Chapter Twelve: Echoes in the Tunnel
604 Words
“Arian!”
Zara’s voice echoed through the dark tunnel again, closer this time. My heart leaped. I turned and ran toward the sound, ignoring the burning pain in my shoulder.
The flashlight beam bounced wildly on the wet walls. My footsteps splashed through shallow puddles. The wolf inside me surged with hope and adrenaline.
I rounded a corner and saw them.
Zara and Max were running toward me. Zara’s face lit up with relief when she saw me. Max looked tense, blood on his shirt, but still strong.
“You made it,” Zara breathed as she reached me. She pulled me into a quick, tight hug. Her body felt warm against mine, even in the cold tunnel.
Max gripped my good shoulder. “We lost them for now, but it won’t last long.”
“How did you find me?” I asked.
“Lena left markers,” Max said. “We followed them.”
At the mention of Lena, I froze. “Something’s wrong with her. She has the Order’s symbol tattooed on her neck.”
Zara’s golden eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
Before I could answer, Lena’s voice came from behind us.
“Smart boy.”
We spun around. Lena stood at the tunnel split, holding a small silver gun aimed at us. Her blue eyes glowed brighter now.
“I really hoped you wouldn’t notice the tattoo,” she said calmly. “It’s old. From when I worked for them.”
Max stepped in front of Zara and me. “You set us up.”
“Not exactly,” Lena replied. “I was going to help you escape… after I delivered the Anomaly to the Order. They promised me freedom. A new life.”
Betrayal hit me like a punch. The wolf inside roared with anger.
“You lied,” I growled. My claws pushed out again. The glowing veins on my arms burned bright.
Lena smiled sadly. “In this world, everyone lies. The Order. Your friends. Even you lie to yourself every full moon.”
She raised the gun higher.
Max moved first. He charged at her with a loud growl. Lena fired. The dart hit Max in the chest. He stumbled but kept going, slamming her against the wall.
Zara grabbed my hand. “Run, Arian! The north exit!”
We sprinted down the tunnel. Behind us, I heard Max fighting Lena. Growls. Gunshots. The sound of bodies hitting concrete.
My shoulder screamed with pain, but Zara’s hand in mine kept me going.
We reached a set of old stairs leading up. Fresh air and rain smell came from above.
We were almost out when a loud explosion shook the tunnel. Dust and pieces of concrete rained down.
Zara pushed me up the stairs. “Go!”
I climbed out into the night. We were on the edge of the city, near an old highway. Rain still fell hard.
Zara came out right behind me.
But Max didn’t.
We waited ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty.
No sign of him.
Zara’s face went pale. “Max…”
I took a step back toward the entrance, but the tunnel groaned and more debris fell.
He was still down there.
With Lena.
With the Order closing in.
I looked at Zara. Her golden eyes were filled with pain and fear.
“We can’t leave him,” I said.
She nodded, even though tears mixed with the rain on her face.
The wolf inside me howled. Not in rage this time.
In determination.
We were a pack now.
And no one gets left behind.
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To be continued…
- Writer
