“Out of the way!” Mila kicked an unfortunate woman who had wandered in front of her to the side. She weathered the withering stare from Isabel and did it again, this time hitting a rough-looking man.

Behind them, Mila felt Oscar still pursuing them. Being in the middle of the crowd had helped them to gain some distance, and the boy wasn’t attacking.

But now, Mila had to suffer Isabel’s glares each time she hurt someone. It wasn’t like she wanted to. It simply was the most optimal way towards the tunnel system.

“...Careful…”

Mila felt the attack comming. She let her girl handle it and continued to run. The impact on her back came soon after, sending her stumbling forward.

The people around them reacted immediately, trying to disperse. Mila felt sorry for them. The surrounding buildings were burning, not leaving a lot of places to hide. They simply pressed against each other, adding even more chaos to the streets.

They were near the tunnels, and Mila had given up the hope of getting rid of the pursuing menace. She didn’t look back, racking her brain for any possible way of delaying Oscar enough for them to get away.

There was nothing she could do. Mila put all her strength in her step, then jumped over a burning pile of trash. She felt Isabel flare her barrier, protecting them both from any stray flames latching on their clothes.

Upon landing, Mila noticed one of Naran’s men giving her a sign. She made several short jumps to land near him. “Delay the boy who chases after us. He won’t attack civilians.”

The roguish man nodded, then gave a few quick hand signs to his comrades hiding around.

Mila didn’t stick around to see the results. She just hoped Oscar wouldn’t lash out in anger and wouldn’t start killing indiscriminately.

Hearing the shouts and not a battle arise behind, Mila sighed in relief. For a whole seven seconds, she could move towards the tunnel entrance in relative peace.

Then - a sudden shuddering scream reached Mila’s ears. Those weren’t rare in the flame-illuminated chaotic city, but this one…

“It came from where they tried to stop Oscar.” Mila agreed with Isabel’s sudden hug. Her girl was looking back in silence. Mila couldn’t see Isabel’s face, but she could guess what Isabel was feeling from the faint tremble. “We will stop him. Just…”

Isabel’s hug grew stronger. “...Sorry…”

Mila could only guess the reason Isabel was apologising. But it didn’t matter. In Mila’s mind, there was nothing to apologise for. “For now, we have to get out of the city.” She looked at the distant walls with a grim expression.

Why hadn’t the barrier holding them in fallen yet?

With all the gangs and the military and who knew what else fighting for survival - how was everyone still trapped inside?

While crunching on the possibilities, Mila almost missed the entrance point into the tunnels.

The building was half destroyed by the spreading fire and began collapsing. But this was it. Mila took in the ashy air. “Isabel?”

A feebler-than-usual barrier settled around their bodies. Mila thanked her girl and rushed inside the raging fire.

It tried to nip at their clothes but was always stopped. Mila squinted to try and see through the blazing fire, relying mostly on her memory to find a way towards the basement.

Some burning wooden beams and planks had collapsed on top of the stairway. Mila kicked the debris away while waiting for Oscar to arrive. She hoped they had lost him but feared they hadn’t.

The attacks didn’t come. Mila glanced back, then moved down, finding the entrance into the tunnels open - likely left like this by escaping people, trying to get away from the fire.

Not sensing anyone near, Mila let go of Isabel and helped her girl get down. She followed right after, closing the latch and hiding the entrance, making it almost impossible for their pursuer to find it.

There was a sudden silence and darkness around them now. Mila landed next to Isabel and took her girl back into her arms.

“...I… walk…” Isabel feebly protested.

Which Mila didn’t quite believe. Not when Isabel couldn’t even fight her way out of Mila’s arms. “Of course, you can.” She held Isabel closer, feeling her anger flare again. “But we have to rush.” She began running towards the centre of this tunnel system.

A bit further away, Mila found a group of refugees. They were blindly trying to find their way forward. None of them had light sources, and all of them panicked upon hearing them coming.

Mila pushed past them, knocking a couple down on their backs. She found a few more such groups.

Most of these people were fine - hidden here from the terrors that plagued this night. Some had torches, and those seemed to recognise them, calling after in restrained voices.

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Mila ignored them. She couldn’t help them. What was important now was to get back to Naran. She turned around another corner, bumping into one of his men. “Where is your boss?” She asked immediately.

It took an annoyingly long moment for the man to recognise them. And even then, he spoke too slowly. “He is,” A pause. “At the digging-”

Mila didn’t wait for him to finish. She had a vague idea of where it was and knew there would be someone quicker down the road to guide them.

It didn’t take more than twenty steps to find a group of exhausted-looking, injured hooligans nursing their wounds. Mila repeated the question and was shown the way.

Still, without a guide, Mila continued to run further and deeper into the tunnel system. They encountered more fighters - none of which could keep up with them. All they got were directions.

“...Mila…” Isabel whispered. “...These… People…” There were a lot of powerful emotions in her voice.

