Ethan had sorely misjudged the seductive allure of a soft, comfortable bed.
He had set his intentions on an early rise to strategize an escape with Ava, but the embrace of deep sleep claimed him without his awareness, letting time slip by unnoticed. Unbeknownst to him, morning had advanced to 10 a.m., and he remained ensconced in slumber.
Ava, too, was submerged in the depths of sleep, seemingly exhausted from the previous day's events that had taxed her both physically and mentally.
However, their sleep was abruptly shattered by a thunderous explosion and a piercing alarm that reverberated through the air.
Ethan, roused first by the clamor, leaped to his feet and scrambled to the window for a glimpse outside.
The sight that met his eyes jarred him. High in the sky, he could discern various distress signals emanating from the western, southern, and northern gates.
