Story 362: Into the Fire

The metallic crash of collapsing pipes echoed through the chamber, masking Zara’s rapid movement as she darted from shadow to shadow. Her rifle was at the ready, her senses heightened to a razor’s edge. Dust filled the air, blending with the faint red glow of the emergency lights, giving the scene an eerie, apocalyptic haze.

The mercenaries scrambled to regain their bearings, barking orders through their comms. Zara could hear the static-laden voices, though the words were muffled. They were trying to coordinate—but their cohesion was splintered. Perfect.

Zara pressed herself against a rusted support beam, her heart steady despite the chaos around her. She scanned the scene. The leader had taken cover behind a stack of old crates, his hologram device flickering as he tried to recalibrate it. One of his men was crouched near the cistern, rifle sweeping the area, while the third was moving cautiously toward the fallen pipes, likely assuming she was buried beneath the rubble.