Nova yanked Ampelius aside behind a bookshelf, holding a finger to his mouth as the Vandals spread out to search for them. Their footsteps and low whispers echoed through the aisles. But hearing the scrapes of heels, the clink of rifles, only tightened the knot in his chest.

  Nova readied the dagger as the first armed Vandal was about to show his face, when a deafening alarm sounded.

  “Oh shit. I didn’t realize they still had power here,” Nova muttered, glancing up at the glass roof.

  Ampelius noticed the movement of a shadow that passed overhead. Then the glass on the roof exploded, shards raining down on them as a massive, turtle shell–like machine descended into the library.

  The Vandals opened fire immediately, sparks ricocheting off the machine’s shell. It retaliated without hesitation, reducing them to blue sludge as it continued its descent. The acrid stench of burnt flesh and chemicals filled Ampelius’s lungs, making him gag. Nova dragged him under a desk as chaos consumed the library.

  “What are we waiting for?” Ampelius hissed.

  Nova didn’t answer. A Vandal vaulted the desk, landing near them, only to be obliterated into a blue mist by a blast from above. Ampelius gasped, and Nova clamped a hand over his mouth.

  The floor trembled beneath them. Ampelius could almost feel the creatures, these hulking, inhuman Zavons—their very presence radiating malice as they drew near. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he stayed frozen, paralyzed by the fear of being hunted.

  Then a massive explosion shook the building, and the floor collapsed in front of them collapsed, revealing the metro tunnel below.

  “Okay, now’s our chance! Jump down!” Nova yelled.

  Without hesitation, they dashed toward the hole and leaped into the tunnel. The rush of air whipped past Ampelius’s face as they fell, debris raining down around them. He hit the ground hard, the impact jolting every bone in his body. Dust and debris engulfed them, forcing them to stumble forward.

  “I think a neighboring skyscraper might’ve partically collapsed into the library. It sounded like something outside exploded and crashed into the building,” Nova replied.

  “Is this the same track we derailed on? I can’t tell; it’s too dark,” Ampelius muttered.

  “I'm not sure. If it is, then both ends of this tunnel are probably blocked. That library is obviously no longer an option. We might’ve just sealed our own fate making that leap,” Nova said grimly.

  “You’re a very optimistic person,” Ampelius retorted.

  “Optimistic and barely clothed. Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with worse situations,” Nova replied with a smirk.

  “Oh, have you now? Then maybe you’re the last person I should be stuck with.”

  “Well, had we stayed under that desk, we would have been crushed by a falling building. You should be grateful you’re even alive,” Nova shot back, his tone a mix of sarcasm and seriousness.

  “Yeah, well, being the last one standing can sometimes be a fate worse than death,” Ampelius responded.

  “Wow, calm down. I’m just kidding. A little humor in the face of death never hurt anyone. Now, let’s keep moving. I'm not sure if that hole will stay sealed forever. We might be in the clear for now, but that can change in a split second.”

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  Nova and Ampelius moved cautiously through the pitch-black tunnel, feeling their way forward with hands and feet. Aside from faint explosions on the surface, they could hear their own thoughts.

  Each step felt uncertain, one wrong move could send them tumbling into a hole or worse. Then, up ahead, a faint flicker of flame provided hope, offering a small glimmer of direction.

  As they drew closer, the light revealed the derailed train—its twisted frame blocking the path, the tunnel ahead buried beneath a collapsed wall of rubble.

  “Yeah, this definitely looks like our derailed train,” Ampelius said, almost yelling.

  Nova put a finger to his lips. “Shut up! I think the Vandals are near the train. You stay down and don’t move; I’ll be right back.”

  Ampelius agreed crouched low behind a chunk of concrete. He watched as Nova crept closer to the wreckage. He peered around the edge of the train, scanning for any signs of movement. After a few a few seconds, he waved him forward.

  “Two guards, both facing away from us,” Nova whispered. “We can bypass this small space and overtake them.”

  “Can’t avoid them?” Ampelius whispered back.

  “No. See that little staircase next to them? It leads to the surface, and that's where we need to be. I'll lead you back to where we met from the surface. Once there, you can look for Bella, assuming you’re not arrested or shot by the patrols first. As for me, after I get you there, I’m going my own way.”

  “The surface? That seems risky, considering what just happened.”

  “It’s your choice,” Nova replied with a shrug. “If you stay here, you’re on your own, and I’ll go. My offer expires in five seconds. What’s it going to be? Die or possibly die?”

  “Fine,” Ampelius admitted grudgingly. “Apparently, I need you more than you need me.”

  “Glad you agree,” Nova said with a smirk. He handed Ampelius a glass shard. “Take this; you’ll need it unless you know how to snap a neck. You take the guy on the left, and I’ll take the one on the right. We need to do this simultaneously. Ready?”

  “No. Let’s just get this done,” Ampelius replied, gripping the shard tightly.

  “That’s the spirit.”

  They quietly climbed over the wreckage, positioning themselves behind the unsuspecting guards deep in conversation. Ampelius’s heart pounded as he lined up behind his target. Nova counted down from three with his fingers, and on the silent signal, they both sprang into action.

  Ampelius moved swiftly, slicing the guard’s throat with the shard. The warmth of the man’s blood spurted over his hands as the guard gurgled briefly before collapsing to the ground. Ampelius gently lowered the body, his hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline.

  Nova snapped the neck of the remaining one and turned to Ampelius. “Alright, take their weapon and search the body. If you don’t find anything useful, drag the body over here by the train. If you can't handle the weight, I’ll toss it inside to hide it.”

  “I think I can handle the weight,” Ampelius said, his voice steadier than he felt.

  “Good,” Nova said approvingly. “Have you done this before? You’re a natural.”

  “Not with humans,” Ampelius admitted, dropping the shard. “However, my cousin did teach me how to hunt, use firearms, and skin animals for meat. So I figured the same principle applies here.”

  “Well, you definitely have a talent for it,” Nova remarked. “I felt sick after my first kill. Eventually, you become numb to it, to the point where you don’t feel anything.” Nova replied as he stripped the body for their clothes.

  Ampelius frowned. “How many people have you killed?”

  Nova didn’t respond, he just put on his new pants, ensuring it fit.

  “What's strange, I don’t feel anything,” Ampelius continued, more to himself. “I expected to, but I don’t.”

  “Maybe you’re a sociopath,” Nova suggested lightly. “That might and could serve you well in the world we live in now. But enough of that, let’s double check them and move."

  After searching the bodies and finding nothing useful, they checked their weapons and hurried toward the staircase. Nova led the way, weapon raised, with Ampelius close behind. As they climbed, faint gunfire echoed from the tunnel. Somebody was still down here, Ampelius thought.

  At the top, Nova stopped and knelt. “Hold here. Keep your weapon trained on the stairs, if anyone comes, shoot. Got it?”

  Ampelius nodded, gripping the rifle tight. As he turned toward the dark abyss, a rush of white, smoky figures surged up the steps, passing through him like a cold gust. Startled, he stumbled back, unsure if it was real or just his mind playing tricks.

  Nova reappeared at the top of the stairs, pulling Ampelius from his daze. “Are you okay? Did you see something?”

  “I’m fine,” Ampelius lied, still shaken. “Is the area clear?”

  “Yeah, mostly. But those ‘turtle shells’ are everywhere. I don't know how good they are at detecting movement, so we’ll need to move fast and stay low. Oh, and I believe it’s dawn, so visibility will be better.”

  "Let's just get this over with. I'm dying to end it," Ampelius responded.