The deeper they went, the quieter the world became. The hum of the city faded into a distant vibration that barely reached the tunnels. Leon’s flashlight cut through the darkness, the beam trembling over the cracked walls of the old subway. Rusted rails disappeared into shadow. The air was thick with the scent of metal, dust, and something else—something faintly electrical, like static clinging to the edges of memory.
Kiera walked behind him, gun raised, her voice low. “You sure this place is still stable? It feels like it’s about to collapse.”
Leon glanced back. “It’s the oldest part of the city. Built before the first integration. Before the Balance touched anything.”
“That’s comforting,” she muttered.
They pressed on, their footsteps echoing softly. The tunnels stretched endlessly,
