I nod even though my chest feels like it’s caving in.
Because deep down—
I think we both know Avery’s already gone in every way that matters.
Gunfire explodes again.
Concrete shatters beside Eli’s head.
He flinches hard—
and suddenly another memory slams into me.
A teenage boy throwing himself over me during punishment drills.
Blood running down his face while he whispered:
“Don’t cry, Hannah. Don’t let them see.”
Oh God.
We were all children together, and then over the years more children would show up.
Children.
The female operative grabs my arm suddenly.
Terrified.
“My name is Nora,” she blurts out like she’s afraid she’ll forget it again.
My throat tightens painfully.
“Nora.”
She starts crying harder at hearing her own name repeated back to her.
Wu stole even that from them.
Clay fires over the support beam.
“We need to move NOW.”
He’s right.
The tunnel behind us is collapsing into war.
Gabriel motions sharply.
“East side corridor!”
Russ immediately starts moving civilians first.
Good.
Always good.
Miles carries the little girl.
