The current grew stronger, the river's power unyielding. Savine's arms ached, her breaths coming in sharp gasps. The boat scraped against something unseen beneath the water, sending a jolt through her body. "Almost there," she grunted through clenched teeth, her eyes never leaving the shoreline.


As they approached the bank, the water grew shallower, and the boat's speed decreased. With one final effort, Savine leaped from the boat, dragging it onto the muddy ground. The machine's lights were fading in the distance, but she knew they couldn't rest yet. They had to put more space between them and the pursuit.


They stumbled through the rain, their bodies numb from the cold. The mountain grew more defined with each step, a symbol of hope in the dismal landscape. The ground grew steeper, the mud sucking at their boots, making each step a battle. Liza's breathing was shallow, her eyes glazed over with exhaustion.


"We're almost there," Savine said, her voice strained but reassuring.


The rain had turned the mountain's base into a treacherous slope, but they pushed on. The lights from the machine grew dimmer, lost in the rain and the foliage that clung to the hillside. With each step, the incline grew steeper, the mud slippier. They stumbled and slid, but never fell. Savine's determination was a beacon in the gloom, guiding them both upward.


They stumbled through the rain, their bodies numb from the cold. The mountain grew more defined with each step, a symbol of hope in the dismal landscape. The ground grew steeper, the mud sucking at their boots, making each step a battle. Liza's breathing was shallow, her eyes glazed over with exhaustion.


"We're almost there," Savine said, her voice strained but reassuring.


The rain had turned the mountain's base into a treacherous slope, but they pushed on. The lights from the machine grew dimmer, lost in the rain and the foliage that clung to the hillside. With each step, the incline grew steeper, the mud slippier. They stumbled and slid, but never fell. Savine's determination was a beacon in the gloom, guiding them both upward.


"We'll rest here," Savine decided, "until the storm passes." She wrapped the blanket tightly around Liza and started a small fire using the matches from the gas station. The warmth was a welcome relief, chasing away the shivers that had taken hold of them both. They ate in silence, the crackle of the fire the only sound in the cavernous space.


The storm raged outside, the wind howling like a pack of angry spirits. Raindrops echoed off the rocks, creating a symphony of natural percussion that lulled them into a fitful sleep. Savine's dreams were filled with the cries of the drowned city, the screams of those who had been lost to the machines. She startled awake, her hand instinctively reaching for the spear beside her.


The fire had dwindled to a flicker, but it was enough to cast a warm glow on Liza's sleeping form. Her chest rose and fell with the rhythm of a deep, peaceful slumber. Savine couldn't help but feel a pang of envy; the girl had found solace in the most unlikely of places.


But there was no time for jealousy. Savine knew they couldn’t stay here for long. The machines had ways of finding survivors, even in the most hidden of places. She had to keep moving, keep searching for Melio. She took a deep breath and stood, her legs protesting with a stiff ache. She stepped outside the cave, the rain now a gentle patter against the leaves of the surrounding trees.


The sky was just beginning to lighten, the first hint of dawn peeking through the storm clouds. Savine scanned the landscape, looking for any sign of life—human or otherwise. The city was a haunting silhouette, half-drowned and half-lit by the flickering neon lights that had once been a beacon of civilization. Now, they were just a sad reminder of what had been lost.


With a heavy sigh, she ducked back into the cave, shaking off the rain. Liza was still asleep, curled into a tight ball, the blanket clutched around her. Savine knew they couldn’t stay here much longer. They had to keep moving, keep searching for a place to lay low until the storm passed.

"Liza, wake up," she whispered, gently shaking the girl. "We need to get going."


Liza's eyes fluttered open, the reality of their situation setting in once again. She sat up, wiping the sleep from her eyes and nodded. Together, they packed their meager supplies and extinguished the fire, leaving the cave as they found it.


As they emerged from the cave's mouth, the rain had finally ceased, leaving the world washed clean. The sun struggled to break through the clouds, casting a grayish light across the soaked landscape. The city was eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of the machines. They had to be careful.


Savine took the lead, her eyes scanning for any movement. They stuck to the higher ground, moving through the trees that clung to the mountain's side. The going was slow, but it was better than the treacherous streets below. Liza followed closely, her small steps echoing in the silence. Despite the danger, there was a sense of peace in the natural world that the machines hadn’t yet destroyed.