Christian shifted in his seat. Old tram lines meant the Underground. The part of Perileos the city forgot, where the Falaichte operated and the fighting ring was hidden. It made sense that’s where they’d have drop zones.
“What kind of chatter?” Yosef asked.
“Encrypted comm burst,” Claude replied. “Didn’t trace clean. But the other team caught fragments, and they mentioned a rerouted supply.”
Christian eyed the schematic, squinting to see the exact spot that had been marked. “That line’s been dead for decades. It barely connects anymore. That’s what makes it smart. No eyes. No patrols.”
“I agree,” Imara said. “That area was declared unstable decades ago. Which also means that’s where the worst kind of people thrive.”
“Like your Falaichte?” Claude asked.
Christian flinched. “Exactly.”
“I trust you two know your way around the area, then,” Ahna said. “Here’s what we’re gonna do. Christian, you take Hawk and Imara with you and follow up on this lead. Stay quiet. Observe first. If you see anything, tag it. But do not engage. That’s a direct order. Claude, Yosef, and I will set up the beacon in Imara’s stash locker for Cho to use, then we’ll stick to the city grid. Hit an area still unmarked on the map. We meet back here at end of shift unless there are complications. Any questions?”
A beat passed. No one spoke.
“Gear up,” she ordered. “We leave in twenty.”
Back in her little niche, Gemma hadn’t even zipped her backsack when the soft scrape of boots warned her that she was no longer alone. She turned her back to her shelter just as Gunner popped inside the opening of the alcove. He offered a crooked smile, but there was something behind his eyes. Restlessness, maybe?
“Sorry,” he said, “didn’t mean to interrupt. Just . . . I’ve been running scans on those doors again.”
Gemma straightened. “Did something change?”
He nodded slowly. “All the old frequencies are gone. It’s like the structure wiped itself and started over after you collapsed.We’re now getting new pulses that are low resonance and rhythmic. Almost like it’s breathing.”
Her stomach churned, but she forced calm into her voice. “So, the door is . . . alive?”
“I’m not ready to say that. Yet.” He scratched the back of his neck. “But I am ready to say it’s responding to something. Or someone.” Gunner gave her a pointed stare.
She sighed. “I’m guessing you want me to come check it out again.”
His smile turned sheepish. “Only if you’re up for the challenge. I know today’s already been a lot.”
Gemma hesitated, Christian’s warm and protective voice still echoing in her ears. He wanted her to be careful, but the dread lingering deep in her bones hadn’t gone away. If anything, it had intensified.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Let’s go.”
A massive grin grew across Gunner’s face, like a child gifted a new toy.
By the time they reached the set of doors, both sides still decorated with alien glyphs that glowed faintly violet, Gemma’s nerves were on edge. Already, she could sense the power that awaited beyond, and Gunner was right—itdidfeel alive, like a guardian watching a tomb. Whatever was on the other side was important. Maybe even the most important thing in this entire temple. Deep in her gut, her instincts warned her to back away. But she needed answers. And she needed them now.
Gemma swallowed as she stepped closer. “What do I do?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. Are you feeling anything or sensing anything?”
She nodded, moving until she was inches from the double stone doors. They wanted her to touch them, calling to her like a child starved for affection.This is a bad idea, her conscience warned her, but she ignored it.
Gemma exhaled and lifted her hand.
The moment her fingertips grazed the surface, a shiver rolled up her arm, not cold but electrifying. The carvings in the stone shifted as if the doors recognized her touch. The subtle purple glow brightened; the patterns rearranged.
Behind her, equipment beeped. Then again, louder.
“Hold on. Don’t move,” Gunner replied, his voice low and tight. “The scanner’s picking up something. But it’s not coming from the door.”
She turned slightly, her hand pressed to the stone. “Then where in the blazes is it coming from?”
