The cold steel floor vibrated gently beneath the worn soles of Mateo Rossi's military boots, sending odd frequencies that seemed to resonate with his irregular heartbeat. The air inside this underground base didn't smell like the biting Alpine snow; instead, it carried the scent of ozone, precise machine lubricant oil, and recirculated air that was too pure for a place supposedly buried for three decades. Blue neon lights embedded within the colossal concrete pillars illuminated one by one, creating a path of light that guided them through the suffocating silence.
Mateo stepped forward, his pistol still raised and ready, even though his fingers trembled violently from nerve exhaustion that had reached its limit. Behind him, Elena pressed herself closer, one hand cradling Gabriel, who than
