The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, each footstep echoing against the metallic walls. Alex's heart was still racing, the weight of the key pressing against his palm. He couldn't help but glance over at Kael, trying to gauge whether their new companion could be trusted.
Lyra's voice broke the tense silence. "Okay, we've got the key. Now what? Where do we go from here?"
Kael slowed down and looked over his shoulder, his expression more serious than before. "First, we need to get out of this sector. The Wardens won't stay distracted for long, and when they regroup, they'll be hunting us with everything they've got."
Alex nodded. "Agreed. But how do we get out? Do you have another exit?"
Kael hesitated for a moment. "Sort of. There's a maintenance tunnel up ahead that leads to the lower levels. From there, we can access the ventilation shafts and get out through an old service hatch."
Lyra frowned. "A service hatch? Sounds a bit too easy."
Kael shrugged. "It's not easy. The lower levels are patrolled too, but it's our best shot. Unless you'd rather wait around here for them to catch up?"
Alex and Lyra exchanged a quick glance, then nodded. "Alright, lead the way," Alex said.
Kael turned and continued down the corridor. After a few more twists and turns, they reached a small, unmarked door. Kael pushed it open, revealing a narrow tunnel with pipes and cables running along the walls.
"This is it," he whispered. "Stay close, and try to be quiet."
They crept down the tunnel, the sound of distant alarms gradually fading behind them. The air grew colder, and the tunnel sloped downward, leading them deeper into the bowels of the Nexus.
Alex tried to steady his breathing, but his mind was racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Kael seemed to know too much about the Nexus, almost as if he'd been there before—more than just a few months, like he'd claimed.
As if sensing Alex's doubt, Lyra nudged him gently. "You okay?" she whispered.
Alex nodded. "Yeah, just… something doesn't feel right."
Lyra glanced at Kael, who was a few steps ahead. "I know. I've been thinking the same thing. But for now, we need him."
Alex sighed. "Yeah, I know. But we should keep our guard up."
They continued in silence, following Kael through the twisting maze of tunnels. After what felt like hours, they finally reached a large metal grate. Kael pulled out a small tool and began working on the bolts.
"This will take us to the lower levels," he muttered. "Once we're there, we need to move fast. There's a lot of old tech down there, and some of it is still active. The Wardens don't go down there often, but if they know we're here, they might send a patrol."
Alex nodded, gripping his staff tighter. "Got it. We'll be ready."
The grate came loose with a groan, and Kael pushed it aside. "Alright, go," he urged. "One at a time."
Lyra slipped through first, followed by Alex. The lower levels were dark and filled with the hum of machinery. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of oil and ozone.
Kael climbed in behind them and quickly replaced the grate. "This way," he said, moving ahead again.
As they navigated the labyrinth of pipes and cables, Alex couldn't help but notice how familiar Kael seemed with the place. He moved with confidence, as if he'd walked these paths a thousand times before.
"Kael," Alex said suddenly. "How do you know so much about this place?"
Kael paused, glancing back with a faint smile. "I told you, I've been here a while. You pick up things when you're stuck in a place like this."
Lyra frowned. "Yeah, but it's almost like you've been living here. What's your story, really?"
Kael's smile faded, and for a moment, his eyes seemed distant, haunted. "Let's just say I have… unfinished business with the Wardens. They took something from me, and I've been trying to get it back ever since."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Something? Or someone?"
Kael's jaw clenched. "Someone," he admitted quietly. "My sister. They took her years ago, and I've been trying to find her ever since."
Lyra's expression softened. "I'm sorry. We didn't know."
Kael shook his head. "It doesn't matter. The point is, I know how they think, how they operate. And that's why I need your help. The key is just the beginning."
Alex nodded slowly, understanding a bit more now. "Alright. We'll help you find your sister. But you have to be straight with us from now on. No more secrets."
Kael nodded. "Deal."
Just then, a faint sound echoed through the tunnel—a mechanical whirring, growing louder. Alex's heart skipped a beat. "Drones," he whispered. "They've found us."
Kael cursed under his breath. "Quick, this way!" He led them down another narrow passage, turning sharply into a side corridor. The whirring grew louder, closer.
Lyra looked back, panic in her eyes. "They're gaining on us!"
Kael stopped abruptly at a junction, glancing around desperately. "There should be a hatch here somewhere," he muttered. "It leads to the upper level—" Before he could finish, a flash of light filled the corridor, and the sound of blaster fire echoed around them.
"Get down!" Alex shouted, pulling Lyra behind a stack of crates.
Kael dove behind a metal pillar, pulling out a small device from his belt. "Hold them off for a few seconds!" he yelled.
Alex nodded, raising his staff. He focused, channeling his energy, and a barrier of shimmering light formed between them and the advancing drones. Blaster shots bounced off the barrier, but he could feel the strain, his energy depleting fast.
"Hurry, Kael!" Lyra shouted, sending a blast of energy toward the drones.
Kael's fingers moved rapidly over the device. "Almost… got it… There!"
A hidden panel in the wall slid open, revealing a narrow hatch. "Go!" he yelled.
Alex and Lyra sprinted toward the hatch, diving through just as the barrier flickered and failed. Kael followed, slamming the panel shut behind him.
They landed in a small, dark room, breathing heavily. "That… was close," Lyra panted.
Kael nodded, his face pale. "Too close. We need to keep moving."
As they caught their breath, Alex glanced at Kael. "We made it, but we still don't know where we're going. What's the next step?"
Kael grinned, a spark of determination returning to his eyes. "Next, we find the Warden's control room. That's where they keep all their records—and where we'll find out exactly where my sister is."
Alex nodded, a sense of purpose settling over him. "Alright. Let's do it. But remember, Kael… no more secrets."
Kael nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "No more secrets."
They moved forward, deeper into the unknown, ready to face whatever lay ahead.