almost like he’s ashamed of asking—
he says:
“If we help the children…”
His voice cracks.
Tiny.
Human.
“…what happens to us?”
69
Clay
The kid’s question guts the entire corridor.
Because nobody answers right away.
Not Russ.
Not Gabriel.
Not me.
What happens to them?
Children raised underground.
Conditioned to obey.
Trained to kill.
Taught fear instead of love.
What kind of life waits for them outside Ascension?
The teenage boy looks down immediately like he already knows the answer.
Like he expects punishment.
Disposal.
Correction.
That alone tells me everything about what Wu built here.
Hannah steps toward them slowly.
No fear.
No hesitation.
And God help me, I think this woman could walk through hell itself if it meant saving somebody.
“You survive,” she says softly.
