Chapter 16: Through the Gray

Asha dragged Milo deeper into the shadow of the rock, her pulse hammering in her ears. The drones' whine cut through the air, sharp and relentless, their red eyes scanning the ash-strewn ground. She pressed the satchel against her chest, the emberstones' heat bleeding through her jacket, a constant reminder of what they'd lost—and what they still had to protect. Milo coughed, wincing as he propped himself against the stone. Blood matted his hair, trickling from a gash above his brow, and his left arm hung useless, bent at an odd angle. "You shouldn't have come back," he said, voice hoarse. "The Spire—" Shut up," Asha cut him off, peering over the rock's edge. Two drones hovered fifty yards out, their lights crisscrossing the terrain. Beyond them, the rigs' silhouettes loomed through the haze—hulking machines with spiked treads, their engines growling like beasts. "Kael's holding it. We've got the stones. Now we move."Milo managed a weak grin, despite the pain. "Bossy as ever.""Someone's got to be." She ripped a strip from her scarf and tied it around his head, staunching the blood. "Can you run?"He flexed his good hand, testing his strength. "Not fast. But I'll manage.""Good enough." Asha scanned the landscape. The Spire towered behind them, its peak lost in the ash clouds, but ahead lay a shallow ravine—craggy, uneven, and their best cover shot. If they could reach it, they might shake the drones long enough to lose the rigs. Might. A sharp crack split the air, and the rock beside her exploded in a shower of dust. She ducked, pulling Milo down with her. The drones had spotted them, their shots kicking up ash in lethal bursts. "Now!" she hissed, hauling him to his feet. They stumbled forward, half-running, half-falling toward the ravine. Asha kept Milo ahead of her, shielding him as best she could. The drones adjusted, their lights locking on, but the ash worked in her favor—thick and swirling, it blurred their aim. A shot grazed her shoulder, searing through her jacket, but she gritted her teeth and pushed on. The ravine's edge came fast. She shoved Milo over it, jumping after him as the ground dropped away. They hit the dirt hard, rolling down the slope until they landed in a heap at the bottom. Pain flared in her shoulder, hot and bright, but she ignored it, dragging Milo behind a jutting boulder. Above, the drones circled, their hum growing fainter as the ravine's walls blocked their line of sight. Asha risked a glance up. The rigs were moving now, their treads chewing through the ash, heading straight for the ravine's mouth. "They're not giving up," she muttered, checking the satchel. The stones were still there, pulsing faintly. Milo leaned against the boulder, catching his breath. "What happened in there? With Kael?"She hesitated, the memory of his body pinned to the slab flashing through her mind. "The Spire… it wanted a price. He paid for it. Said the stones need me." Her voice cracked on the last word, and she hated it—hated the weakness, the guilt. Milo's face darkened, but he didn't push. "He always was a stubborn bastard." He nodded at the satchel. "So what now? We've got the keys, but no plan."Asha pulled one of the emberstones free, holding it up. Its red glow deepened, casting shadows across the ravine. "Kael said they're more than power. The Spire called them keys—unlocking something. If we can figure out what, maybe we turn this around."A rumble shook the ground, closer this time. The rigs were at the ravine's edge, their lights sweeping down. Asha shoved the stone back into the satchel and grabbed Milo's good arm. "First, we survive. Then we fight."They moved deeper into the ravine, the walls narrowing around them. The ash thinned here, revealing a faint trail—old, worn, leading somewhere. Asha didn't know where, but it was a direction, and that was enough. Behind them, the rigs descended, their engines roaring like a storm. She tightened her grip on the satchel and her blade. The Overseers wanted the stones? They'd have to pry them from her hands—and she wasn't letting go.