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Pushing forward, I stumbled upon a collapsed section of the passage. Twisted metal and rubble barred my path. A low growl echoed from the darkness as I searched for a way around.

My breath hitched.

Three figures emerged from the shadows—ragged, feral, and grinning.

“Well, well,” one of them sneered. “What do we have here?”

I didn’t know what nationality he was but I barely understood him. I didn’t have to, I knew what he wanted. backed away slowly, weighing my options. Fight. Run. Survive.

I tightened my grip on the knife. I might be alone, but I wasn’t helpless.

“Come any closer,” I warned, voice low and steady, “and you’ll regret it.”

The men laughed.

I braced myself.

I wasn’t going down without a fight.

Cyclone

In the distance,I heard the echoes—a faint, distorted laugh carried through the crumbling tunnels.

I froze, every sense sharpened.

That was Jude. I know it was.

Breaking into a run, I plunged into the darkness, following the sounds. The tunnels twisted and forked, but I trusted my gut, weaving through the shadows with reckless urgency.

A scream—short, sharp—split the air.

I tore around a corner and saw her: Jude, standing her ground, knife flashing as she faced down three attackers.

Without hesitation, I charged.

The first man never saw me coming. I slammed into him, sending him sprawling. The second barely got a blade up before I disarmed him with brutal efficiency.

The third turned to flee, but I grabbed him by the collar and threw him against the wall, the impact echoing through the tunnel.

Panting, I turned to Jude.

She was breathing hard, wild-eyed but unbroken.

“I told you,” she said between breaths, “I can handle myself.”

I gave a half-smile, something fierce and proud sparking in my eyes.

“Never said you couldn’t,” I said. “Just thought you might like some backup.”

For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the space between us crackling with unspoken things.

Then Jude sheathed her knife and squared her shoulders.

“Come on,” she said. “We need to move.”

I fell into step beside her, my presence a silent promise.

This time, she didn’t walk alone.