Beneath the rubble

As they made their way through the devastated city, Kai's mind churned with a mix of determination and dread. Every step they took was a gamble—an unwelcome wager in a game they had never asked to play. He stole a glance back at the others. Lucy was still holding Sarah close, her face a mask of concentration as she guided the teenager around obstacles in their path. Mr. Bridgewood, though visibly tired, moved with a steadiness that surprised Kai. The businessman might not have been built for endurance, but fear and desperation had sharpened his resolve.

They navigated a narrow alley, its walls scarred by bullet holes and charred by fire. Kai slowed his pace, checking the map again. Just ahead, the road branched out into two possible routes—one leading toward an open square, the other down a tight, winding street that seemed to hug the edges of a small neighborhood. He knew the square would be a risk; open spaces were perfect places for ambushes or patrols. The narrow street would be less visible, but it could be full of collapsed buildings or more bodies.

He pointed down the narrow street. "This way. We stay in the shadows, keep moving quietly. No matter what happens, we do not stop."

The group nodded, and Kai took the lead, moving cautiously. As they walked, the air grew heavier, thick with the acrid stench of smoke and something far worse—the unmistakable odor of decay. They tried to breathe through their mouths, but the stench was everywhere, clinging to their clothes and settling in their throats like ash.

They turned a corner, and Kai's heart sank. A collapsed building blocked most of the street, its rubble spilling out like a wound. But there was a gap, just wide enough for them to squeeze through if they were careful. Kai went first, testing the debris for stability. As he climbed over a pile of concrete and twisted rebar, he heard a faint sound—a soft whimpering, barely audible over the distant rumble of explosions. He froze, raising a hand to signal the others to stop.

"What is it?" Lucy whispered, her eyes scanning the area nervously.

Kai held up a finger to his lips, then turned his head, listening carefully. The sound came again, a low, pitiful moan. It was coming from beneath the rubble, somewhere off to the side. He motioned for the others to stay put and carefully edged his way toward the source of the noise. The rubble shifted slightly under his weight, and he paused, heart pounding. Then he heard it again—clearer this time.

A child's cry.

Kai's stomach tightened. He scanned the debris more closely and spotted a small hand, pale and dust-covered, sticking out from between two chunks of broken concrete. Without thinking, he dropped to his knees and began digging with his hands, pushing aside the jagged pieces of rubble.

"Kai, what are you doing?" Mr. Bridgewood hissed, glancing nervously around them. "We don't have time for this!"

"There's someone alive in here," Kai replied, his voice strained as he pulled at a larger piece of debris. "A kid."

Lucy's face softened, and she moved to help. "We can't just leave them," she said, shooting a glare at Mr. Bridgewood. "Not if there's a chance we can get them out."

Mr. Bridgewood hesitated, torn between fear and empathy, then reluctantly joined in, using his hands to help move some of the smaller debris. Sarah stood back, eyes wide, biting her lip anxiously as she watched them work.

Minutes ticked by, feeling like hours. The cries grew weaker, and Kai's hands were soon covered in cuts and scrapes, blood mixing with the dirt and dust. He ignored the pain, driven by the urgency of the child's cries. Finally, they uncovered a small face—a little girl, no more than five or six years old, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow. She was trapped beneath a heavy piece of concrete that pinned her legs.

"Careful," Kai murmured. "We need to lift this slowly. Lucy, get ready to pull her out."

Lucy nodded, positioning herself near the girl's shoulders. Kai and Mr. Bridgewood braced themselves and counted down. On three, they heaved, lifting the chunk of concrete just enough for Lucy to slip her hands under the girl's arms and gently pull her free. The child let out a faint gasp of pain but didn't wake.

Kai quickly checked the girl for injuries. She was alive but unconscious, her legs badly bruised, possibly broken. "She needs medical attention," he said grimly. "We'll have to carry her."

Mr. Bridgewood looked exasperated. "We can barely carry what we have! She's dead weight—"

Kai cut him off with a sharp look. "She's a child," he snapped. "We're not leaving her here."

