Omniscient POV
Ashen Light had begun spreading the word about the potential migration to a new safe haven on the surface, cautiously informing Murias' people to be ready for an imminent escape.
However, convincing the residents to leave the underground city turned out to be much harder than expected.
Mark was the first to act.
He discreetly delivered a letter containing the message of Murias' impending destruction to a trusted figure, Mary—a nanny from his and Matthew's childhood in Tirnanog—before swiftly departing to avoid suspicion.
Next, he headed to the Falshi Quarry, where miners gathered daily for work.
Many of the miners recognized him and thought he had simply come to catch up.
But when Mark began discussing the geological shifts and the possibility of Murias being swallowed by magma, the atmosphere turned tense.
"Lava? Mark, have you been working too hard lately? Are you imagining things?" mocked an older miner, drawing chuckles from the others.
Mark took a deep breath, maintaining his composure as he elaborated on the scientific data.
He detailed changes in geological layers and abnormally high underground temperatures, step-by-step.
"I know it sounds unbelievable, but these readings are accurate," he insisted, pointing to the graphs he'd brought along. "If we don't prepare now, Murias could be obliterated in less than a month."
"Stop trying to scare us, Mark. We've worked here for decades, and aside from the occasional tremor, Murias is fine," another miner grumbled dismissively.
Despite Mark's efforts to explain, few were willing to listen.
The miners mocked and doubted him, some even questioning his motives.
"Mark, are you secretly working for the FDB? Trying to stir things up?" A young miner eyed him suspiciously.
"Of course not," Mark retorted, but he could sense the hostility growing.
Ultimately, he was forced to abandon the argument.
The miners stubbornly clung to their misguided belief in Murias' stability, dismissing Mark's warnings as nothing more than baseless fearmongering.
Meanwhile, David and Cora took a different approach.
They distributed leaflets in densely populated areas, making sure to do so discreetly.
Each leaflet stated:
"Residents of Murias—heed this warning: the magma beneath is rising, and Murias is on the brink of destruction. Don't believe the lies spread by the authorities. Take action now to protect yourselves and your families."
But almost every leaflet ended up trampled underfoot or thrown away.
It seemed that everyone had already forgotten about the violent earthquake some time ago.
As long as the people living here were still alive, Murias was deemed safe.
People glanced at them briefly before shaking their heads and leaving.
For the ordinary residents, Murias' stable temperatures, steady supply of goods, and long-standing safety made the very notion of leaving unimaginable.
Why would they abandon the place they had known and trusted their entire lives?
Most of them had never experienced the dangers of the surface and couldn't fathom the hardships a future migration might entail.
"These people must be insane," spat a few younger men, angrily crumpling a leaflet and tossing it at David's feet. "What's the point of spreading such lies?"
On the back of each leaflet was a list of suggested supplies to stockpile: synthetic protein, drinking water, warm clothing, flashlights, and weapons.
"Warm clothing?" scoffed a middle-aged woman. "The temperature's always perfect here—what would we need coats for?"
But no matter how many times they explained, the leaflets were torn up and dismissed, leaving David and Cora standing in the midst of an unyielding sea of disbelief.
Cora had no choice but to return home, her attempts at warning others met with failure.
Since Deborah and Matthew left to scout the surface, FDB operatives had tightened their surveillance.
Even Deborah's room had been completely sealed off, forcing Cora to move back in with her father.
Peter Cox, a high-ranking official in Murias, held considerable influence.
But he was also a staunch conservative, refusing to accept the imminent threat to Murias' safety.
"Father, are you really just going to sit by and watch Murias get destroyed?!" Cora's eyes were full of defiance as she stood before him.
"Cora, I've told you before," Peter replied calmly. "Murias is safe. There's no need to take any drastic measures."
"Do you not care about your people at all?" Cora's voice trembled with frustration. "The father I knew wouldn't just stand by and let so many people die!"
"You don't understand, Cora." His voice grew lower. "We cannot stand against the true powers controlling Murias."
"Father, you know something, don't you? Please, we can at least try—"
"No, it's impossible." His voice suddenly rose. "Do you think Chad is anyone special? He's just a pawn, but he's the only one who can ensure your safety and get you out of here."
"Why do you keep bringing up Chad?" Cora gritted her teeth. "What are you so afraid of?"
Peter fell silent, a storm of conflicting emotions clouding his features.
"Just know this: marry Chad, and you'll be safe."
"But that's not the future I want!"
He sighed deeply, his features etched with pain and resignation.
"Then you have no future at all."
Their argument had just reached a stalemate when the Mobi in Peter's office suddenly buzzed.
Peter picked it up, his brows furrowing instantly as his face paled.
"What?! Alert everyone immediately—I'm on my way!"
He slammed the device down and turned to Cora. "I have to go. Stay home. Don't go anywhere."
"What happened?" Cora asked, anxiety clawing at her chest.
"Don't ask." He hesitated, then added softly, "Whatever happens, you must keep yourself safe."
With that, he rushed out of the room, leaving Cora standing alone, a swirl of confusion and dread filling the empty space he left behind.