Aria"Why is the tunnel so silent today?"
Kael"It shouldn't be."
Footsteps.Slow.Careful.
Mira"I counted three guards yesterday."
Jonas"There are none now."
Aria"That's worse."
Metal creaks.
A door that should be locked.
Open.
Elias steps forward.
His eyes scanning the dark corridor.
Elias"They want us to move."
Kael"Or they want us to panic."
A flicker of light above.
Then darkness again.
Aria's fingers find Kael's sleeve.
Tight.
Aria"Tell me the truth."
Kael"I always do."
Aria"Are we winning?"
Silence.
Kael"…we are surviving."
A whisper echoes through the tunnel.
Unknown Voice"Survival ends tonight."
Everyone freezes.
Jonas"You heard that?"
Mira"Yes."
Elias pulls a small blade.
Aria's heartbeat echoes.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
A shadow runs across the wall.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kael moves in front of Aria.
Protective.
Kael"Stay behind me."
The lights suddenly flash.
Once.
Twice.
Then stay on.
Empty tunnel.
No one there.
But on the wall…
A message written in red paint.
TIMEREMEMBERS.
Aria steps closer.
Her breath shaking.
Aria"Kael…"
Kael"I see it."
Below the message…
A drawing.
A clock.
And a name.
LENA.
Mira whispers.
"…that name should be impossible."