“They have fought hard.” Mila let her expression soften as she snuggled against Isabel to help her. “And they have kept this place safe.”

Which was rather surprising. Mila would have thought Naran’s people would have lost more ground. But perhaps Helly’s men had been enough to keep intruders at bay.

Judging by the groups of fighters and messengers moving around, the fighting was still fierce. Mila also noticed the mementoes some of the returning people carried. She could guess those belonged to those who didn’t survive.

“Stop!” Another group appeared in front of them, parting the darkness with a dim magical orb. The leader held a sword, blocking their way. “Who are you?” He squinted to make out the preaching forms.

But upon them coming into the light, he jumped back in fright. “S-sorry! The boss told us to let you pass and lead you her way.”

Mila felt Isabel’s hands grip her ruined cloak. She knew what to ask. “Was she with a man she calls ‘Tiny’?”

Upon hearing the nickname, the man scowled. “Yes. Andrew was with her. As were a bird and a bloody wolf.”

“Huh,” It appeared Helly’s underlings didn’t quite appreciate the woman’s naming sense. Mila was a little curious about the man’s nickname. “Lead the way.” But there was no time.

The man nodded. “Arty will show you the way. He is fast on his legs.”

Even before the man finished speaking, Mila was moving. A jolly-looking man joined her, pointing at which twist and turn to take. “We made these passages an hour ago.” He showed them through what could only be called a hole. “We needed a quicker way to move tools and the injured.” Came an explanation.

To Arty’s credit, he managed to keep up with Mila. And the further he led them, the more cramped the experience became.

The tunnels were filled with various boxes, supplies, tools and building materials. And the airflow was terrible. Mila now knew where Naran had stuffed most of his prepared contingency plans.

And Arty affirmed it. “It seems Boss Naran had separated this part from the rest of the tunnels. No one knew there were even more holes for him to hide.” He paused. “Though many suspected.”

They slowed down again to crawl through yet another hole. Once done, Mila helped Isabel up. They were there. She could hear the sound of heavy digging, curses, shouts and grunts.

A dirty woman was waiting for them. She hugged Arty and then indicated for Mila and Isabel to go further.

Mila took Isabel’s hand and then walked inside a hubbub of activity - a newly carved hall full of workers and freshly dug dirt. She noticed Andrew, Naran and Helly standing on the side immediately.

They simply stood out with how everyone else stepped around the small group with great care - mostly due to the injured, growling wolf, who was being petted by Andrew.

“Isabel!” Andrew moved first, running towards them, leaving the whining, pouting wolf behind. Mr Crow followed him, landing on his shoulder. “You are awake!” There was palpable relief in his voice.

But Isabel was having none of it. She retreated behind Mila, hiding her weakness by leaning on the smaller girl. “...Asshole…”

Not that Andrew heard Isable. In his excitement, he completely missed the murmur. “Why are you not saying anything?” He stopped midway, surprised by the timid reaction.

“She did. You didn’t hear.” Mila felt Isabel’s hands grip her shoulders. Her girl didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Or more that she couldn’t have it right now. “Helly.” She nodded towards the woman who was also stomping their way.

“What the fuck happened?” Helly overcame the surrounding noise with the pure power of her voice. “No. Don’t answer. I know when to stop. And-” She lowered her voice to a more manageable level.

“What? How about-” Andrew interrupted but was stopped by Mr Crow’s chirp. “Right. We still have to get out of here.”

These words irked Mila. “With us or with her?” She pointed at Helly.

“You have it!” Helly inserted herself into the conversation again, not letting the trio speak. “Give it to me!” She loomed over Mila with an extended hand.

Mila looked at the palm in front with surprise. It took her a moment before she remembered the gun tucked away in her clothes. She hesitated, not having decided what to do with it. Mila had hoped to bargain for something with Helly, but…

The woman was demanding action now. Helly appeared to be ready to strike, ignoring all possible consequences.

If Mila had been the woman an hour back, she would have given up the weapon immediately. But now, she was much stronger. While Mila didn’t think she could win against Helly, she also didn’t think she would lose. And the woman wouldn’t strike decisively.

“No.” Mila refused. “Naran.” She called right after. “Is the way out ready?”

A punch flashed before Mila, trying to reach her face but was stopped by a barrier. Isabel leaned forward. “...Pay…” She threatened.

Mila herself had the black dagger in her hand, which she twirled around. She considered how much trouble the woman was worth. Andrew was hesitating even now, being not much use in the sudden conflict.

It all was too complicated. Mila felt Isabel and Helly both growing increasingly angry and uncontrollable. But what could she do? What was the right option to pick?

At that moment, another person materialised next to them. “Please give Hellyana her grandfather's memento.” Polonomia’s obscured voice made a suggestion. “You owe us the favour.” She looked at Isabel.

Mila gritted her teeth. That made the choice much easier. Even if she didn’t like it.