The tunnel stretched on in uneven darkness, lit only by the weak beam of Adrian’s flashlight and the occasional flicker from the ancient, corroded light strips overhead. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of rust and mold, and every step echoed as though the place were holding its breath.
We walked in tense silence for several minutes, the only sound the crunch of boots on gravel. Every nerve in my body was taut, keyed to the smallest sound—drips of water in the distance, the faint groan of the earth above us.
“Tell me there’s a way out of here that doesn’t lead straight into another firefight,” Kael muttered under his breath.
“There’s a service lift about three klicks ahead,” Adrian said without slowing. “If it still works, we can reach the sub-level access under Pier 14. From ther
