The stench of blood still clung to the air as Yeon-ah, the woman, and Juna moved swiftly through the ruins. The Devourers lay behind them, their lifeless bodies already attracting scavengers to the area. But Yeon-ah knew better than to linger. The battle had drawn attention, and in a world like this, the dead never remained alone for long.
Her muscles ached, every step a reminder of the brutal fight they had barely survived. The woman beside her, though wounded, moved with a soldier's precision, her expression unreadable but focused. Juna trailed just behind them, supporting the old man who staggered along weakly, his body trembling with exhaustion and fear.
The sky above them had darkened further, the faint glow of distant fires casting eerie shadows across the desolate landscape. The city, once a sprawling center of life, was now a graveyard of shattered buildings and hollow streets. The silence, punctuated only by the occasional sound of distant collapsing debris, felt heavier than before, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
"We need to keep moving," the woman said quietly, her voice calm but laced with urgency. She adjusted her grip on her sword, her eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of movement.
Yeon-ah nodded in agreement, though her body screamed for rest. There was no time. Not yet.
"Is there anywhere safe nearby?" Juna asked, her voice trembling as she glanced nervously around. The fear in her eyes was still fresh, and though she had held her own during the battle, it was clear the experience had shaken her deeply.
The woman's jaw tightened slightly, but she didn't answer immediately. Instead, she focused on the path ahead, her mind likely calculating their next move. Yeon-ah had grown used to her silence, though it still frustrated her at times. There was so much she didn't know about this woman—her past, her real name, her motivations. But for now, they had a shared goal: survival.
"There's an old underground passage not far from here," the woman finally said. "It used to be part of the city's transit system before the collapse. If we can get there, it might give us some cover."
Yeon-ah's gaze shifted to Juna and the old man. They both looked exhausted, barely able to keep up. She doubted the old man would make it much farther without rest, but the risk of staying out in the open was too great.
"We can make it," Yeon-ah said firmly, though her own body ached for relief. "We have to."
The group continued moving, the weight of the city's destruction pressing down on them as they weaved through the narrow, debris-filled streets. Each step felt heavier than the last, their exhaustion growing with every passing moment. Yeon-ah's sharp yellow eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, her sword still in hand, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
As they approached what was once an old subway station, the ground beneath their feet rumbled slightly, the distant echoes of the city's decay reverberating through the tunnels below.
"Here," the woman said, leading them down a set of crumbling stairs into the underground. The air was cooler down here, the stale scent of damp concrete mixed with the faint odor of rot. It wasn't ideal, but it was safer than being exposed on the surface.
They moved deeper into the tunnels, the darkness swallowing them as they ventured further from the entrance. Yeon-ah's muscles tensed as she listened carefully, every sound amplified in the stillness. The underground was filled with unknown dangers, but it was their best chance for rest.
Once they reached a relatively secure area, the group finally stopped, their bodies slumping against the walls in exhaustion. Yeon-ah leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment as she allowed herself to catch her breath. The cold, damp air clung to her skin, but it was a small price to pay for safety.
Juna helped the old man sit down against the wall, his breathing labored but steady. She glanced over at Yeon-ah and the woman, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "What now?" she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"We rest," the woman replied simply, though her eyes remained sharp, scanning the dark tunnel ahead. "But we can't stay long."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and tension. Yeon-ah's mind raced, trying to focus on the present, but her body ached for sleep. The weight of the day's events bore down on her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt truly vulnerable.
Her eyes drifted to the woman sitting across from her. She still hadn't learned her name, nor did she fully understand her motivations, but there was a strange comfort in her presence. The woman had saved her life more times than she could count, yet they had never spoken of it.
"Who are you?" Yeon-ah asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence.
The woman's eyes flicked to her, narrowing slightly. For a moment, it seemed as though she might ignore the question, but then she spoke.
"A survivor," she said quietly, her tone offering no further explanation.
Yeon-ah frowned, frustration bubbling up inside her. She had been traveling with this woman for what felt like an eternity, yet she still knew nothing about her. There was more to this story, more to who this woman really was, and Yeon-ah needed answers.
Before she could press further, the old man let out a ragged cough, his body shaking violently. Juna rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she tried to help him, but it was clear that his condition was worsening.
"He's not going to make it," the woman said bluntly, her voice cold and detached.
Juna's eyes widened, her hands stilling as she looked up at Yeon-ah, panic flickering in her gaze. "We can't just leave him!"
Yeon-ah's mind raced, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision. The old man was weak, barely able to move, and keeping him with them would only slow them down. But abandoning him? That was a choice she wasn't sure she could live with.
"Please," the old man rasped, his voice barely audible. "I… I can't… not like this."
The silence that followed was suffocating, the unspoken decision hanging in the air between them. Yeon-ah's grip on her sword tightened, her mind warring with itself. Could she leave him behind? Could she take that burden on her conscience?
The woman rose to her feet, her expression as cold as ever. "We don't have time for this. If we stay here too long, we'll all die."
Yeon-ah's chest tightened, her mind swirling with indecision. Juna looked to her for guidance, her eyes pleading for some kind of answer. But what answer could she give?