The subway tunnel stretched endlessly into the dark, a gaping maw that swallowed the faint light of their scavenged lantern. The weak flame flickered against the damp walls, casting eerie shadows that danced like phantoms. Kael hated this place, but it was the only safe haven they had for now.
Rion sat huddled near the lantern, poking at the meager scraps of food they'd managed to salvage. His face was pale, exhaustion lining his young features, but he didn't complain. He never did.
"Eat," Kael said, tossing a piece of stale bread toward him.
"I'm not hungry," Rion muttered, keeping his eyes downcast.
Kael frowned, sitting across from him. "Rion, you've got to eat something. You used up a lot of energy back there."
"So did you," Rion countered, his voice sharper than usual. "Why don't you take it?"
Kael sighed, running a hand through his sweat-matted hair. He didn't have the energy to argue. "Because you're still growing, and I'm already a mess. Just eat."
Reluctantly, Rion tore a small bite from the bread and chewed silently. The sound of his teeth grinding against the stale crust was the only noise in the suffocating silence.
The Weight of Survival
Kael leaned back against the cold wall, staring into the darkness beyond their flickering light. The events of the day replayed in his mind—Rion's reckless bravery, the shard's violent surge, and the fear in the soldiers' eyes when they fled.
His thoughts inevitably drifted to the shard. It pulsed faintly in his chest, a reminder of the power lurking within him. A power he didn't fully understand or control. He touched his sternum absently, feeling the faint warmth radiating from the crystal embedded there.
"Kael," Rion said softly, breaking the silence. "What are we going to do now?"
Kael hesitated. He didn't have a good answer. "We keep moving. Stay out of sight, find food, and figure out what the Dominion's up to."
Rion nodded but didn't look convinced. "And what about… the shard?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "I'll handle it."
"How? It almost killed you today."
"I said I'll handle it," Kael snapped, his voice harsher than he intended.
Rion flinched, his expression falling. Kael immediately regretted his tone. He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I just… I don't know how to handle it, okay? I'm figuring it out as we go."
Rion nodded but didn't say anything more.
A New Threat
The silence was broken by the faint sound of footsteps echoing through the tunnel. Kael shot to his feet, his hand instinctively gripping his dagger.
"Rion, hide," he whispered urgently.
Rion scrambled behind a pile of rubble as Kael moved toward the sound, his body tense. The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by hushed voices.
"Spread out," a gruff voice ordered. "The shard signature came from this direction. They couldn't have gotten far."
Kael's blood ran cold. Dominion hunters. They were tracking the shard's energy.
He crouched low, peering around the corner. Three figures emerged from the darkness, their armored silhouettes illuminated by faint blue lights embedded in their suits. Unlike the patrols from before, these hunters were equipped with specialized gear designed to detect and contain shard users.
Kael's heart pounded. They'll find us if we stay here. But if we run, we'll be cornered.
He glanced toward Rion's hiding spot, barely visible in the dim light. His brother's wide eyes met his, silently pleading for guidance.
The Shard's Temptation
The shard inside Kael began to stir, responding to the proximity of danger. Heat spread through his chest, tempting him to release its power. He clenched his fists, resisting the urge.
Not now. If I lose control here, Rion will get caught in the crossfire.
The hunters moved closer, their voices low but sharp. "The readings are getting stronger. The user's nearby."
Kael weighed his options. He could try to fight them, but with their gear and numbers, the odds weren't in his favor. Running was risky, but staying meant certain death.
"Rion," Kael whispered, barely audible. "When I give the signal, run. Don't stop until you're out of the tunnel."
Rion's eyes widened. "Kael, no—"
"Promise me," Kael interrupted, his voice firm.
Rion hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
The Battle in the Dark
Kael waited until the hunters were within striking distance. Then, without warning, he lunged from the shadows, his dagger flashing in the dim light.
The closest hunter barely had time to react before Kael's blade found the gap between his armor plates. The man cried out, collapsing as Kael yanked the dagger free.
The other two hunters spun toward him, their weapons raised.
"There!" one shouted, firing a burst of energy bolts.
Kael ducked behind a pillar, the shots scorching the concrete. He peeked out, throwing a chunk of rubble to distract them before darting to another position.
The shard pulsed wildly, begging to be unleashed. Kael's vision blurred, his body trembling with the effort of keeping it contained.
"Give it up, kid," one of the hunters taunted. "You're outnumbered and outgunned. Just make it easy on yourself."
Kael ignored him, his mind racing for a plan.
Rion's Courage
While Kael fought, Rion watched from his hiding spot, his heart pounding. He knew Kael had told him to stay put, but he couldn't just sit there while his brother risked his life.
Grabbing a metal pipe, Rion crept toward the hunters, his small frame concealed by the shadows.
Kael ducked as another burst of energy bolts shattered the wall behind him. He was running out of cover—and time.
Just as one of the hunters advanced, Rion sprang from the shadows, swinging the pipe with all his strength. The weapon connected with the hunter's helmet, staggering him.
"Rion!" Kael shouted, his voice a mix of fear and anger.
The distraction gave Kael the opening he needed. He surged forward, driving his dagger into the staggered hunter's chest.
The final hunter raised his weapon, aiming at Rion.
"No!" Kael roared, the shard's power exploding from him in a torrent of fire and light. The flames engulfed the hunter, his screams echoing through the tunnel as he was consumed.
Aftermath
The tunnel fell silent, save for the crackling of residual flames. Kael stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving. The shard's power receded, leaving him drained and unsteady.
Rion approached cautiously, his face pale. "Are you okay?"
Kael nodded weakly, though he didn't feel okay. The weight of the shard, the blood on his hands, and the danger they faced—it was all too much.
"We need to move," he said hoarsely, pulling Rion along.
They disappeared into the darkness, leaving the bodies behind. But Kael knew this was only the beginning. The shard's power had saved them, but it was a double-edged sword. And the Dominion wouldn't stop hunting them.