Chapter 6: Storms and Secrets.

The storm outside had fully unleashed its fury, with the rain hammering down in sheets and the wind howling through the cracks of the old ruin. The building groaned under the pressure, but inside, it provided a fragile haven for Ava, Lucas, and the cadets. Thunder rumbled overhead, punctuating the eerie quiet inside the shelter.

Lucas, always the teacher, tried to ease the tension by sharing tales of the old world. He spoke with his usual enthusiasm, his voice rising above the sound of the storm outside. "This place used to be alive, bustling with thousands of people. Can you imagine? Buildings like these stretched for miles, and streets were packed with markets, families, and... well, life."

The cadets, though trying to focus, were visibly tense. The ruins around them seemed to whisper of long-lost memories, adding to the discomfort.

"Hard to believe this place once thrived," Lucas continued. "The Cataclysm changed everything in a single moment. It wiped cities like this off the map, leaving behind nothing but ghosts and rubble."

As Lucas’s voice filled the space, Callie shifted nervously, her eyes darting to the shadows. Trying to lean against what she thought was a sturdy rack of old shelves, she miscalculated. With a loud crash, the entire thing collapsed, sending dust and debris scattering across the floor.

"Classic Callie," Darren muttered under his breath, loud enough for a few of the others to hear. They snickered, their laughter a brief but cutting interruption in the tension-filled room.

Callie froze, her face flushing with embarrassment as she crouched down to try and pick up some of the fallen items. Her hands fumbled, shaking slightly as she desperately tried to fix her mistake. The cadets’ eyes were on her, and that familiar sense of failure gnawed at her insides.

Ava was by her side in an instant. "Hey," she said, her voice quiet but firm. She crouched beside Callie, helping her stand. "Ignore them."

Callie’s eyes flickered up to meet Ava’s, her voice shaky. "I—I didn’t mean to—"

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"I know," Ava interrupted softly, cutting through her self-doubt. "Listen to me. You’re here because you earned your place, not because anyone gave you a free pass. If Lucas didn’t think you could handle this, you wouldn’t be here. And I wouldn’t be giving you this much attention if I didn’t see potential. So, stand tall and forget the noise."

Callie nodded, though her voice was barely a whisper. "Okay. Thanks, Ava."

Ava gave her a reassuring nod before turning to the rest of the group, her voice sharp as she addressed Darren and the others. "That’s enough," she said sternly, silencing the smirks and laughter. "We’re all on the same team. Act like it."

As Callie straightened up, she noticed something strange. Beneath the fallen racks and debris, a faint glow flickered—barely noticeable in the dim light of the room. "Uh, Ava..." Callie said softly, pointing towards the uncovered corner.

Lucas, who had been observing the exchange, stepped closer, his brows furrowing as he noticed the flicker too. "Wait, what’s that?"

The group turned toward the back wall where the shelves had fallen. Hidden behind layers of dust and debris was an old, weathered door, and underneath it, a faint, flickering light glowed from the cracks.

"I didn’t see that before..." Darren muttered, his earlier bravado now replaced by unease.

Ava, her instincts on high alert, stepped forward, motioning for everyone to stay back. "Stay sharp. We don’t know what’s behind that door."

Lucas, always the curious one, shone his flashlight toward the door, illuminating the cracks where the light flickered through. "Must’ve been covered up by all that junk," he remarked. "Old world tech, maybe?"

"Could be anything," Ava responded, her voice low and cautious. "Everyone, stay close and keep your weapons ready. We’re not taking any chances."

She glanced at Callie, who was standing a little taller now, though her nerves were still apparent. "Callie, you’re with me. Just like I said—stay focused."

Callie swallowed hard but nodded, her rifle gripped tightly in her hands. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but Ava’s confidence in her gave her the strength to follow.

As Ava carefully approached the door, Lucas stayed a step behind, his flashlight cutting through the shadows. "I always get the creeps in places like this," he whispered to Ava. "It’s like the past is still watching."

Ava gave a small smirk. "Maybe it is. Or maybe it’s just us getting jumpy."

Lucas chuckled softly, though the unease lingered. "Let’s get this over with. Whatever’s behind that door... I’d rather not stick around if it turns out to be more than just a flickering light."

Ava motioned for the others to stay back, her hand resting on the door handle. She shot a glance back at Callie, offering a quick nod of reassurance before turning her focus fully on the task at hand. "On my signal," she said, her voice firm but calm. "We go through, stay close, and be ready for anything."

With a swift, practiced motion, Ava turned the handle and swung the door open, revealing whatever mystery lay beyond.