The cold night air wrapped around the group like a shroud as they moved through the wasteland, each step a struggle against exhaustion. The distant rumble of the collapsing facility echoed behind them, a grim reminder of what they had just escaped.
Mia leaned heavily on Zoe, her body weakened from the surge of energy she had unleashed. Her breathing was shallow, but her eyes held a quiet determination.
"We can't stop here," Ruby said, her voice cutting through the silence. "Marcus is out there, and he's not going to let this go."
"Does he ever?" Zoe muttered, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting Marcus to emerge from the shadows.
Finn stumbled over a loose rock, cursing under his breath. "Great. Now we've got him after us and whatever else is lurking out here."
"Keep moving," Caleb said sharply, his rifle at the ready. "If we're lucky, he's licking his wounds. If not... well, we'll deal with it."