Lucy nodded in agreement. "We have to help her. We're not monsters, Mr. Bridgewood."

Mr. Bridgewood sighed deeply, clearly frustrated, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he adjusted his pack and nodded, signaling that he would help however he could.

Kai gently lifted the girl into his arms, careful not to jostle her injured legs too much. She was so light, it felt like holding a bundle of twigs. "We need to move faster," he said, shifting the child to a more secure position. "We're vulnerable out here."

They continued down the narrow street, Kai leading with the child in his arms. Lucy walked beside him, constantly glancing back to ensure no one was following. Mr. Bridgewood brought up the rear, his face set in a mask of determination mixed with lingering apprehension.

The streets were growing darker as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that twisted like sinister figures in the flickering light of distant fires. As they moved, the sounds of the city seemed to change. The gunfire was still there, but now they could hear something else—a low, rhythmic rumbling, like the distant growl of thunder.

"What is that?" Sarah asked nervously, clutching Lucy's arm.

Kai listened, trying to place the sound. His mind raced through the possibilities. Then, it hit him. "Helicopters," he muttered, glancing up at the darkening sky.

Lucy's eyes widened. "Rescue?"

Kai shook his head. "Doubtful. More likely, they're looking for something… or someone. We need to stay out of sight."

They quickened their pace, sticking to the narrowest alleys and shadowed corners. The rumble of the helicopters grew louder, and soon they could see the lights of search beams cutting through the smoke-choked air.

They ducked into an old, abandoned garage, the metal doors creaking loudly as they shut them behind them. Kai laid the girl down gently on an old, dusty workbench. She was still unconscious, her breathing shallow but steady.

"We'll wait here for a bit," Kai whispered, peering through a crack in the garage door. "If those helicopters are looking for something specific, they might pass us by."

Lucy nodded, kneeling beside the little girl and checking her pulse. "She's stable for now," she murmured. "But if those legs are broken, she's going to need more help than we can give."

Sarah hovered nearby, eyes darting nervously between the unconscious girl and the door. "What do we do if they find us?" she asked, voice trembling.

Kai didn't have an answer. His mind was racing with possibilities, calculating the risks. The helicopters were circling, the searchlights sweeping methodically across the streets. The sounds of distant gunfire and explosions seemed to ebb, as if the city itself were holding its breath.

They waited, tense and silent, as the minutes ticked by. The helicopters hovered closer, and the rumble of their rotors became a deafening roar. Kai's heart pounded in his chest, and he clenched his fists, ready to make a run for it if necessary.

Then, as suddenly as they had arrived, the helicopters veered off, their searchlights sweeping away toward another part of the city. The rumbling grew fainter, the lights dimmer, until they disappeared entirely into the smoke-filled horizon.

Kai exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "They're gone… for now," he said quietly. "We need to move. We're too exposed here."

Lucy nodded, and Mr. Bridgewood sighed with relief. They prepared to leave the garage, but as they moved toward the door, a sound from the back of the building caught their attention. A soft shuffle, followed by the distinct click of a gun being cocked.

Kai froze, his instincts flaring to life. "We're not alone," he whispered, turning slowly to face the sound.

From the shadows at the back of the garage, a figure stepped forward—a man, unshaven and wild-eyed, holding a rifle that looked as old and battered as he did. His clothes were torn and filthy, his face lined with exhaustion and desperation.

"Don't move," the man growled, his voice low and shaky. "Just… just stay where you are."

Kai held up his hands, trying to appear non-threatening. "We don't want any trouble," he said calmly. "We're just passing through."

The man's eyes flicked over them, then to the little girl on the bench. "You… you found her?" His voice cracked, and he took a step closer, his hands trembling on the rifle.

Kai nodded slowly. "She was trapped in the rubble. Is she yours?"

The man's face crumpled, and he lowered the rifle, tears filling his eyes. "My daughter"