The air inside the vent was thick and musty, a mix of dust and old machinery that made each breath feel heavy. I could hear the sounds of the building around us—footsteps echoing through the narrow hallways, muffled voices drifting up from below—but in the narrow confines of the vent, it felt like we were in another world entirely.
Elias moved ahead of me, his back pressed against the metal walls, his hands steady as he led the way. His movements were calculated, deliberate, each step taken with a quiet confidence that made me feel a strange sense of calm despite the chaos unfolding just beneath us.
I kept my breathing shallow, trying to make as little noise as possible. The slightest sound in this tight space could betray us, and we couldn't afford to be caught.
We crawled through the dark maze of vents, the metal screeching faintly under our weight, until we reached a junction where the vent split in two directions. Elias paused, his hand resting on the side of the wall as he surveyed both paths.
"We take the left," he said quietly, his voice barely audible. "It'll take us to the emergency exit. Stay close."
I nodded, my heart thumping in my chest as we took the left path, moving swiftly but carefully, the sound of our own movements drowning out everything else. Time felt like it was slowing down, every second stretching into an eternity.
But then, without warning, the air around us shifted. A metallic clang echoed from the hallway below, followed by a series of sharp voices—louder now. Closer.
"They're here," Elias muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "We don't have much time."
I swallowed hard, my throat tight with fear. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and my pulse quickened as I realized how close we were to being trapped. I didn't dare look down, but I could feel their presence growing stronger, their footsteps closing in.
Elias moved faster now, pulling me along with him, our bodies pressed tight as we slid through the narrow space. The vent groaned under our weight, a low, protesting sound that made my stomach tighten.
I had to keep moving. I had to trust him. But every instinct screamed at me to stop, to turn back, to do anything other than continue down this treacherous path.
But Elias didn't stop. He didn't even hesitate.
As we rounded another corner in the vent, I could hear the sound of something shifting below us, something large and ominous moving through the building's network. My breath caught in my throat as I realized what it was.
"They've found the access point," I whispered, dread creeping into my voice.
Elias's hand tightened around mine, his grip firm, unwavering. "We need to move, now."
He led the way, urgency in his every movement. The air grew thicker, the heat rising in the confined space as we crawled faster, desperation in every step. We had no choice but to keep going, even as I could hear the faint sound of gunshots in the distance, the echoes of chaos spreading throughout the building.
The vent began to narrow, forcing us to move in a single file. I could feel the claustrophobia closing in around me, the walls pressing against my shoulders as I tried to ignore the rising panic in my chest.
But then, as if in a cruel twist of fate, the vent came to an abrupt end.
A solid wall of metal blocked our way.
Elias cursed under his breath, his fingers pressing against the wall, his mind working frantically. I could feel his body tense beside me, his every muscle coiled like a spring, ready to snap. He scanned the walls, looking for an escape, but there was nothing. No way out.
"They've sealed it," he muttered, his voice thick with frustration. "We're trapped."
I felt the weight of his words settle over me, a chill creeping up my spine. My mind raced, searching for any way out, any way to escape. But there was nothing. Nothing but the sound of our breath and the growing chaos outside.
And then, in the distance, a voice. It was faint at first, but it grew clearer, more distinct with each passing second. A voice that sent a cold shiver down my spine.
"Found them."
I froze, my body going rigid with fear. Elias's eyes locked onto mine, the expression in them hard and unwavering. It was as if the world around us had ceased to exist for a moment. The voice had come from below, and it was too familiar.
I couldn't breathe. My lungs felt constricted, my throat closing up as I realized who was leading the search.
It wasn't just any enemy. It was him.
Caden.
The name echoed in my mind like a thunderclap. Elias's past had caught up with him—and with me.
"You're not alone," Caden's voice called again, louder now. It was mocking, almost pleased. "You never will be again."
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had thought I was prepared, that I could face whatever came our way. But now, with Caden's voice reaching us, my world was spinning out of control.
Elias didn't flinch. He didn't even flinch when he heard Caden's name. Instead, his hand tightened around my wrist, his expression hardening.
"We're not done," he said, his voice low, filled with a quiet intensity. "Not yet."
He stepped forward, his hand gripping the walls of the vent, and in one swift movement, he tore a panel off, revealing a narrow crawl space beyond. His eyes met mine once more, and there was something different in them now. Something fierce. Something that made my blood run cold with understanding.
He wasn't just running from them.
He was going to fight.
And I was right there beside him.
The moment the panel came loose, Elias was already moving, pulling me with him as we crawled into the dark void beyond. The air was thick, the silence suffocating, but we kept moving. There was no turning back. Not anymore.
As we crawled, I could hear the sound of footsteps getting louder, the shouts of Caden's men echoing through the building. The chase was on.
But this time, we weren't running.
We were preparing for war.