Rain poured in endless sheets, soaking the forest as we stumbled out of the collapsing tunnel. The sound of sirens echoed in the distance, mixing with the thunder that rolled across the night sky. My lungs burned, my hands trembled, and every step felt like a struggle between grief and survival.
Daniel half-dragged me through the mud until we reached the abandoned service road. He stopped to catch his breath, his shirt torn and streaked with soot. Claire followed close behind, limping, her face pale and streaked with blood. None of us spoke for several moments. The silence was heavier than the storm.
Finally, Daniel looked at me. “He’s gone, Emma.”
I shook my head slowly. “Don’t say that.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice low. “We did everything we could. Adrian knew what he
