The memory was a bitter pill to swallow as I blinked back the tears threatening to spill. There was a grim silence following the broadcast, its chilling words echoing in my head. Refuge Zeta. Compromised. Hazard zone. The underground shelter... Albert. My breath hitched as reality dawned on me, my stomach churning with fear and worry.

"All units, Shelter Epsilon is secure. Repeat. Shelter Epsilon is secure. Proceed with evac...Alpha-Charlie...22..." The radio crackled again, drawing my attention back to the present.

Epsilon. Not Zeta. Not where Albert was. I clenched my fists, frustration welling up in me.

“I’ll try to reach them,” Jacob said, his voice shaking. He turned a knob on the radio, and started transmitting. “Hello? Hello, this is Lieutenant Jacob Williams of the KCFD. We have a Priority 2 situation and require immediate assistance at Ladder 37. Numerous survivors are here, including one critically wounded Magical Knight.”

The message echoed through the room as he repeated it. The whole station seemed to hold its breath. All I could do was silently hope that someone out there was listening. Someone who could help us. Help Albert.

There was a moment of agonizing silence, our collective breaths held as we waited for a response. The crackle of static was deafening in its own way, a grim reminder of the situation we found ourselves in. Each second that passed felt like an eternity.

Then, finally, the radio crackled to life once again.

"Copy that, Ladder 37," a voice responded, clear and authoritative. "This is Command Center Alpha. We are reading your coordinates. Stand by for further instructions."

Jacob let out a breath he seemed to have been holding, relief washing over his features. The rest of the room exhaled as well, the tension easing off a little. We had made contact. We weren't alone.

"But, the evacuation...what about the other shelters? Refuge Zeta?" Jennifer asked, her voice shaky. I could see Jacob struggling with the same question, the fear clear in his eyes. I felt the same fear gnawing at me, Albert’s face flashing in my mind.

"Command Center Alpha, please advise on Refuge Zeta’s status," I grabbed the microphone and interjected before Jacob could speak, my voice firm despite the uncertainty gripping me. “This is Magical Knight Cadet Sienna Russo reporting. Sergeant Jacob’s family is in a bunker, as well as the loved ones of numerous present. I would like clarification on the situation.”

There was a moment of static-filled silence before the voice came through again. "Authorization confirmed. Cadet Russo — we are obligated to inform you that Refuge Zeta has been deemed a no-go zone. The blast doors at the entrance have been breached, and first responders were ambushed by overwhelming numbers upon contact with Refuge Zeta. Until further notice, we will not be providing support. I repeat, Refuge Zeta is a no-go zone. We are prioritizing secure zones and manageable hazards at this time. We are sorry for any inconvenience, Cadet Russo."

Inconvenience. As if our lives, Albert's life, and the lives of Jacob’s family were simply a matter of inconvenience.

I didn’t miss the part where I was apparently already in the system, though. Was that the work of the cat thing? Bastet?

I felt a surge of anger at the cold, bureaucratic tone of the voice on the other end, but quickly swallowed it. This wasn't the time for anger. This was the time for action. And as much as I didn't want to accept it, they had a point. They had to prioritize their resources.

I let the microphone fall from my hand, the loud clatter echoing throughout the room. Jacob gave me a side-long glance, his eyes filled with a mirrored pain. His family was in Refuge Zeta

"Just like that, they're leaving them behind..." he muttered under his breath, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the table.

I forced down the despair threatening to rise in my throat. Albert. In the middle of all that horror. Surrounded by the shambling, blue-eyed zombies and faceless creatures. I remembered the hulking brute that had torn down the gates — surely these things weren’t smart enough to find and break into the underground bunkers, were they?

I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "No. We can't just accept that. We can't just sit here and wait. We have to do something." "Sienna..." Jennifer began, her tone pleading.

"No, she's right," Jacob said suddenly, his voice firm. "We can't just abandon them. We have to do something."

Stolen novel; please report.

Black Star remained silent, watching the exchange with a detached look. He seemed to be weighing his options, his gaze shifting from me to Jacob, then back to me. After a moment, he sighed heavily and shook his head. "You're both damn crazy, you know that?" he said, a wry smile on his face. "We barely survived our last encounter with those things. You really think we can make it to Refuge Zeta and back?"

"We have to try," I replied, meeting his gaze evenly. "I won't just abandon Albert."

A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone processed what I'd said. The reality of the situation was grim, but I couldn't just give up on him. I couldn't just give up on the promise we had made to each other.

