Some start crying softly.
Others stare ahead in disbelief.
Like freedom feels impossible.
Then finally—
after everything—
we see moonlight.
The tunnel exit bursts open near the abandoned rail yard above Bucharest just as survivors spill into the storm outside.
Cold rain pours from the sky.
Fresh rain.
Real rain.
Children stumble into the open world blinking against moonlight and thunder.
One little boy falls to his knees in wet grass just staring at the sky.
Like he’s never truly seen it before.
And maybe he hasn’t.
My chest breaks completely at the sight.
Sirens echo in the distance now.
Police.
Emergency crews.
The world finally arriving too late to stop Ascension—
but not too late to witness it.
Behind us—
deep underground—
the bunker collapses inward with a thunderous roar.
Fire bursts briefly beneath the earth.
Then the entire ground settles.
Ascension buried forever.
Clay steps behind me wrapping both arms around my waist while rain pours over all of us.
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
