Story 1261: Tunnel of No Return

The Synapse Engine was gone—but its echo lingered.

The tunnels below Blackout City weren’t just emergency exits. They were ancient arteries, predating VIREX, carved during the pre-outbreak age for evacuation or, perhaps, containment. And now, they were the only way out.

Juno gripped her side, blood seeping from the injection site. The serum had rewritten her synapses, stabilized her genome—but it came at a cost. Her mind was growing too fast. She was remembering things that hadn’t happened yet.

Shade helped her stay upright, flashlight flickering as they passed another sealed checkpoint—Sector V etched in rust.

Behind them, H-13 manually shut every blast door.

“We’re not just escaping,” he said. “We’re sealing this chapter behind us.”

Juno nodded. “No more archives. No more vaults. Just… out.”

But escape wasn’t that simple.