Chapter 187 - 186
The rail shuttle’s interior groaned like a dying beast.
Flickering emergency lights painted the metal walls in crimson and shadow, each pulse of red like a heartbeat bleeding out. Beneath Zara’s boots, the metal hummed with residual energy—barely enough to keep the rickety transport moving. The tunnel outside the thick windows was pitch black, the kind of black that swallowed light, sound, and hope whole.
Leo’s breath came in ragged sobs against her shoulder. Zara held him tight, cradling him with one arm, the other gripping a corroded rail for balance. His small fingers clutched her shirt, the fabric damp with his sweat—and hers. Her heart thundered in her ears.
"We’re okay," she whispered, though her voice trembled. "You’re okay. I’ve got you."
The lie tasted bitter. Her body ached all over—mostly bruises, she hoped—but her left side throbbed with something deeper. She hadn’t checked the wound yet. No time. No peace. Just keep moving. The adrenaline that carried her this far was draining fast, replaced by creeping pain and bone-deep fatigue.
The shuttle shuddered suddenly. Lights overhead flickered, then dimmed again.
She noticed a small interface panel near the front of the shuttle. Its screen displayed a destination: "Sector 7B – Decommissioned Containment Wing." The name meant nothing to her, but the word "containment" sent a chill down her spine.
The shuttle jolted again.
Something tapped against the side—once, then again, sharper. Her head snapped toward the window, heart hammering. She squinted into the darkness beyond the fogged glass, but saw only distorted reflections and swirling dust.
"Probably just debris," she muttered. A lie for herself.
The shuttle wheezed to a stop with a final, metallic grind. The air filled with hissing steam. One of the emergency lights fizzled out completely, plunging the corner into black.