Chapter 14:Price of Knowing

The night felt thicker than usual, like the darkness wasn't just from the sky but from something else, something heavier. Lara sat cross-legged on the dusty floor of the old shelter. Adrian stood by the shattered window, barely breathing, eyes locked on the empty streets outside.

Neither of them had spoken much since they ran. Their hearts were still racing, minds not sure what would come next.

"You think she made it out?" Lara asked suddenly.

Adrian turned a little. "Elena?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. She knew what she was doing… but they were close."

Lara nodded slowly. "I just… I've never met someone like her before. Brave and calm, like she's been through worse."

Adrian didn't answer. He leaned back against the wall, letting out a slow breath. "What if this all ends up being for nothing?"

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… what if they bury the truth again? What if no one believes us or no one even hears it?"

Lara stood up, brushing dust off her jeans. "Then we shout louder."

Adrian looked at her for a moment. The girl who once only knew how to hide behind a screen was now standing taller than he'd ever seen her.

There was a small knock at the metal door. Not loud, but clear.

Both of them froze.

Adrian grabbed the old rusted pipe near the corner. Lara reached for her bag, heart beating too fast.

Another knock. Then a whisper: "It's me."

Adrian opened the door just a crack.

Elena stood there, sweaty, bruised, but breathing.

"I looped them," she said with a faint grin. "Got lucky."

Lara pulled her in quickly and shut the door behind her.

"I thought—" she started.

"I almost didn't," Elena replied, sitting down. "But I had to make sure this got to you."

She pulled out an envelope and handed it to Lara.

"What is it?"

"A contact. A guy in Old Sector 3. He runs an underground station. Real signal, real range. If we get there, we can stream the files live to every open frequency."

Adrian took the envelope, reading the messy handwriting. "You trust this guy?"

"He's helped people before. Rebels, truth tellers, anyone trying to pull the curtain back."

Lara nodded slowly. "How far is it?"

"Far enough that we won't sleep on the way."

They rested for a short while, then packed up again. Lara's eyes were heavier now, but she knew rest wasn't an option. Every second they wasted, the system grew stronger.

They moved at dawn. The city hadn't woken yet. Only the stray dogs and flickering lights of a broken street.

Adrian walked ahead, scouting each turn. Lara in the middle, her hands tight on the flash drive. Elena brought up the rear, always glancing back.

They had to climb fences, sneak past checkpoints, and once hide in a dumpster just to avoid a drone. It wasn't the way heroes usually moved, but it was real. It was messy and cold and smelled like trash sometimes—but they kept going.

At one point, they stopped in front of an old rail track.

"This is the line," Elena said. "We follow it to Sector 3."

The rails were rusty, weeds growing between them. But it led somewhere. And right now, somewhere was better than stuck.

They walked in silence. The sun began to rise behind them, painting the sky with light pink and orange.

Lara turned to Adrian. "Do you think we'll make it?"

He looked at her, then at Elena. Then at the flash drive in her hand.

"We have to."

And they kept walking.