Then I take her hand, and together we climb toward extraction.
Toward daylight.
Toward freedom.
Toward whatever comes next.
14
Lena
Location: Extraction Route, Upper Mountain Tunnels
0345 Hours
My lungs burn as Ronan pulls me toward the stairwell, but I don’t let go of him. I can’t.
His hand is wrapped around mine, warm and unyielding, grounding me in a world that suddenly feels real again.
The Delta Five come into view— Aaron at the front, Miles directly behind him, Jase covering the flank.
For a second, they all freeze.
They stare at me.
Alive.
Broken.
Standing beside Ronan.
Aaron’s shoulders drop in a visible exhale. Jase looks away, jaw tight. Miles mutters something like a prayer. River actually smiles.
But it’s Ronan who speaks first, voice steady, still holding my hand like it’s the only thing keeping him tethered.
“Subject Hart secured. She’scoming with us.”
Aaron steps forward. “Lena, can you walk?”
“She’s fine,” Ronan answers before I can.
I squeeze his hand lightly. “I can walk.”
Barely.
Pain blooms in my ribs. My knees feel like cracked glass. Every step feels borrowed.
But I walk because I want to — and because Ronan doesn’t let go.
Aaron moves closer, studying me with sharp, assessing eyes. “We’ve got a medic station set up at the secondary exit. We’ll get you treated immediately.”
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do,” Ronan cuts in, voice leaving no room for compromise.
The others exchange a look — a silent, collective oh-okay-he’s-in-that-deep.
Heat creeps up my neck.
