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No one spoke.

Everyone’s eyes were alert, flickering past the quiet streets and lavish buildings that had been torn to shreds.

“Over here,” Brock spoke in a low voice, jogging toward one of the few structures still standing—two massive, metal arches that rose above the street. The rusted beams were adorned with intricate patterns and crisscrossed over one another.

“This is the Gateway Arch,” Brock proclaimed, pointing to thestructure overhead.

“We made it!” Serene cried out in relief, nearly collapsing to the ground.

“But where is Hermes?” Adan panted, sweat soaking through his clothes.

“It’s located somewhere beneath us.”

“But I don’t see a dome.” Khalani glanced around with her brows drawn low.

“They don’t have one,” Brock answered. “Hermes isn’t like Apollo. The casinos underground are entertainment enough for the rich.”

“What the hell is a casino?”

“Do you have the walkie?” Brock turned to Adan, ignoring Serene’s question.

Adan dug around in his pack and carefully handed it over. “Here.”

Brock changed the frequency and spoke into the speaker, “Come in, Spade. Spade, come in.”

Khalani didn’t know who Spade was, but they waited in rapt attention, like they were preparing for God Himself to speak.

Just when panic set in, a familiar voice echoed from the walkie. “What comes alive in the shadow of the night?”

Her eyes widened. It was the same voice they’d heard on the surface of Genesis.

“Stars and sin,” Brock replied confidently.

“Brock, is that really you?” the familiar voice asked.

“It’s me, Spade.”

“By the flush, I thought you were a goner.”

“I’m at the Gateway Arch with a group from Apollo,” Brock said. “How long before you arrive?”

A heavy pause followed. “How many are with you?”

“Seven in total. We’re ready to go through the chute entrance into Hermes.”

Spade cursed over the line. “I didn’t think that many would make it across the Death-Zone, but I suppose you’re the only crazy fucker who could manage that. But we have a problem. The chute entrance is being monitored. One of our boys got captured on the last smuggling run. I’ll have to get you into Hermes another way.”

Brock stiffened. “How?”

“The sewers. It’s not going to be a pleasant journey, but it’s the only way I can guarantee your safe passage. I’ll meet you at the Arches at midnight. Got it?”

Brock’s face looked painfully frustrated, but he snapped, “Understood.”

Spade quickly cut the line and after Brock turned off the walkie, all they could do was wait.

They found some shade in a ruined shop across the street, the windows blown out and the place stripped clean. Serene and Adan sat on the dirty tiled floor and talked with Winnie about the Great Collapse.

“What do you think happened here?” Serene paled at the devastation around them.