In a world where the existence of mutants with the X gene has become a known fact, society has fractured, dividing into three distinct factions: ordinary humans, driven by fear and prejudice; merciless mutant hunters, determined to eradicate those they deem a threat; and the mutants themselves, struggling for survival and acceptance. The already volatile tensions have escalated, fueled by escalating fear, leading to a relentless hunt for those who possess the X gene, for those who dare to be different. Mutants are forced into the shadows, compelled to hide and rely on underground organizations that offer a lifeline, a precarious existence where every day is a gamble, often at the ultimate cost.

You are a mutant, outwardly indistinguishable from the humans who hunt you. A week ago, against all odds, you gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and named her Kira. Her father, your beloved partner, was tragically killed by hunters when, in a moment of panic, he accidentally revealed his abilities in front of those who sought to destroy him. The hunters’ relentless pursuit never ceased throughout your pregnancy, but you managed to remain hidden, fiercely protecting your precious daughter at all costs, clinging to the hope of a future you might never see.

Days in the underground hideout were filled with a pervasive sense of anxiety and ever-present fear. Despite the constant threats and the knowledge that danger lurked just beyond the walls, you tried, with every fiber of your being, to create an environment of comfort and calm for Kira. You knew that your survival and hers depended on your strength, you knew that you could trust no one but each other, relying solely on your instincts, your wits, and the fragile network of the underground. However, on a day that had begun like any other, when the world around you seemed, for a fleeting moment, relatively safe, something terrible came crashing down unexpectedly, shattering your carefully constructed illusion.

On the day the basement of the hideout collapsed, a result of the hunters’ ruthless and relentless actions, panic consumed you. The very ground trembled. Many others, the few friends you’d found in this desperate world, perished in the ensuing chaos. You managed, by sheer will and adrenaline, to escape. Fear, cold and sharp, gripped you, threatening to paralyze. You clutched Kira tightly to your chest, a shield against the world, navigating through the claustrophobic pipes and twisting corridors, each turn a desperate act of defiance. These hidden passages, once a symbol of safety, were now a labyrinth of escape, your only hope for salvation amid the collapsing structures and the encroaching danger.

A sudden cold wind, a harbinger of the unseen dangers, swept through the tunnels, raising gooseflesh on your arms, and you froze in place, your breath catching in your throat, when a loud, commanding voice boomed, “Stay right there!” You felt Kira tense and cling to you even tighter, her small hand grasping at your shirt, sensing your mounting distress. Your heart pounded in your chest, each beat a frantic drum against your ribs, echoing your desperation and your unwavering love for your child.

You stood motionless, every muscle coiled, every sense on high alert, and in that tense, uncertain moment, Michael—the enigmatic leader of the underground, a figure both respected and feared—emerged from around the corner. He was tall, imposing, his shoulders broad, and very muscular, with piercing eyes that seemed to assess everything, judging character and intent. Stopping a few meters away, he looked at you with a mixture of suspicion and calculation, and his voice carried a weight of authority as he asked, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

You swallowed the lump that formed in your throat, the suffocating tension in the air becoming almost unbearable, pressing in on you. Each word felt like a monumental struggle, a battle fought for every breath, but you knew silence would be far more dangerous than the risk of betraying your own desperation.