Chapter 16: The Escape Route

Chapter 16: The Escape Route

Silvia's POV

The morning air was crisp as Silvia and Dragon stepped out of the safehouse, the weight of Mara's words still heavy between them. Ashen Hold's industrial district was waking up—metal clanking, steam vents hissing, and distant voices arguing over shipments. It was a city always in motion, never sleeping, but right now, Silvia's thoughts weren't on the streets around her.

She was thinking about what came next.

"I don't like running," Silvia muttered as they moved through the back alleys, keeping close to the buildings.

Dragon chuckled beside her. "You don't have to like it, sweetheart. You just have to do it."

She shot him a glare, but her heart wasn't in it. Mara had made it clear—the rebels in the east were their best shot at answers, but that meant getting out of Ashen Hold without attracting even more attention.

"We'll need a way out," she said. "One that doesn't involve running into the city's enforcers or bounty hunters."

Dragon gave her a lazy smirk. "Then I suppose it's a good thing I know a smuggler."

Silvia narrowed her eyes. "Why does that not surprise me?"

Meeting the Smuggler

Dragon led her through a series of winding streets before stopping in front of what looked like an abandoned metalworks shop. The windows were boarded up, and the front entrance had a thick chain wrapped around the door handles.

"This is your smuggler?" Silvia asked skeptically. "Did he smuggle himself into a grave?"

Dragon didn't answer. Instead, he walked up to the back door and knocked three times—then twice more—then a single, loud bang.

For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, with a groan of rusted metal, the door swung open, revealing a stocky man with oil-stained hands, messy brown hair, and a ridiculously large wrench slung over his shoulder. His sharp eyes studied them both before he cracked a grin.

"Well, well," he drawled, "if it isn't Dragon Bromson. Should've figured you'd come knocking when trouble found you."

Silvia crossed her arms. "Trouble finds him a lot."

The smuggler's grin widened. "Yeah, but he's pretty good at surviving it."

Dragon clapped the man on the shoulder. "Silvia, meet Rook. Best smuggler in the region. Rook, meet Silvia, my—" He hesitated just long enough for Silvia to give him a sharp look. "—partner in crime."

Silvia sighed. "That's not better."

Rook laughed, stepping aside. "Come in. Let's talk business."

Negotiations and Complications

The inside of Rook's shop was organized chaos. Crates were stacked against the walls, filled with stolen or repurposed goods. Maps were pinned to every surface, some marked with routes through the city's underground tunnels. Silvia immediately noted the most important one—a path leading out of Ashen Hold.

"You two need to disappear," Rook said, rubbing his jaw. "That's gonna cost you."

Dragon leaned back against a worktable, grinning. "Come on, Rook. We go way back."

"Exactly," Rook deadpanned. "Which means I know you never pay full price."

Silvia pinched the bridge of her nose. "We don't have time for this. What do you want?"

Rook smirked. "Now that's a better question. See, I might be able to get you out of the city through the old aqueducts, but I need something in return."

"And that is?" Silvia asked warily.

Rook hesitated before sighing. "A package. Needs to be delivered before you leave. It's already paid for, but I can't get close to the drop point without risking a bullet in my skull."

Dragon frowned. "What kind of package?"

Rook shrugged. "Small. Locked. None of your business."

Silvia exchanged a glance with Dragon. It was a risk, but it was also their best shot at getting out of the city before whoever was after them caught up.

"Fine," Silvia said. "But if this gets us killed, I'm haunting you."

Rook grinned. "Deal."

A Dangerous Delivery

The package was simple—a small metal case, no larger than a book. But the location of the drop? That was the problem.

"The docks?" Silvia said, frowning as they crouched behind an old market stall, watching the heavily patrolled area. "Rook failed to mention that we'd be walking into a den of enforcers."

Dragon smirked. "Details, details."

Silvia groaned. "I swear, one day—"

"You'll set me on fire?" he guessed.

She huffed. "Try me."

They moved through the maze of shipping containers, sticking to the shadows. The docks were filled with workers unloading crates under the watchful eyes of armed guards in corporate uniforms. These weren't just city enforcers—they were private security, the kind that killed first and asked questions never.

"There," Dragon whispered, pointing to a small warehouse. "That's the drop point."

Silvia took a deep breath. "Let's make this quick."

They slipped inside, the air thick with the scent of salt and oil. The place was mostly empty—just a few stacked crates and a lone lockbox sitting in the center of the room.

"Here goes nothing," Silvia muttered, setting the package down.

The moment she did, the sound of boots on metal made her freeze.

Dragon tensed. "We've got company."

The Escape

A group of five enforcers entered, their weapons drawn. Silvia barely had time to react before Dragon grabbed her wrist and yanked her behind a stack of crates.

"I was hoping we could get in and out quietly," she whispered.

Dragon grinned. "You know me—I like to make an impression."

Silvia resisted the urge to shove him. Now wasn't the time.

The enforcers spread out, scanning the area. One of them, a captain judging by his insignia, barked orders. "Search everything. That package was marked priority."

Silvia cursed under her breath. Of course it was.

Dragon nudged her. "Got a plan?"

Silvia's fire flickered to life in her palm. "Yeah. It's called 'make them regret coming in here.'"

Dragon grinned. "That's my favorite kind."

Silvia launched a controlled burst of fire, hitting the closest enforcer and sending him crashing into a stack of barrels. The others whirled, guns raising—

But Dragon was already moving, disarming one with a swift kick and sending another flying with a well-placed punch.

"You love showing off, don't you?" Silvia called, dodging a bullet and hurling a fireball.

"You love watching," Dragon shot back.

Silvia groaned. "Focus!"

Within minutes, the enforcers were down or fleeing, and Silvia and Dragon were racing toward the exit.