The tunnels smelled of wet concrete and burnt ozone, thick with the aftertaste of sabotage. I moved with careful steps, boots splashing in shallow puddles, ears straining to catch the city's heartbeat beneath the faint hum of electricity. Every footfall echoed back at me, magnified and mocking.
Shuffle… scrape… echo…
"Hurry," Hacker hissed, limping beside me, eyes darting down branching corridors. "They know we're here. They're… right behind us."
I tilted my head, listening to the rhythm of distant footsteps. "Great. My friend's captured and I'm running through a concrete sausage casing. Just another Tuesday."
Buzz… clatter… thrum…
The first enforcer appeared from a side passage, silhouette sharp against the dim emergency lights. No words just movement, precise and lethal. A second one dropped behind us with a metallic clink. The corridor narrowed; escape options dwindled.
Hacker grabbed my arm. "Dylan, the side route train schedule, ten seconds, rumble hides movement."
I grinned, despite the adrenaline hammering in my chest. "Subway music would be nice right about now oh wait, it's just my heart pounding."
Thrum… rumble… echo…
Timing my steps with the faint vibration of an approaching train, I slipped past the first enforcer, boots silent against wet concrete. The second drew close. A glance at the tunnel's irregular ceiling beam gave me cover. I ducked, sliding into shadow, feeling the metallic scrape of a loose panel brush my shoulder.
Clatter… drip… buzz…
Hacker wasn't as lucky. A third figure emerged from the shadows, strong, fast, and silent. Before I could react, hands clamped around him, yanking him back. He struggled, eyes wide, muttering curses and pleas.
"Dammit," I muttered under my breath, watching him disappear into a side passage. "Left behind, of course. Excellent. Perfectly planned chaos."
The train's rumble grew louder, a rolling thunder that drowned the distant shouts and footsteps. I moved with calculated rhythm, ducking behind pipes, sliding past shadows, each heartbeat measured, each breath timed. The city's veins guided me or maybe it was paranoia but the rhythm worked in my favor.
Thrum… tap… echo…
Finally, I emerged into a junction near a maintenance exit. Breathing hard, I leaned against the wall, boots dripping, muscles trembling with relief and tension. "Well, congratulations, Dylan. You left a friend behind. Now go collect your award for improvisation before the city decides to chew you up next."
Buzz… drip… hum…
A pulse of fear lingered beneath the sarcasm. Hacker's capture wasn't just a setback it was a message. The Syndicate knew we were poking their veins, testing their control. And the Detective… the Detective would have known every move before it even happened.
Click… scrape… thrum…
I pushed off the wall, glancing back into the tunnel. Shadows pooled like ink, swallowing what remained of the night. My mind raced with contingency plans, escape routes, and timing the next move. One thing was certain: survival wasn't guaranteed. Not for Hacker, not for me, and certainly not for anyone foolish enough to think they could outwit the city's heartbeat.
I muttered under my breath, letting sarcasm act as armor. "Alright, city… lesson learned. But don't think this is over. We'll be back. And next time, the Syndicate better hope I'm just in a sarcastic mood."