The air inside the underground safehouse was damp and cold, a stark contrast to the biting wind outside. Yeon-ah's yellow eyes swept over the dimly lit room as they descended deeper into the hidden complex. The safehouse was carved out of the ruins of the old subway system, its tunnels transformed into makeshift shelters by the survivors who had taken refuge here. The walls were lined with supplies, weapons, and scattered remnants of the world that had once been.
"It's not much, but it's secure," Calen said as they entered a large central chamber where several survivors sat around a fire, warming their hands. The flickering flames cast long, jagged shadows on the cracked walls, giving the place an eerie, haunted feeling.
Yeon-ah's body remained tense, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Despite the apparent safety of the shelter, her instincts screamed that this place was far from secure. Her mind raced as she scanned the faces of the survivors—most of them looked tired, beaten down by the world outside, but there was something else in their eyes. A glint of desperation.
The woman stepped forward, her expression as unreadable as ever. She seemed unbothered by the conditions, her eyes focused on the group's leader, the tall man with the scar who had met them outside. He watched them with an intensity that made Yeon-ah uneasy.
"How many of you are here?" the woman asked, her voice cutting through the low murmurs of the survivors.
The man hesitated before answering, "About thirty of us. Not everyone fights, but we do what we can to survive."
Yeon-ah's gaze flicked to Juna, who was standing quietly by the entrance, her arms wrapped around herself. The younger girl had been silent since their arrival, still shaken by everything that had happened. Yeon-ah's chest tightened with guilt, but she pushed the feeling aside. There would be time to deal with emotions later—if they survived.
Calen cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "We've been holding out here for months, but it's getting harder. The Devourers are becoming more organized. They're hunting in packs, moving with purpose. It's not random anymore."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "You said before that something is controlling them. What do you mean?"
Calen exchanged a glance with the scarred man before answering. "There's a place—a center, deep in the city. We've seen groups of Devourers heading there, but none of us have been able to get close enough to see what it is." His voice dropped to a low whisper, as if the very mention of it held danger. "We think it's where they're coming from. Or at least, where they're being controlled."
Yeon-ah felt a chill run down her spine. The idea that the Devourers weren't just mindless beasts, but pawns in something larger, was terrifying. She glanced at the woman, trying to gauge her reaction, but her mentor's face remained as stoic as ever.
"Have you tried attacking it?" Yeon-ah asked, her voice steady but laced with tension.
Calen shook his head, a grim expression on his face. "No one who's gone that way has ever come back. We don't know what's there, but whatever it is… it's powerful."
The silence that followed his words was heavy, filled with the weight of what was unsaid. The survivors knew they were running out of time. The Devourers were growing stronger, and if they didn't act soon, it would be too late.
The woman's voice broke through the tension. "You said you needed fighters. What's your plan?"
The scarred man stepped forward, his gaze hard and determined. "We need to gather what forces we have and make one final push toward the center. If we can take out whatever is controlling the Devourers, we might stand a chance. Otherwise, it's only a matter of time before they overwhelm us."
Yeon-ah exchanged a glance with Juna, who had finally lifted her gaze from the floor. There was fear in her eyes, but also something else—determination. Despite everything, Juna had survived. She was still standing, still fighting. And now, it seemed, they were about to be drawn into yet another battle. One that could decide their fate.
"When do we leave?" Yeon-ah asked, her voice firm. There was no point in delaying. If there was even a chance to strike back, she was ready to take it.
The scarred man looked at her, a glint of approval in his eyes. "Soon. We need to gather supplies and weapons, and we'll move under the cover of darkness. It's our best chance to avoid being detected by the Devourers."
Yeon-ah nodded, though her mind was already racing with possibilities. The center of the city, where the Devourers were being controlled—what kind of force could be behind something so powerful? She had seen the devastation the creatures could cause firsthand, and the idea that someone—or something—was orchestrating it all sent a chill through her bones.
As the group dispersed to prepare, Yeon-ah found herself standing next to Juna. The younger girl hadn't spoken much since the old man's death, and Yeon-ah wasn't sure what to say to her now. The weight of that moment still hung between them, unspoken but heavy.
After a long silence, Juna finally spoke, her voice quiet. "Do you think we'll survive this?"
Yeon-ah's throat tightened. It was a question she had been asking herself since the moment the world had fallen apart. There were no guarantees, no promises in a place like this. But she couldn't say that to Juna—not now, when they needed hope more than ever.
"We've survived this long," Yeon-ah said, her voice soft but firm. "We'll survive this too."
Juna didn't respond right away, but after a moment, she nodded, her eyes still clouded with doubt. "I hope you're right."