Chapter 27 UNDER THE ASH

Chapter 27 UNDER THE ASH
CHAPTER 28 – UNDER THE ASH
Old outskirts not change.
Still narrow road, grass grow high over ankle, wooden fence lean like tired old man.
But one thing different air. It tense more, like this place just wake up after long sleep, and everything wait for buried truth.
Raven stop car several tens meter from wooden foundation. Her heart beat strong, not because fear, but because deep worry. She feel someone presence, a shadow person digging past.
"There someone here," Niko say softly, her voice shake from stress.
"Not Severance old style."
"No drone," Kade add, his voice low, full of warning.
"No net."
Lucas look toward burned foundation, where ash cool long time ago.
"Ash dig person," he say, his voice shake a little. "Not burn person."
Raven open car door, step out from shadow. She feel cold creep through skin, but she not stop.
"So then," she say, her voice clear, but inside her feel complex emotion. "We listen what they want find."
\---
Wooden foundation show more clear under thin moonlight. Dark color brick foundation, burn mark spread like map of broken memory.
A shadow person kneel down, hand hold small shovel, dig very careful not hurry, not break. Gray jacket, low hood. Raven step out from shadow.
"Don't dig deep anymore," she say, her voice shake a little, but firm.
Shadow person stop. Not surprise. He stand up, turn face familiar, but older, hollow eyes.
Levi.
"R-13," he say, his voice hoarse, full of tired.
"You come early than I think."
"What you dig?" Raven ask, her voice shake a little, but try keep calm. Levi smile weak.
"Thing Severance not quick take," he say.
"And Committee not dare keep." Kade step half way, his voice low.
"You not allowed here."
"No one allowed," Levi answer, his voice shake a little.
"That why this place still exist."
Raven look down hole dig one foundation corner pry open, show small empty space.
"You think under ash still file?" she ask, her voice shake a little.
"No," Levi shake head.
"I know." He bend down, stick hand in empty space pull out small metal box, edge broken, burn mark.
"Evelyn leave," Levi say. "Not for me. For... person will come back."
Raven not quick take.
"Why you give to me?" she ask, her voice shake a little, but full curiosity.
Levi look straight at her this time not fear.
"Because I sign," he say, his voice shake a little.
"And I live too long with that signature." Lucas step up, eyes fix on box.
"How you get it?"
"By waiting," Levi answer. "Wait until Severance fear light more than fear ash."
Raven hold hand out. Levi put box in her hand. Metal cold but not wet. Like it already wait.
"What inside?" Niko ask, her voice shake a little. Levi shake head.
"I not open," he say. "There thing... open mean choose side."
Raven open lock.
Click.
Inside no paper. No chip. Only thin tape roll and one metal piece hand carve: E.V - R.
Raven close eyes one beat. Her heart beat strong, feel truth wait.
"My mother," she say, her voice shake a little, full emotion. Levi nod.
"She know," he say.
"Know one day, you must choose between burn... and rebuild."
Kade frown, his voice low.
"You come here not just give thing." Levi sigh, his voice shake a little.
"No," he say. "I come say one last thing before Committee call me room dark."
"What?" Raven ask, her voice shake a little.
Levi look toward far city light shake a little.
"They propose one deal," he say.
"One new Severance. Different name. Different shell. And they want you stand before it." Air get cold.
"Symbol," Lucas say, his voice shake a little.
"Make front."
"Or sacrifice," Niko add, her voice shake a little.
Levi shrug. "Both," he say.
"Depend on you."
Raven look at tape in hand. Her heart beat strong, feel truth wait.
"And you?" she ask, her voice shake a little.
"What you choose?"
Levi bow head. "I choose... say all," he say.
"Then leave table." He step back one step. "You not need believe me," Levi say, his voice shake a little.
"But you should believe Evelyn. She not bury thing burn more." Levi turn back, step into shadow, not look back.
Wind blow through burned foundation, carry wet grass smell. Raven stand still, hand grip tape. Her heart beat strong, feel truth wait.
"Open not?" Niko ask, her voice shake a little.
"Not here," Raven answer. "Not now."
Kade look at her.
"You fear what?"
Raven shake head.
"No," she say.
"I fear... I will understand."
Lucas put hand on her shoulder light.
"Understand not lose," he say. "Understand start."
Raven nod.
"Go then," she say.
"Committee wait."
She turn look wooden foundation last time. Ash not hot anymore. But under ash... something survive.
When car roll away from outskirts, Raven device shake call code. "ROOM DARK - 23:00. LAST PROPOSE." Raven look tape in hand. Before hear mother say... they want me speak first.