Chapter 7 Follow the Path
The corridor was dark as Red walked along the narrow path, her footsteps echoing faintly. Then she heard it—a strange, chirping sound coming from somewhere ahead. Light shimmered in thin, wavering lines a few meters before her, rippling like disturbed water.
She followed the others, who had already started jogging toward the bright glow at the end of the passage.
When Red reached it, her eyes automatically narrowed against the sudden burst of light. She stepped out onto a patch of green grass—actual grass—its blades soft and cool, the soil damp beneath her shoes. Above her, a wide sky-blue ceiling mimicked open air.
Towering green trees—sycamores, though not quite like the ones preserved in old photos—encircled the clearing.
Birds.
Real birds flitted between the branches, their chirping weaving into a melody Red had only ever heard in ancient audio files.
She approached a thick bush and brushed her fingers over its leaves. They felt cool, dewy, alive—releasing a deep, earthy scent that tightened something in her chest.
Nineteen years on Earth, and she had never touched anything like this.
Was this the true strength of Ohm’s ship? The ability to recreate what Earth had lost?
“What is this place…?” she whispered.
She stepped aside from the crowd, all wearing the same stunned expression, their eyes drinking in the impossible scenery.
Her left eye scanned the environment, returning the same result over and over: biological organisms detected.
Natural. Not synthetic.
Red inhaled sharply. That shouldn’t be possible. Earth had no remaining ecosystems; only humans had survived.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Call came running toward her. What shocked her even more was the black belt strapped at his waist, holding two guns.
“Where did you get that?” Red asked, pointing.
“There were weapons along the corridor,” Call replied, puffing up a little. “That hallway was way longer than I expected. Full of weapons. I only managed to grab one pair.”
“How did you know you weren’t allowed to take more?”
“The moment I took these,” Call said, lifting the guns, “the rest just… vanished.”
“Oh.” Red blinked. “They look cool, though.”
Call grinned. “They are. So… what about your weapon?” His eyes scanned her empty hands and plain clothes.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Call repeated, completely thrown off. “What classification did you choose? Metaphysic? Support? They’re the ones who don’t carry weapons.”
“Tanks,” Red said flatly.
Call stared, stunned. “Red… Tanks always get a shield and whatever weapons they want. That’s literally the whole point. You can’t have nothing.”
“I swear I didn’t see anything,” Red muttered. “That corridor was pitch-black. No weapons. No shield. Nothing.”
“Then ask Child,” Call said immediately. “The AI is waiting near the exits. They gather around Support thresholds. Maybe the system bugged when you passed through.”
Red froze.
Call had no clue she’d been rejected at three different doors before she finally got in. If Child scanned her and something didn’t match…
Her identity could get exposed.
She couldn’t risk that.
“Call, wait,” Red said quickly. “If Child checks anything about me, what if they find something… off? What if they realize who I actually am?”
“Oh.” Call blinked. “Yeah… that would be bad.”
“Exactly. So going back isn’t an option.”
“Then let’s just keep moving. I heard there’s more ahead.” He glanced at Ursula. “Come on, robot.”
“Her name is Ursula.”
“Right. Ursula, let’s go,” he said again.
Ursula didn’t budge.
Call blinked in confusion. “Why doesn’t she respond to anything I say?”
“No idea,” Red sighed. “I’ve only had her for two days.”
“Are you sure you didn’t steal her from someone?”
Red didn’t bother responding. Instead, she opened her backpack, took out two water bottles, and handed one to Call. Some of the exhausted survivors nearby eyed them with quiet longing—they had neither food nor water.
They kept walking.
“Hey… uh, sorry,” Call murmured.
“For what?”
“For saying you stole Ursula.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean it.”
Red let out a soft laugh. “It’s fine.”
“If you were a thief, you wouldn’t have saved everyone back there,” Call added.
“And why’s that?”
“I don’t know. You just… don’t feel like the type.”
“Good?” Red raised a brow. “What if I’m like, what’s that old story? The thief who steals for the poor?”
“Peter Pan?” Call guessed.
“No.”
“Robin Hood?”
Red snapped her fingers. “That one. What if I’m like him? Stealing Ursula for some noble cause?”
Call sighed in defeat. “I don’t know. Sounds insane.”
He stopped abruptly. An eight-year-old girl sat by the bushes, trembling. Without hesitation, Call offered her his half-finished bottle of water.
Red frowned. “What if that place Child mentioned is still far away? Why give it up now?”
“If it’s far, I’ll survive longer than she will.” Call shrugged. “I’m tough.”
“Good thing I’ve still got a few bottles left.”
“You don’t need to give me any,” Call insisted. “Save them for the kids. Or the moms. Or people who are hurt.” He nodded. “You’re already helping enough.”
“Hm.” Red didn’t argue.
“You risked everything to save almost three thousand people,” he reminded her. “Don’t pretend you’re heartless. You’re not.”
“So now you analyze people, too?” Red teased. “Impressive, Young Master Callum.”
Call snorted. “Barely. I just… knew you were good from the beginning.”
“How? When?”
“Back in the city center,” Call said. “Ingo gave us two choices: sleep in the capsule tubes or fight. Only about fifty people remained awake. And only five of us volunteered to board Ohm’s ship.”
“Oh,” Red murmured. It suddenly made sense. “So every district had different numbers of volunteers?”
“Yep. Each city sends however many they choose. The rest are put into hibernation.”
“And then we almost got wiped out,” Red muttered.
“True.” Call exhaled. “But you helped my sister. Lein didn’t want me to go alone. You could’ve slept like everyone else, Red.”
“So you didn’t know what would happen to me?” Red shook her head. “No way. I’d rather face danger than die without answers.”
They walked with the thousands of survivors until a city finally rose before them—massive gates, towering columns, and a flag displaying six shifting symbols.
Red had only ever seen buildings like these on old tablets. Windows. Roofs. Doors.
Human-made structures.
Screens floated above the streets, displaying building names in scrolling holograms. It resembled a bustling city—except it wasn’t.
Only Troy, Ingo, and the Child-type AIs roamed the streets. No other humans.
The crowd was herded toward the Cirque, a massive circular structure at the city’s center, half open to the artificial sky.
After what felt like hours waiting in line, they were finally allowed inside. Stepped stone benches surrounded a massive sandy arena in the middle. Red stared at it.
“So this is the arena you mentioned earlier?” she asked quietly.