Jacob stood up, looking at me with a renewed determination in his eyes. "I'm with you, Sienna. We're going to get them out of there."

Jennifer seemed taken aback, her gaze flitting from Jacob to me. "You can't be serious..." Danny raised a hand, cutting Jennifer off. "I understand why you want to do this. Truly, I do. But we have to think about this logically. The shelter is a no-go zone.

We'd be going against orders, and more importantly, we'd be putting ourselves at incredible risk." "There must be a reason why it's a no-go zone," Jennifer chimed in, wringing her hands nervously. "It could be swarming with those creatures. We're just... we're not equipped to handle that."

"I agree," Black Star added, his tone pragmatic. "We're not heroes. We're survivors. We have to play it safe if we want to keep surviving." I looked at each of them, my heart pounding in my chest. I understood their worries, their fears. I shared them. But at the same time, I couldn't shake off the image of Albert dying a horrible death in that bunker.

"Then let me be the hero," I said, my voice firm. "I'll be the one to go. You all stay here, keep the fort. I won't let you risk your lives for my cause."

The room fell silent, everyone staring at me with wide eyes. It was a crazy idea, I knew that. But it was the only one I had. I was the only one who could possibly stand against those monsters. And maybe...just maybe, I had a chance.

"I made a promise," I stated, clenching my fists. My voice echoed through the silence, heavy with resolve. "A promise to my childhood best friend that I’d never leave him behind. I intend to keep it, even if I have to go alone."

"And who knows if there are even still survivors in Refuge Zeta?" Jennifer's voice was soft, the pain in her eyes evident. She wanted to hope, just like Jacob and me. But the fear was real, and it was eating at her. “You could be walking into a death trap."

"You're right," I conceded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "I could be. But I have to know, one way or another. I can't just abandon him."

Black Star seemed to think for a moment before shaking his head. "Remember, I carried you away from that brute back at the shelter before we caught its attention for a reason. Even with multiple level-ups, you don’t stand a chance against that thing. The radio operator has also kind of implied we’re dealing with a full-blown infestation down there.”

I glanced at Black Star, his words echoing my own worries. But I had a responsibility, to Albert, to myself. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. “I know it’s risky. But I can’t abandon him. Not without trying.”

A moment of silence, then Black Star shrugged. "I'm not saying we don't do anything. I'm just saying we need to think before we rush in. We need a plan. A solid, bulletproof plan."

Jennifer looked at Black Star, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Are you suggesting that you would... volunteer?"

Black Star met her gaze, a flippant smile playing on his lips. "Well, as much as I'd love to watch this drama unfold from the sidelines, I can't exactly let my only source of entertainment walk off into certain death, now can I?"

I felt a pang of gratitude towards him, his nonchalance somehow comforting amidst all the tension. “Thank you… Henry.”

“Don’t thank me yet, hero girl,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “This doesn’t mean we’re charging headfirst. Like always, we need a plan. We’re going to need more than just the two of us if we’re going to pull this off.”

Jacob looked at us, his expression hardening. “You can count me in.”

Jennifer let out a frustrated sigh. “Are you all just hellbent on throwing your lives away? This is insane!”

“You have a point, Jennifer,” I said, meeting her gaze evenly. “But it’s a risk I’m willing to take. For Albert, for Jacob’s family... for all of us.”

“I don’t want anyone to risk their lives for me,” Jacob said, his voice low. “But my wife and my son are down there. I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

Jennifer fell silent, her gaze flicking between the three of us. She looked torn, conflicted. I understood her fears, the weight of the responsibility she must be feeling. It was all so overwhelming.

“I’m not asking you to come with us, Jennifer,” I said softly. “I’m just asking you to understand.”

I could see the struggle on her face. She was scared, and rightfully so. This was a situation none of us had ever envisioned being in. Her gaze finally settled on me, a resigned sigh escaping her lips.

"Fine," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "I'll stay here and take care of the wounded. But you’d better come back. All of you."

I nodded, unable to find words to express the gratitude I felt. A heavy silence fell over the room once more, the weight of our decisions and the task that lay ahead weighing heavily on our hearts.

And then, breaking the silence, came a weak groan from the corner of the room. All heads snapped toward the sound, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.

Slowly, and painfully, Twilight Aster shifted on her cot. She coughed, a pitiful, pained sound that filled the room. My heart skipped a beat as she got on her hands and propped herself up.

Then, one exhausted eye cracked open to meet my gaze.

Twilight Aster was awake.

"Well… perhaps I can lend a hand," Twilight Aster smiled, a quiet strength in her eyes despite her visible pain.