8 - ES

, low and deliberate, echoing ag

She had no weapon. No backup. No plan beyond one terrifyingly simple truth: she had to survive, or

ing to keep her voice steady, th

le

ethodical-approaching f

ound a corner, sharp and com

far end. She didn't recognize it immediately.

omach

her former colleague from the accounting firm, a brilliant mind who had

ng her lips. "Kira... you really shouldn't have touched the wrong files

Her mind raced. "El

the darkness behind her. Donovan emerged from the shadows then, cutting across the tunnel t

ack," Donovan

ed against her rib

he sn

er the grime and cracked paint, trying to ground herself. Her mind raced, flippi

a good one, isn't he?" she

ira doesn't belong to you.

e in her stance. "Oh, Donovan... alw

e're outnumbered. We're t

n the pocket of her jacket. Every step, every breath, reminded her of it. It is t

ard Donovan carefully, keeping her e

r, expression unreada

d time. And supplies. And we can't move unt

l. "Time? Supplies? Darling, you ha

ning himself between Kira and t

ion could mean life or death. Every

ect it. If we're caught, they'll take it. Everything... everything we've

lickered with in

t's somewhere else while we transport it. Maybe through the old underground service corr

n eyebrow. "Risk

n being caught dead

... I see. You're thinking strategically now. I li

trying to provoke fear. It worked. But she forced he

ve quickly. Timing is everything. We'll need d

urn. But she knew he was right. They couldn't both be seen. And the f

are you whispering about?" s

but firm. "Something y

pun. We need

shown her once in a survival demonstration. If she could get her hands on anything similar, ev

old. Dusty. If we set something there, some kind o

ressed despite himself.

ency cracking her voice, "we can

ough again. "Talking

nded. Elara was too close

We need to act before sh

Agreed. Foll

ket. This small device-so unassuming-held more power than she had ever imagined.

g behind a corroded support beam. Kira followed, trying

t hide forever," she called, her

wall, listening as the foots

ction. Anything. Smoke. Noise. A

wooden crates nearby. Rusted, deca

an whispered,

eptibly. Then she

ed with a deafening clatter.

short, startled

eapt. It worke

bbed her ha

m cover. Behind them, the sounds of pursuit grew chaotic. Elara's

o hope. Maybe-just maybe-t

click stopped he

fr

bbed her wr

e again. Slow

merged fro

is time... sh

ed behind her, armed,

e're trapped," she whis

, calculating, unyielding.

urely into his jacket. Then he drew a small, compact pisto

h drop. This is it.

ly from the smoke.

narrowed. "Yes.

hope-the drive-was with him. She had no idea

ures cl

raced unco

unmistakable sound of meta

s flicked tow

dn't h

ed earlier, adrenaline pumping through every vein. Behi

. Her legs ached. B

the corner, she realized

. A de

t, breathless, panic

her, gun raised. "Stay b

urned. The three figures were a

left. Only survival. O

s, another sound emerg

e she cou

beneath t

oor ga

scr

lunged int

ll was

. Dust and debris rained from above. Her hands scraped against

hrough her shoulders and back, every nerve alive with shock. She tried to move, tried t

ted, coughing, tryi

mmediately, sharp and tense

d, though the lie t

hear the strain. His hand found hers, and she

e entrance. Dust still floated in the air, stinging their eyes. Somewhere

Kira said, her voice trembling.

he said, voice low,

d as adrenaline crashed through her veins. They were trapped underground. With ene

ing the small, unassuming device. She felt its wei

r gaze. "Keep it sa

ndings: jagged walls, uneven concrete slabs, and a narrow shaft of light

ng to the light. "We can cli

ebris around them. "It's risky, but bet

hick with dust and tension. Every sound-creaking metal,

tallic groan echoed from deeper in the

. "Did you

. "Stay b

irst, she thought it was another mercen

ar

with cold intelligence. "Going somew

dy. "You should have sta

ad. "And miss all

the flash drive. She felt trapped-

udden decision.

as she gripped his forearm. Dust fell like rain around them. Elara lunged, but Dono

he sh

ining. Kira's fingers bled from the rough metal edges

ing crash echoed fro

.. they'r

ing!" he

ach. The faint night sky peeked through,

bove, grabbing Donovan. He c

yes wide

down. Kira realized too late-the hand wasn't help

s jaw clenched, but t

ted. "Save yo

t leavi

hav

her chest. If she failed, everything they had risk

muscle screaming, adrenaline fueling her. She felt Donovan's h

Don

hit her like a wave. She dropped to the gr

en...

Don

Ela

shaft and the wind whis

rs stinging her eyes.

an... he was still down there. And she had no way to r

me into the night. "

wered back w

intly...

Dono

ar

a chilling laugh ech

ld, sinking certainty, that

s watching

ust running for

nning to s

re was