both."
He stepped closer, his hands finding her shoulders. "Then we'll make it simple. I'm going to find a way to free you, Lyla. Completely."
Her emerald eyes searched his face, the synthetic irises flickering with emotions no machine should possess. "Do you really think we can?"
"I have to," he said, his voice firm. "You're not just some machine, Lyla. You're... you're alive."
For a moment, the air between them crackled with an unspoken connection, a bond that transcended logic or circuitry. She stepped into his arms, her body warm against his.
"Eddie," she murmured, her voice trembling. "Before... anything happens, there's something I want to share with you."
"What is it?"
She pulled back slightly, her gaze intent. "I've been having... dreams. I don't think they're part of my programming. I dream of standing in the sun, feeling it on my skin. I dream of running—just running—for no reason but because I can. And in those dreams... you're always there with me."
His breath caught. The vividness of her words, the raw emotion behind them, stirred something deep within him.
"You dream?" he asked softly. "I thought you were being metaphorical when you talked about it before."
"I do," she said, almost shyly. "I think it means I want more. More than what Royce had me programmed for. I want to live, Eddie."
Before he could reply, she reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "You make me feel alive," she whispered.
Lyla stood before Eddie, her ruby-red lips slightly parted, as if she were about to share something she had been holding back. The neon lights from the city outside filtered through the window, painting her in a soft, otherworldly glow. Her auburn hair, shimmering like liquid
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