Chapter 12: The Ember’s Edge

The wind howled as Asha and Milo trudged onward, the Spire growing larger with every step. The ash clung to their clothes, turning them into gray ghosts against the desolate landscape. Asha's fingers brushed the satchel, feeling the faint warmth of the emberstones within. They pulsed like tiny hearts, a reminder of why she couldn't falter—not now, not when they were so close."You hear that?" Milo stopped abruptly, tilting his head. His goggles reflected the dim, smoky light as he scanned the horizon behind them. Asha strained her ears. Beneath the wind's wail, there it was—a low, mechanical growl. The rigs were gaining."Damn it," she muttered, glancing at the Spire. It was still a half-mile off, maybe less, but the terrain ahead was a mess of jagged rocks and ash drifts. Perfect for an ambush, terrible for running. "We can't outpace them on foot."Milo crouched, pulling a thin metal rod from his pack. He twisted it, and a faint blue glow sparked at its tip—an old signal flare, scavenged from who-knows-where. "I'll draw them off. You get to the Spire, stash the stones. Kael's waiting.""No," Asha snapped, grabbing his wrist before he could ignite it. "You light that, and you're a dead man. They'll swarm you in minutes.""And if we don't split, they'll have us both!" His voice cracked, betraying the fear he'd been hiding. For a moment, they locked eyes—hers fierce, his pleading. Then the growl of the rigs grew louder, and the decision was made for them.A beam of light sliced through the ash, pinning them in its glare. Asha shoved Milo down as a crack rang out, a bullet whizzing past her ear. She hit the ground hard, rolling behind a boulder as the satchel dug into her ribs. "Move!" she hissed, drawing her blade. It wasn't much against rigs, but it was something.Milo scrambled up, flare still in hand, and bolted toward a cluster of rocks to the left. The light swung after him, and Asha seized the chance. She darted forward, weaving through the debris, her boots sinking into the ash with every step. The Spire loomed closer now, its base shrouded in shadow. If she could just reach it—Another shot rang out, followed by a shout. Milo. Her heart lurched, but she didn't look back. Keep moving. The ash doesn't wait. The Code burned in her chest as she pushed harder, the hum of the drones now a deafening buzz overhead.She reached the Spire's base, slipping into a narrow crevice where the rock split open. Inside, the air was cooler, the ash thinner. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pressed against the wall, listening. The rigs' engines roared outside, but they hadn't followed her in—not yet."Asha?" A voice, soft but familiar, echoed from deeper within. Kael stepped into view, his gaunt face illuminated by the faint glow of a lantern. His eyes flicked to the satchel. "You've got them?""Yeah," she rasped, shoving the bag toward him. "But Milo's out there. They're on him."Kael's expression darkened. "Then we'd better move fast. The Overseers don't leave loose ends."