The tunnels felt endless, a labyrinth of darkness and decay. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and rot, and the distant echoes of their footsteps made it feel like they weren't alone. Silvanus led the group, his senses heightened, his eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. After the explosion at the subway station, they had no choice but to keep pushing forward.
Behind him, Marcus limped slightly, the adrenaline from the earlier fight fading as exhaustion set in. Nadia stayed close to Marcus, her eyes sharp as ever, while Claire kept her pistol drawn, occasionally glancing back at Luke and Anna.
The narrow tunnel they had entered sloped downward, leading them deeper underground. The air grew colder with each step, and the walls around them were slick with moisture. Silvanus knew they had to find somewhere to rest, but every instinct in him screamed that they weren't safe—not yet.
"What's the plan now, Silvanus?" Marcus asked, his voice strained.
Silvanus didn't answer immediately. The truth was, there wasn't much of a plan beyond survival. The marauders had been relentless, and their numbers were growing. He couldn't help but wonder how much longer they could keep running.
"We keep moving east," Silvanus finally said, his voice low. "We'll find a way out of these tunnels, then we'll figure out the next step."
"What about supplies?" Nadia asked, her tone pragmatic. "We're running low on food and water, and with the sun like it is, we can't exactly scavenge during the day."
Silvanus nodded grimly. It was a reality they couldn't ignore. The world above had become a hostile, burning wasteland, and the longer they stayed underground, the more desperate their situation would become.
As they walked, Silvanus' mind wandered to Luke and Anna. The siblings were quiet, but Silvanus could feel their unease. Something about them still didn't sit right with him—especially Anna. The way she had remained calm during the marauder attack, almost detached, didn't seem natural. And Luke's earlier confession that the marauders were hunting them had only deepened Silvanus' suspicions.
They couldn't afford secrets, not when survival hung by a thread.
After what felt like hours of walking, the group emerged into a larger chamber, an old maintenance hub that had long since fallen into disrepair. The ceiling above them was cracked, and large chunks of concrete had fallen to the ground. Rusted machinery lined the walls, and a broken service ladder led up to a collapsed vent above.
"We'll rest here for a bit," Silvanus said, motioning for everyone to sit. "We need to check our gear and figure out our next move."
The group settled onto the cold floor, grateful for the break. Nadia handed out the last of their water, rationing it carefully. Luke and Anna sat apart from the others, whispering quietly to each other, their faces drawn with exhaustion.
As the group rested, Silvanus turned to Marcus. "How's the leg?"
Marcus shrugged, wincing slightly. "It'll hold. Just a bruise, I think."
Silvanus nodded. He had been through worse with Marcus, but he knew they couldn't afford to have anyone slowed down—not now.
"Silvanus," Nadia said, her voice quiet but urgent. "We need to talk about them." She gestured subtly toward Luke and Anna.
Silvanus glanced at the siblings, his expression hardening. He had been thinking the same thing. Whatever Luke and Anna were hiding, it was putting the entire group in danger.
He stood up and walked over to where they were sitting. Luke looked up as Silvanus approached, his eyes wary. Anna remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the floor.
"We need to talk," Silvanus said, his voice low but firm. "Now."
Luke's face paled, but he didn't protest. He glanced at Anna, who gave him a brief nod before standing and walking a few steps away, out of earshot.
Luke swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he stood before Silvanus. "What… what do you want to know?"
"Everything," Silvanus replied, his voice steely. "You said the marauders were after Anna. Why? What aren't you telling us?"
Luke hesitated, his gaze flicking toward Anna again. Silvanus could see the conflict in his eyes—the desire to protect his sister, but also the realization that keeping secrets could get them all killed.
"I don't know all the details," Luke said slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But… Anna isn't like the rest of us. She has something—some kind of ability. It's why the marauders want her. They think she's valuable."
Silvanus' eyes narrowed. "What kind of ability?"
Luke shook his head. "I don't know exactly. She's never told me, and I've never seen it. But I've heard rumors… things about people who survived the apocalypse—who changed because of it."
Silvanus frowned, trying to process the information. He had heard stories, too—whispers of people who had developed strange abilities after the world had fallen apart. Some said it was a side effect of the solar radiation, others believed it was something more… unnatural.
But whether or not he believed the rumors, one thing was clear: Anna was at the center of whatever was happening.
"And you thought keeping this from us was a good idea?" Silvanus asked, his voice cold.
"I was trying to protect her!" Luke snapped, his voice rising. "You don't understand. If they get her, they'll use her. She's… she's dangerous, Silvanus. I don't even know how dangerous."
Silvanus took a step closer, his eyes locked on Luke's. "We're all in danger, Luke. Keeping secrets like this doesn't protect anyone. It just gets people killed."
Luke's shoulders slumped, and he nodded, defeated. "I know. I'm sorry. I just… I didn't know what else to do."
Silvanus stared at him for a moment before turning his gaze to Anna. She stood in the distance, her back to them, seemingly oblivious to the conversation. But Silvanus could sense that she knew exactly what was being said.
"We'll figure this out," Silvanus said quietly. "But from now on, no more secrets."
Luke nodded again, his expression grim. "No more secrets."
Silvanus turned away, heading back toward the group. As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control. Whatever Anna was hiding, it was bigger than he had imagined. And now they were all caught in the middle of it.
Just as Silvanus reached the others, a distant rumble echoed through the chamber. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. The sound was faint, but unmistakable—the sound of footsteps, hundreds of them, coming from the tunnels they had just left.
"Silvanus," Marcus said, his voice low. "They're coming."
Silvanus cursed under his breath. The marauders had found them, and this time, they were bringing reinforcements.
"We can't stay here," Nadia said, standing up and grabbing her rifle. "We need to move. Now."
Silvanus nodded, quickly gathering his gear. The others followed suit, their faces grim as they prepared to move again. The sound of the marauders grew louder with each passing second, the rumble of their footsteps sending vibrations through the ground.
As they prepared to leave, Anna suddenly turned toward Silvanus, her expression unreadable. "They won't stop," she said quietly, her voice almost mechanical. "Not until they have what they want."
Silvanus met her gaze, his eyes hard. "Then we'll make sure they never get it."
With that, the group plunged back into the dark tunnels, the sound of the marauders close behind. But Silvanus knew that the real danger wasn't just the men chasing them—it was the mystery of what Anna was hiding, and the power that lurked beneath the surface.
They were running out of time, and the shadows of the apocalypse were closing in fast.