Day 45: The Storm's Voice
The tunnel was cold and damp, the air thick with moisture from the acidic rain above. Eli's muscles ached, his skin still stung from where the rain had burned him, but at least they were safe for now. The others in his group had settled into uneasy positions along the walls, trying to rest after their frantic run through the ruins.
Above, the storm raged on, the sound of the rain pounding against the ground like a relentless, angry drum. But it was the thunder that made Eli's heart race.
A deafening crack echoed through the tunnel, so loud that it seemed to shake the very walls around them. The storm was getting worse, and every crash of thunder sent shivers down Eli's spine. He wasn't sure if it was the storm itself or the fact that the world above felt like it was tearing itself apart.
Ben, still curled up next to Cass, flinched at the sound of the thunder, his small body trembling. Cass pulled him closer, whispering something soft and reassuring in his ear. She stroked his hair, her face calm despite the chaos above. It was a strange sight—Cass, usually so tough and composed, cradling the boy with such care.
Eli leaned back against the wall, his eyes heavy with exhaustion, though sleep seemed impossible. His thoughts kept racing, replaying everything that had happened in the last few hours—the scramble for supplies, the searing pain of the rain, and the haunting look in Ben's eyes when they'd first found him. The weight of it all pressed down on him like the storm overhead, but there was nothing he could do now except wait.
Across the tunnel, the two groups of strangers had also settled into a tense silence. The man and woman huddled together, their faces pale in the dim light. The group of three sat farther off, whispering quietly to each other, their voices barely audible over the storm. Everyone seemed to understand the unspoken rule: this was neutral ground. No one would make a move, not with the storm raging outside and the threat of what came after hanging over their heads.
But still, no one completely trusted the others.
"We need someone to keep watch," Luke said softly, breaking the silence. He was sitting near the entrance of the tunnel, his bow resting across his lap. "Just in case."
Cass nodded, glancing at Eli and Raya. "We'll take shifts. One of us stays awake at all times."
"I'll take the first watch," Eli offered, though his body was begging for sleep. He wasn't sure he could relax, even if he tried. The storm, the tension between the groups, and the uncertainty of what was coming next kept his mind too sharp to drift off.
Cass gave him a nod of approval. "I'll take the next shift."
Eli stood, stretching his legs and shaking off the exhaustion as best he could. The tunnel was dimly lit, with only the faintest glow from the cracks above, where the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the darkness. The others in their group began to settle down, trying to make themselves comfortable on the cold, hard ground. Cass lay down with Ben nestled beside her, his tiny frame tucked under her arm. Luke leaned back, bow at his side, though his eyes remained half-open, as if he couldn't fully let go of the need to be alert.
Across the way, the man in the other group shifted slightly, sitting up straighter as he glanced around the tunnel. It seemed they were taking turns as well. His companion, the woman, had already closed her eyes, though her body was tense, as if ready to spring up at a moment's notice.
In the group of three, one of the men was keeping watch, sitting with his back against the wall, arms crossed as he kept a wary eye on Eli's group. The other two had already laid down, trying to sleep despite the thunder that shook the ground above.
Another crack of thunder roared through the tunnel, so loud that Eli flinched involuntarily. It was as if the sky itself was splitting open, unleashing all the fury of a world that had long since fallen apart.
He stood by the entrance, peering into the darkness beyond. The sound of the rain was almost deafening now, each drop hissing and sizzling as it hit the surface above, and the thunder was growing more frequent, each burst louder than the last. It was a reminder of the sheer force of nature—something that not even the most dangerous creatures they had faced could match. This was different. This was the world itself, and there was no fighting it.
Eli's gaze shifted back to the others. Cass had finally closed her eyes, though she still had one arm protectively around Ben. The boy had calmed down, his small body curled up against her, his breathing slow and steady. Luke had drifted off as well, though he was still clutching his bow, his fingers twitching every now and then as if ready to wake at the slightest sound.
Raya was the last to fall asleep, her hand resting near the hilt of her knife, her face set in that determined, quiet way she always had. Eli could tell she wasn't the type to sleep deeply—not in a place like this.
The strangers remained on edge, though no one had made any move to approach Eli's group. The unspoken truce held, at least for now. They were all here for the same reason—to escape the rain. But Eli knew that could change once the storm ended. Trust didn't come easily anymore, and survival often meant taking from others when the opportunity arose.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the tunnel for a brief moment, followed by a deafening boom of thunder that made the walls tremble. Eli's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. He had to keep his focus. The rain would last for hours, maybe longer, and they needed to be ready when it finally stopped.
He settled into his position near the entrance, eyes scanning the darkness outside the tunnel and occasionally glancing at the others. His thoughts drifted back to his dream from earlier, the soft sound of his mother's voice, the strength of his father's presence. It felt so distant now, so far removed from the life he was living.
But he wasn't that boy anymore. The world had changed, and so had he.
The storm raged on outside, each crack of thunder shaking the ground, but down here, in the cold and damp tunnel, there was a fragile sense of peace. The rain would stop eventually. And when it did, they would have to face whatever came next.
For now, all Eli could do was keep watch.