CHAPTER THREE

Chapter Three

Tunde's hands gripped the wheel as he sped down the highway, weaving through burning wreckage and overturned vehicles. The screams of the dying echoed behind him, drowned out by the thunderous footsteps of the war machines.

Ahead, the main bridge out of the city loomed—his only chance of escape. But something was wrong.

A deep tremor shook the ground. The bridge quivered, its metal supports groaning under unseen pressure.

Then, with a deafening roar, explosions erupted along the structure.

Flames tore through steel and concrete, blasting apart the supports. Cars and people plunged into the churning waters below as the bridge split in two.

Tunde slammed the brakes, barely stopping in time. The gap was too wide—there was no crossing it now.

"Shit, shit, shit!" he hissed, his heart pounding. Rex whimpered beside him.

Then he saw them.

A wave of metallic bodies surged onto the ruined bridge.

Tall, humanoid machines marched in formation, their glowing optics scanning for survivors. Smaller, dog-like units stalked between wreckage, sniffing out the wounded. Overhead, drone-like fliers hovered, their spotlights sweeping over the carnage.

One of the larger bots, a command unit, raised its voice, its metallic tone echoing through the night.

"All organic entities are to be subdued. Resistance will be met with lethal force."

A group of survivors—military personnel—had taken position behind a collapsed truck. One of them, a captain, raised his rifle. "Hold the line! We push these bastards back, or we die trying!"

The soldiers opened fire, bullets ricocheting off the machines' armor. A few rounds struck weak points, sending smaller drones crashing to the pavement.

But the machines didn't falter.

One of the titans raised its arm. A cannon charged, energy building at its core.

Tunde's eyes widened. "Oh, hell no."

The titan fired.

A massive energy blast erupted from its cannon, obliterating the soldiers' position in a fiery explosion. Shrapnel and bodies were hurled through the air, crashing against twisted metal and crumbling concrete.

The remaining troops scrambled for cover. One soldier, bleeding and burned, crawled toward Tunde's car, his mouth forming silent words.

Before he could reach them, a hunter drone pounced, tearing into him with razor-sharp limbs.

Tunde yanked the gear shift into reverse, tires screeching. The car spun, just as another blast shook the bridge, sending more debris plummeting into the river.

A massive shadow descended from the sky.

Another titan landed with a ground-shaking thud, its bladed arms unfolding.

It turned its glowing crimson gaze toward Tunde.

He didn't think. He just hit the gas.

The car shot forward, veering past burning wreckage and collapsing concrete. The titan swung its massive arm, missing the vehicle by inches as Tunde careened onto a nearby side ramp.

His only hope now? Find another way out. Fast.

As he sped away, he could still see the burning bridge in his rearview mirror—

—and the army of machines marching forward, claiming the city as their own.