Chapter 24 · Convoy

"How far?"

Maya doesn't turn around. Her glow flickers, stutters, goes dark for half a second. "Mile. Maybe less. Old transit hub."

"Maybe?" Rachel's got her sidearm up, scanning the tunnel walls. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer I've got."

Eli keeps his left hand raised, light bleeding through his fingers just enough to see the rails under their feet. The tunnel stinks like rust and something that died down here a long time ago. His veins still feel hot from upstairs. Like something's cooking under his skin.

Behind them, Marcus walks backward, rifle up. "Still hearing it."

The howling. Deeper in the dark. Not closer, not fading. Just circling.

"I know," Eli mutters.

"You good?"

"Yeah."

"You're limping."

"I said I'm good."

Marcus trades a look with Rachel. They think he's gonna burn out. Maybe they're right. Doesn't matter. Maya's here. She's alive. That's the only thing that—

Maya stops.

Everyone freezes.

"What?" Rachel whispers.

Maya's staring at the left wall. There's a door there, rusted shut, yellow sign faded to nothing. She takes a step toward it and her light flares, bright enough to throw shadows across the whole tunnel.

"Maya—"

She jerks her hand down.