“Sector Prime is two days out, maybe less if we keep pace,” Aiko said, his voice low. He scanned the horizon as they walked, ever alert for movement. “We need to find more supplies, though. What we grabbed yesterday won’t last.”

Aria adjusted the strap of her pack, the scavenged flashlight now tucked into a side pocket. “I know a place.”

Aiko glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” she replied, a faint grin tugging at her lips. “It’s an old safehouse. One of the gangs used it back when I ran with them. If it’s still intact, we’ll find something useful.”

Aiko’s expression remained skeptical, but he didn’t argue. Trust was hard-earned in this world, and while Aria’s past as a thief made her resourceful, it also came with its own risks. Still, they didn’t have many options.

“Lead the way,” he said.

----------------------------------------

The safehouse was tucked away in a narrow alley, its entrance hidden behind a makeshift barricade of rusted metal sheets and wooden planks. Aria approached it with practiced ease, her hands brushing aside the debris to reveal a concealed doorway. She tested the handle, wincing as it creaked loudly.

“Great,” she muttered. “Nothing like announcing our arrival.”

Aiko stepped forward, his rifle at the ready. “Stay behind me.”

The interior was dark and stale, the air thick with the scent of mildew and decay. Aria flicked on her flashlight, its narrow beam cutting through the gloom. The safehouse was little more than a single room, cluttered with the remnants of a life long abandoned. Old crates, tattered blankets, and broken furniture were scattered across the floor. A shelf on one wall held a collection of dusty jars and cans, some of which might still be edible.

“Looks like no one’s been here in a while,” Aria said, her voice echoing softly in the confined space.

“Let’s hope it stays that way,” Aiko replied, keeping his weapon trained on the doorway as Aria searched the room.

She rummaged through the supplies, her movements quick and efficient. She pocketed a few cans of food, a roll of duct tape, and a small, partially filled water canteen. At the back of the room, she found a locked chest. Her eyes lit up with a mix of curiosity and excitement.

“This could be interesting,” she said, pulling out her knife to jimmy the lock.

Aiko didn’t look back, his focus on the entrance. “Be quick. We’ve already made enough noise.”

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The lock gave way with a satisfying click, and Aria opened the chest to reveal a collection of weapons and tools. Most of it was rusted and unusable, but there was one item that caught her eye: a compact crossbow, along with a quiver of bolts.

“Now this is a find,” she said, lifting the weapon and inspecting it. “Lightweight, silent, and deadly. Perfect for someone like me.”

Aiko glanced over his shoulder, his expression unimpressed. “Just don’t shoot me with it.”

Aria smirked, slinging the crossbow over her shoulder. “No promises.”

Their moment of relative calm was interrupted by a sudden noise outside. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the alley, followed by muffled voices. Aiko’s grip on his rifle tightened.

“We’ve got company,” he said, motioning for Aria to take cover.

She extinguished the flashlight and crouched behind an overturned table, her crossbow at the ready. Aiko positioned himself near the doorway, peering through a crack in the barricade. He saw three figures approaching, their silhouettes backlit by the faint light filtering through the alley.

“Scavengers,” he whispered. “Armed.”

“How armed?” Aria asked.

“Enough to be a problem.”

The scavengers stopped outside the safehouse, their voices growing louder.

“Looks like someone’s been through here recently,” one of them said, his tone gruff.

“Think they’re still inside?” another replied.

“Only one way to find out,” the third said, pulling a crowbar from his belt.

Aiko signaled to Aria, mouthing the words: Be ready.

The scavengers began to pry at the barricade, their efforts loud and forceful. Aiko steadied his rifle, aiming through the crack. He took a deep breath, waiting for the right moment. As the first scavenger pushed through the opening, Aiko fired a warning shot that struck the ground near the man’s feet.

“Back off,” Aiko called out, his voice cold and firm. “This place is taken.”

The scavenger stumbled back, raising his hands defensively. “Easy, man! We don’t want trouble.”

“Then walk away,” Aiko said. “Now.”

The second scavenger, a wiry woman with a scar running down her cheek, sneered. “Or what? You’ll shoot us all?”

“If I have to,” Aiko replied, his aim unwavering.

Before the standoff could escalate, Aria emerged from her hiding spot, her crossbow trained on the group. “Trust me, you don’t want to test us,” she said, her tone sharp. “Leave while you still can.”

The scavengers exchanged uncertain glances. The first man, clearly the leader, sighed and gestured for his companions to retreat. “Fine. But don’t think we won’t remember this.”

“I’ll lose sleep over it,” Aria quipped as they disappeared down the alley.

Once the scavengers were gone, Aiko lowered his rifle and exhaled. “That could’ve gone worse.”

“Could’ve gone better, too,” Aria said, slinging the crossbow over her shoulder again. “But hey, we’re still breathing.”

Aiko nodded, glancing around the room one last time. “Let’s move. They might come back with reinforcements.”

As they stepped back into the ruins, the faint light of dawn had grown stronger, casting longer shadows across the debris-strewn ground. The encounter had rattled them, but it also reminded them of the stakes. Every step forward was a gamble, and every decision carried the weight of survival.

“So,” Aria said, breaking the silence. “Still think trusting me was a bad idea?”

Aiko glanced at her, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Jury’s still out.”

She laughed, the sound oddly light against the grim backdrop of their world. “You’ll come around, soldier boy. You’ll see.”