Chapter 20

A few hours later, Cloud stirred, groaning as he shifted on the cot. The medic had done her best to clean and stitch his wound, but he was still weak. Athena knelt beside him, offering him a small canteen of water.

"Drink," she said softly.

Cloud took a few sips before pushing it away. "How long have we been here?"

"Not long enough," I answered. "But we need to move soon."

The woman who had guided us here reappeared, her arms crossed. "There’s an abandoned subway station a few blocks from here. If you’re looking for information, you might find some there. People come and go, and some of them work for SynerTech—whether they admit it or not."

Athena straightened. "What about weapons? Supplies? We’re running low."

The wiry man from earlier scoffed from across the room. "You want handouts now? You barely made it in alive."

I stepped toward him, keeping my voice steady. "We don’t need handouts. We just need a fighting chance. If SynerTech tightens its grip on the city, your little hideout won’t be safe for long either."

The room fell silent. Tension thickened in the air. Finally, he exhaled sharply and gestured toward a locked cabinet. "Take what you need—but don’t push your luck."

Athena moved quickly, grabbing spare ammunition, a few ration bars, and a small med kit. Cloud attempted to stand, wincing, but I helped steady him.

"We’ll take the subway route," I told the woman. "Lead the way."

She nodded, motioning for us to follow. "Stay close. And keep quiet."

The abandoned subway station was eerily silent, the tracks long forgotten and covered in grime. The air was stale, thick with dust. A few scattered fires burned in rusted barrels, their flickering light casting eerie shadows on the walls. Groups of people huddled in corners, watching us warily as we passed.

"You sure about this place?" Cloud muttered.

The woman nodded. "SynerTech agents come here sometimes. Off the record. If you listen carefully, you’ll learn more than you think."

We moved deeper into the station, blending into the crowd. Athena kept a sharp eye on our surroundings, her hand hovering near her weapon. I scanned the room, looking for anyone who seemed out of place.

Then I spotted him.

A man in a sleek black coat, standing near one of the fires, speaking in hushed tones to another figure. His posture was stiff, his eyes constantly scanning the area. He didn’t belong here.

"Athena," I murmured, tilting my head toward him.

She followed my gaze, nodding. "SynerTech. No doubt."

Cloud leaned against a nearby pillar, trying to blend in. "What’s the plan?"

I thought for a moment. We needed intel, but we couldn’t risk a direct confrontation. Not yet.

Athena smirked. "Let’s listen in first. Then we’ll decide."

We edged closer, careful to remain unnoticed. The man’s voice was low but clear.

"The higher-ups want this wrapped up quickly. The fugitives can’t be allowed to escape the city."

The other figure grunted. "Any leads?"

"They were spotted near the warehouse district, but no confirmation. Orders are to search every underground sector until they’re found."

Athena met my gaze. They were closing in.

The man continued, "If they’re here, they won’t make it out alive."

I clenched my jaw. We needed to move—now.

Athena whispered, "We slip out the back. Lose ourselves in the tunnels again."

Cloud smirked weakly. "Always running, huh?"

"Not forever," I promised.

We turned, slipping into the shadows as SynerTech’s grip tightened around us. The fight wasn’t over.

It was just beginning.

A few hours later, Cloud stirred, groaning as he shifted on the cot. The medic had done her best to clean and stitch his wound, but he was still weak. Athena knelt beside him, offering him a small canteen of water.

"Drink," she said softly.

Cloud took a few sips before pushing it away. "How long have we been here?"

"Not long enough," I answered. "But we need to move soon."

The woman who had guided us here reappeared, her arms crossed. "There’s an abandoned subway station a few blocks from here. If you’re looking for information, you might find some there. People come and go, and some of them work for SynerTech—whether they admit it or not."

Athena straightened. "What about weapons? Supplies? We’re running low."

The wiry man from earlier scoffed from across the room. "You want handouts now? You barely made it in alive."

I stepped toward him, keeping my voice steady. "We don’t need handouts. We just need a fighting chance. If SynerTech tightens its grip on the city, your little hideout won’t be safe for long either."

The room fell silent. Tension thickened in the air. Finally, he exhaled sharply and gestured toward a locked cabinet. "Take what you need—but don’t push your luck."

Athena moved quickly, grabbing spare ammunition, a few ration bars, and a small med kit. Cloud attempted to stand, wincing, but I helped steady him.

"We’ll take the subway route," I told the woman. "Lead the way."

She nodded, motioning for us to follow. "Stay close. And keep quiet."

The abandoned subway station was eerily silent, the tracks long forgotten and covered in grime. The air was stale, thick with dust. A few scattered fires burned in rusted barrels, their flickering light casting eerie shadows on the walls. Groups of people huddled in corners, watching us warily as we passed.

"You sure about this place?" Cloud muttered.

The woman nodded. "SynerTech agents come here sometimes. Off the record. If you listen carefully, you’ll learn more than you think."

We moved deeper into the station, blending into the crowd. Athena kept a sharp eye on our surroundings, her hand hovering near her weapon. I scanned the room, looking for anyone who seemed out of place.

Then I spotted him.

A man in a sleek black coat, standing near one of the fires, speaking in hushed tones to another figure. His posture was stiff, his eyes constantly scanning the area. He didn’t belong here.

"Athena," I murmured, tilting my head toward him.

She followed my gaze, nodding. "SynerTech. No doubt."

Cloud leaned against a nearby pillar, trying to blend in. "What’s the plan?"

I thought for a moment. We needed intel, but we couldn’t risk a direct confrontation. Not yet.

Athena smirked. "Let’s listen in first. Then we’ll decide."

We edged closer, careful to remain unnoticed. The man’s voice was low but clear.

"The higher-ups want this wrapped up quickly. The fugitives can’t be allowed to escape the city."

The other figure grunted. "Any leads?"

"They were spotted near the warehouse district, but no confirmation. Orders are to search every underground sector until they’re found."

Athena met my gaze. They were closing in.

The man continued, "If they’re here, they won’t make it out alive."

I clenched my jaw. We needed to move—now.

Athena whispered, "We slip out the back. Lose ourselves in the tunnels again."

Cloud smirked weakly. "Always running, huh?"

"Not forever," I promised.

We turned, slipping into the shadows as SynerTech’s grip tightened around us. The fight wasn’t over.

It was just beginning.