Chapter 9: The Exit.

The air inside the facility was heavier now, the hum of long-dormant machinery replaced by an eerie silence. Without Echo's guiding voice or the dim lights that had illuminated their way, the labyrinthine halls felt suffocating. Dust swirled in the beams of their flashlights, and the oppressive darkness seemed to close in around them with every step.

Ava glanced over her shoulder at the group. Each carried a piece of Echo’s equipment strapped to their backs or in their hands, the weight slowing their progress. “Stay close,” she instructed, her voice steady but firm. “We’re blind in here now, and I don’t want anyone wandering off.”

Callie nodded quickly, her grip on her rifle tight. Darren and Dean exchanged glances, their faces hidden in the flickering shadows, but the smirks they shared didn’t go unnoticed by Lucas, who trailed behind the group.

“This place is a maze,” Lucas muttered, his flashlight scanning the walls for any sign of familiarity. “It looked bad before, but now...”

“It’s worse,” Lara finished for him, her voice tense. She was clearly uneasy, her movements stiff and deliberate as she followed Ava closely.

The group continued through the darkened corridors, their steps echoing in the stillness. The walls seemed closer now, the once-familiar path distorted in the absence of light. They took a wrong turn, ending in a dead end filled with rubble and rusted machinery. Ava cursed under her breath, checking the schematics they’d retrieved from Echo. “This way,” she said, leading them back the way they came.

As they retraced their steps, Darren slowed his pace until he was walking beside Callie. “You alright there, Callie?” he asked, his voice tinged with mock concern.

Callie glanced at him warily. “Yeah. Why?”

“No reason,” Darren replied with a grin. Suddenly, he sprinted ahead, disappearing into the darkness. Dean followed, their laughter echoing faintly as they vanished around a corner.

“Darren? Dean?” Callie called out, panic creeping into her voice as their footsteps faded. She turned in circles, her flashlight shaking slightly as it illuminated the empty corridor. “Where are you?”

The silence that followed was deafening. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped forward, unsure of which way to go. “Guys? This isn’t funny!” she called, her voice trembling.

A faint noise behind her made her spin around, her flashlight barely catching the movement of a shadow. She stumbled back, her breathing quickening. “Ava? Lucas?” she called out, her voice rising in pitch. “Please! Someone!”

From the darkness, Ava appeared, her figure illuminated by the beam of Callie’s flashlight. “Callie,” Ava said firmly, her voice cutting through the younger woman’s panic. “What are you doing back here?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Callie exhaled in relief, her hands still trembling. “I—I got separated. Darren and Dean... they ran off.”

Ava’s jaw tightened, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. She reached into her rig and pulled out a glow stick. Snapping it to life, she clipped it to Callie’s harness, the green light casting a soft glow around her. “Stay visible,” Ava said, her tone softening as she met Callie’s wide eyes. “We’ll get through this. Just stay close, okay?”

Callie nodded quickly. “Okay. Thanks.”

Ava gave her a brief, reassuring smile and then turned, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. She caught Lucas’s gaze as he approached with Lara. Behind them, Darren and Dean had reappeared, their faces sheepish as they realized Ava had noticed their absence.

Lucas tilted his head toward Darren and Dean, signaling Ava to address the situation. She stepped closer to the two boys, her gaze hard and unyielding. “What’s so funny?” she asked, her voice low but dangerous.

Darren and Dean shifted uncomfortably under her stare, their earlier amusement gone. “Nothing, ma’am,” Darren muttered, avoiding her eyes.

“Good,” Ava said coldly. “Because leaving your teammate behind in a place like this isn’t a joke. It’s dangerous, and it’s stupid. If you pull something like that again, I’ll make sure you regret it. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Darren and Dean replied in unison, their voices subdued.

Satisfied, Ava turned back to Callie, giving her a small wink. “Let’s move.”

The group pressed on, the tension palpable as they navigated the maze of darkened corridors. They passed the door Ava had shot open earlier, the jagged edges of the lock still gleaming faintly in the glow of their flashlights. The sight brought a brief sense of familiarity, a sign that they were headed in the right direction.

“Almost there,” Lucas said, his voice filled with relief as they turned another corner and saw the faint outline of the entrance.

The heavy metal doors loomed ahead, their surface scratched and dented from years of neglect. Ava approached cautiously, testing the handle. It groaned as it opened, revealing the cool night air outside.

One by one, they stepped into the open, the weight of the facility’s oppressive atmosphere lifting as they emerged into the fresh air. The stars overhead twinkled in the clear sky, a stark contrast to the darkness they had just escaped.

Ava turned to the group, her expression serious but calm. “Good work. Let’s load up and head back to Green Arbor.”

As they made their way to the vehicles, Lucas glanced at Callie, who still clutched her rifle tightly. “You okay?” he asked.

Callie nodded, the glow stick on her harness swaying with her movements. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

Lucas smiled. “You did good in there. Don’t let Darren get to you.”

Callie managed a small smile in return. “Thanks, Lucas.”

With the group reassembled, they pushed forward, moving carefully through the winding halls. Ava’s focus never wavered as she guided them back toward the entrance. The sight of the door Ava had shot earlier brought a flicker of relief to the group. " not far now, stay together, " Ava called back as she step though the door.

Finally, the entrance loomed ahead, a faint glow of light visible through the cracked frame. The group collectively exhaled, their tension easing as they reached the exit.

Ava paused at the threshold, glancing back at the team. Her tone softened, carrying a rare hint of approval. “Alright, other than the odd bit of messing around, you all did great. Let’s get this gear loaded up and see if Lucas here can put Echo back together.”

Lucas smirked, shaking his head. “No pressure, huh?”

"Nope, no pressure bookworm," getting a few light chuckles and laughter from the cadets.

The door and the end of this journey was insight, the weight of their ordeal lifting slightly. With a renewed sense of purpose, they stepped into the cool air, ready to move Echo’s future to Green Arbor.