Chapter 12: Reckoning

The moon hung low over the shattered remains of the city, its silver glow casting long shadows through the abandoned streets. The air was thick with the scent of burning metal and decay, remnants of the battle that had raged hours before. Adam stood atop the crumbling remains of an old parking structure, his gaze locked on the distant glow of fire where one of their safehouses had once stood.

The enemy was closing in.

The Game was escalating faster than he had predicted. He had spent months, years in his previous life preparing for what was to come, but the pieces were shifting in ways even he hadn't foreseen. And now, with Kara's warning still ringing in his ears, the weight of the future felt heavier than ever.

He wasn't just fighting to survive anymore. He was fighting to keep himself from becoming something unrecognizable.

Evelyn's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Movement on the west side. Three scouts. They're searching for survivors."

Adam pressed a hand to his earpiece. "Don't engage unless necessary. We need to conserve resources."

"Understood," she replied. "But we need to decide our next step soon. They're closing in fast."

He already knew that. The last battle had cost them more than he was willing to admit. Their numbers were dwindling, their supplies running thin, and trust within their ranks had been fractured after Kara's betrayal. Lilith had taken a group south to regroup, while Marcus was securing an extraction point in case they needed to abandon the city altogether. But Adam wasn't ready to run. Not yet.

A soft shuffle behind him made his muscles tense. He turned, gun already half-raised, but stopped when he saw Evelyn emerging from the shadows. She lowered her hands in a gesture of peace, her eyes studying him with concern.

"You look like you're thinking too much," she said.

Adam exhaled, lowering his weapon. "I have a lot to think about."

Evelyn stepped closer, glancing out over the ruined cityscape. "We can't stay here much longer. If they've found one safehouse, they'll find the others."

"I know."

She hesitated. "Then what are we still doing here?"

Adam met her gaze. "Waiting."

"For what?"

"A message."

Evelyn frowned. "From who?"

Before he could answer, a low beep sounded from his wrist communicator. He tapped it, bringing up a flickering holographic display. A single line of text appeared.

Coordinates confirmed. Extraction window: Two hours.

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "Who sent that?"

Adam's jaw clenched. "An old friend."

Beneath the Surface

The coordinates led them to the ruins of an underground metro station, long abandoned and half-collapsed from years of neglect. Adam and Evelyn moved cautiously through the dark tunnels, their weapons drawn, senses alert. The further they descended, the heavier the air became, thick with the scent of damp earth and rust.

A lone figure waited in the depths of the station, standing near the edge of an inactive train track. Their features were hidden beneath a hood, but Adam recognized the stance, the familiar weight of presence that came from someone who had survived far too much.

"You're late," the figure said, voice distorted by the shadows.

Adam stopped a few paces away. "You didn't exactly give me a lot of time."

The hooded figure pulled back their hood, revealing a sharp-featured woman with piercing green eyes. Her face was lined with the marks of someone who had seen too much, but there was no mistaking her.

Seraphina. One of the few people Adam had once trusted. And one of the few who knew the truth about the Game.

Evelyn's hand tightened on her weapon, but Adam lifted a hand, signaling her to stand down. "What do you have for me?"

Seraphina glanced at Evelyn, then back at Adam. "You should have come alone."

"That wasn't an option."

She exhaled sharply, then reached into her coat, pulling out a small metallic device no larger than a coin. She tossed it to Adam, who caught it and activated it. A holographic map flickered to life, showing a location several miles outside the city.

"The next trial is starting," she said. "And this time, they're not just testing individuals. They're testing alliances."

Adam frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The gods are done watching from the sidelines. They want to see who is willing to stand together—and who will tear each other apart."

Evelyn muttered a curse under her breath. "So they're pitting us against each other?"

Seraphina nodded. "This is bigger than you realize, Adam. The war isn't coming. It's already here."

A War of Gods and Men

Adam paced as he processed the information. If the next trial was designed to test alliances, then the gods were accelerating their plans. The Age of Eternity wasn't just about survival. It was about control. And right now, Adam had far too little of it.

Seraphina crossed her arms. "You have two choices. You can play by their rules and fight whoever they put in front of you, or—"

"Or we break the system," Adam finished.

She smirked. "I knew you'd say that."

Evelyn glanced between them. "And how exactly do we break the system of gods?"

Seraphina's expression darkened. "There's someone who might have an answer. But getting to them won't be easy."

Adam's grip tightened on the device in his hand. "Where?"

She hesitated. "In the heart of the enemy's stronghold."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. "Of course it is."

Seraphina's gaze met Adam's. "This is your only chance. If you really want to stop this, to change the future Kara saw, then you need to be willing to risk everything."

Adam looked down at the holographic map, the weight of the decision settling over him. He had come this far, fought tooth and nail to gain even the slightest advantage. Now, the path before him was more dangerous than ever.

But he had already made his choice long ago.

He closed the device, meeting Seraphina's gaze with unwavering determination. "Then let's get started."