Civilian knew his way around the city. He claimed he didn’t come through this part often, but he still knew a few shortcuts that had helped them so far. Still, some places… didn’t feel right.


Like this one.


“We have to go through, there’s a way out on the other side.”


He pointed into a dark gap between buildings.


Soldier hesitated. The place gave him a bad feeling. It was narrow, damp, and shadowed. It reeked of mold and decay, with grimy water dripping down the walls. Somewhere deeper in, a half-ripped metal door creaked on its hinge. It was the kind of grungy alley where back in his world, a pack of thugs would lie in wait to jump you and take everything you had. If you were lucky.If not,you didn’t walk away.


It was pure instinct that made him pause. But did instincts even apply in a place like this?


Maybe he should suggest a different route...


And then the ground trembled again.


A surge of adrenaline shot through his body as he turned to see yet another part of the city collapsing behind them with a thunderous roar.


Civilian let out a sharp cry.


The pit they had left behind shifted. And then, right in front of their eyes, it swallowed another row of buildings.


Steel and concrete tore loose and thundered into the depths. In the cloud of debris, something moved. A flicker, barely visible.


“Run!”


Civilian screamed at Soldier and didn’t wait for an answer. He didn’t look back. He just hoped Soldier had listened.


He sprinted into the grimy passageway, leaping over rubble, slipping on shards of broken glass, but not slowing down.


Soldier followed heavily, boots pounding the cracked floor.


The crumbling ceiling above them groaned. Chunks of debris broke loose, crashing down all around.


Twenty meters.


Fifteen.


Ten.


Light ahead.


And then...a leap over a jagged crack.


Soldier lunged forward, landing hard beside Civilian.


Behind them, the building gave way with a slow, dreadful collapse.


Dust filled the air.


It was everywhere. In their eyes, in their lungs.


Soldier spat and brushed thick layers of it from his gear.


Civilian turned back toward where the passage had been just moments ago. Now it was just a heap of ruin.


“Well... that was way too close.”


Soldier wiped the sweat from his forehead. His helmet slipped from his fingers and hit the ground with a hollow clunk.

“I’m so done with this.”


He drew a long breath and looked at Civilian. His eyes heavy with fatigue and something else. Desperation.


He had no idea what else this place would throw at them. And in such a short time, he’d already come close to dying more times than he could count. He had training. But nothing had prepared him for this.


“What do you say we stop for a bit?”


Civilian looked at him in disbelief.


“Stop?”


He shook his head and gave him a look like he wasn’t sure whether this was a joke.


“Dude… did you see what just happened back there?”


Soldier scowled.


“Yeah. That’s exactly why I think stopping before something else tries to kill us might not be the worst idea.”


Civilian tilted his head back and let out a long sigh. Maybe he’d hoped they’d reach their goal today... That he could go home, or whatever passed for home these days.


He looked up at the grey sky, where dust and shifting clouds still hinted at unease.


Maybe Soldier was right. A short break wouldn’t kill them.


“There’s a district not far from here,” he said finally, glancing back at Soldier. “It’s built right on the rock, so at least one of today’s problems won’t follow us. We might be safe there… for a little while.”


Soldier nodded. That sounded good.