The trading post lay silent under a blanket of darkness, its flickering torches casting long, wavering shadows. The group huddled in the dim confines of the small terminal building, their breaths shallow as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
Finn pressed his back against the wall, gripping his weapon tightly. "Tell me that's just someone out for a stroll," he muttered.
Zoe shot him a glare, her knife glinting in the faint light. "You really think we're that lucky?"
Ruby motioned for silence, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "Stay alert," she hissed. "We don't know who—or what—is coming."
Mia stared at the now-dark terminal screen, her mind racing. The last image of her mother, desperate yet determined, was burned into her thoughts. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the drive. Whatever the Shadow's move was, it had already begun.
