(Ruby's POV)
The box is heavier than I expected.
I carry it through the tunnel, clutching it against my chest like a baby. The vials inside clink together softly, a sound that makes my heart jump every time. I can't drop this. I can't break it. This is Mia's life. This is my mother's freedom. This is everything.
Liam walks ahead of me, his flashlight cutting through the dark. His shoulders are tense, his head moving side to side, watching for threats. He looks like a soldier. I guess that's what he is now. A soldier on our side.
Behind me, Anya brings up the rear. She's holding a gun, her eyes sharp, her footsteps silent. I didn't even know she had a gun until tonight. There's a lot I didn't know.
The tunnel feels longer going back. Every shadow looks like a person. Every sound makes me flinch. My mind keeps going back to Nicholas. To the photo on Kai's text. His face bruised. His eyes closed.
Is he alive? Is he hurt? Is he scared?
