Page 188 of Aviatrix

“Atlas…”

“I was afraid that if you knew where VAL came from, you’d have questions I couldn’t answer. I thought if you found her on your own, your bond would be more natural. You could learn at your own pace.” His eyes shine. “I’m sorry, Nova. I messed up.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” I say thickly. “Come with us. Please.”

He looks at his watch. “Thirty seconds. Nova, tell my son I love him.”

Eli grabs my arm, yanking me back.

“Atlas!” I shout, tears burning. “Come with us. Don’t be the hero. Not today.”

“I can’t leave all these people behind. If there’s a way to survive this, people will need help getting out.” We stare at each other. “I’ll be fine,” he lies as he salutes me, then bolts down the hall toward the incoming chaos.

“Come on, Quay,” Eli says, pulling me.

My eyelashes flutter, forcing the tears away as we sprint for the escape shaft.

I don’t look back. I can’t. If I see Gary one more time, I’ll break.

When we’re inside, Eli slams the gate shut and we start lowering ourselves, yanking the rope to descend manually.

“Faster!” Eli yells as a deafening rumble shakes the ceiling above.

I pull and tug with everything I have, my muscles burning as we race gravity—and fate—to the bottom.

We’re halfway down when the walls start to shake, but I don’t have time to be scared. I just need to get out of here. Get to VAL.

But Gary…

A blast erupts overhead. Heat rushes down the shaft like a firestorm chasing us.

Eli moves fast. He covers me with his body, one arm wrapped around my waist, the other gripping the rope tight.

I want to tell him I’m fine. That we need to keep going. But for one fragile second, I just breathe. Feel him close to me.

If I die, this is how I want to go. In his arms. Safe.

But I don’t die. And neither does he.

Eli lets me go as the heat fades, and I’m left trembling. My chest aches, my heart pounding and cracking at once.

Gary.

If he survived that explosion, it’ll be a miracle.

We hit the bottom. I glance up. Ash falls like dust through the shaft, drifting in the red haze.

My eyes sting.

I don’t know if we saved anyone.

With the time we had? Probably not.

And the guilt is already devouring me.

We saved ourselves. For VAL. For secrets. To keep something powerful from falling into the wrong hands, something we barely understand ourselves.

But what we sacrificed? I don’t know if it was worth it.