“Move.”
The second they step aside, Gabriel fires three rounds directly into the rusted hinges.
Metal snaps loose instantly.
The grate crashes sideways.
Cold air rushes out from inside the pipe.
Not much.
But enough.
Enough to survive.
Lucas shines a flashlight into the darkness.
The tunnel slopes downward sharply.
Black water rushes through it fast.
“Oh, that looks safe,” Miles mutters.
Another violent tremor cuts through the corridor.
Chunks of concrete slam down where we stood seconds earlier.
Decision made.
“Inside!” Russ orders.
Nobody argues.
Miles climbs in first with the little girl.
Lucas follows.
Then Nora.
Eli hesitates beside me briefly.
His eyes flick toward the tunnel behind us.
Toward where Avery’s body still lies buried deeper inside.
Guilt flashes across his face.
“I left people here.”
The words come out broken.
Like confession.
Like shame.
I grab his shoulder hard.
“You survived.”
