Chapter 184
The shaft groaned as Zara crawled forward, her palms scraping against the ribbed metal surface. Every movement echoed, magnified by the vent’s tight walls and the chaos pulsing through the facility beyond.
Red light strobed through the grates above, casting flickering shadows that stretched like claws along the tunnel. The alarm continued to wail in a pulsing rhythm—WEEE-OOO. WEEE-OOO.
In front of her, Leo whimpered.
"Mama," he whispered, barely audible over the noise. "What’s that noise?"
Zara didn’t stop crawling. Her knees ached, her elbows bruised, but she forced a soft smile. "It’s just a game, sweetheart," she murmured. "Remember? Quiet as mice."
"Okay." Leo nodded, face pale but resolute. His voice was so soft. Trusting.
She turned her attention back to the shaft. Her breath was hot against the metal, the air stifling. Sweat slid down her spine, dampening the shirt that clung to her skin.
She tried not to think about the map’s warnings—the faded circles, the scribbled notes about motion sensors and heat detectors. She tried harder not to think about what the red glow reminded her of—the vision that had haunted her dreams.
Fire. Screaming. Blood.
No.
She couldn’t afford to panic. Not now. She adjusted her grip, crawling faster. The shaft grew hotter, the air stale and metallic, like breathing inside a toaster. Every sharp turn jarred her elbow, every drop sent Leo sliding too fast. His breath was shallow, scared, but silent. He was doing everything she asked.