The hallway blurred beneath Athena's feet as she and Adriel raced toward the back door, breath tearing through their throats. Adriel flung it open, and together they slipped through the small gate, stumbling into the cold night air.
Gunfire cracked behind them.
Adriel grabbed her wrist, dragging her forward. "Athena—come on."
But Athena stopped running just long enough to glance back.
And that was when she saw it.
Sean—her father—fell. His legs buckled violently as bullets ripped through them. He hit the floor, hands clutching at nothing.
"Dad!" Athena screamed, voice splintering.
Her vision wavered, her knees turned liquid beneath her.
Another gunshot echoed.
Adriel caught her before she collapsed. His voice was shaking so hard it bordered on breaking.
"Athena, wake up. Not now—please. If we stop, we won't make it. Do you hear me?"
She blinked, tears streaking through dust on her cheeks. "Dad… Dad—"
"I know," Adriel choked out, lifting her again, half carrying her down the dark street, his breath ragged. "But if we fall apart now, we won't get anywhere. We go straight. We don't break. Not yet."
Athena couldn't speak. Her whole body trembled.
She nodded faintly. "Okay."
"That's it," he murmured, like he was afraid to speak louder or his voice would collapse completely.
Gunfire rumbled again behind them, echoing into the street.
Adriel's grip tightened. "We'll get help. We're heading to the hospital—Yates International. Mum's friend works there. She'll tell us where the safe house is."
Athena barely registered the words, only the promise inside them.
He half dragged, half guided her until they reached the road. A bus screeched to a halt as though the night was waiting for them. They stumbled inside, breathless, shaken.
The doors hissed shut.
And the city swallowed them.
Through the window, Athena could see her home shrinking into shadows—until there was nothing left but darkness, gunfire, and the memory of her father falling.
The bus pulled away from the street, carrying them toward the hospital…
toward whatever came next…
toward a world that no longer felt like theirs.