Kieran's lungs burned as he sprinted through the labyrinth of streets, clutching the battered radio in one hand. The echo of heavy boots behind him drove him forward, even as exhaustion threatened to drag him down. Every alley, every turn was a calculated risk, but he couldn't afford to stop—not with the Enforcers on his tail.
The signal had been faint at first, barely noticeable over the static. But now it was louder, more insistent, like a beacon calling him toward… something. He didn't know if it was leading him to safety or straight into a trap, but he had no other options.
The night sky above was lit by the dull glow of the city's ever-present haze, the towering skyscrapers casting long shadows over the crumbling streets below. Kieran ducked into a narrow alley, pressing his back against the cold brick wall. His chest heaved as he tried to quiet his breathing, the distant hum of a patrol drone passing overhead.
"Target lost," a cold, mechanical voice echoed from somewhere behind him.
Kieran allowed himself a moment of relief, but only a moment. He knew better than to think they'd given up.
He glanced at the radio in his hand. The static had subsided, replaced by the faint rhythm of a pulsing signal—the same one that had started everything. He didn't understand what it was or why it seemed to resonate with something deep inside him, but it felt important, like a thread he couldn't let go of.
"What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?" he muttered under his breath.
The sound of shifting gravel snapped him back to the present. Kieran froze, his eyes scanning the alley for the source. A shadow moved near the entrance, and his heart leapt into his throat.
Before he could decide whether to fight or flee, the shadow stepped into the dim light, revealing a young woman with short, spiked hair and a scar that ran diagonally across her cheek. She was dressed in worn but practical clothes, a makeshift weapon slung across her back.
"Relax," she said, holding up her hands. "I'm not one of them."
Kieran didn't lower his guard. "Who are you?"
"Name's Ren," she said, glancing over her shoulder as if to check for pursuers. "And you're Kieran, right?"
His grip on the radio tightened. "How do you know my name?"
Ren smirked. "You're not exactly subtle. The whole district's buzzing about the kid who outran two Enforcers. Word travels fast."
Kieran frowned. He didn't like the idea of being a known name, not when he and Maya were already in enough trouble.
"Look," Ren continued, her tone softening, "I know you've got questions, but we don't have time for introductions. Those tin cans are going to double back any minute, and you don't want to be here when they do."
"Why should I trust you?" Kieran asked, narrowing his eyes.
"You shouldn't," Ren admitted, her smirk returning. "But I know a place where we can hide, and I'm pretty sure you don't have a better plan."
Kieran hesitated. She had a point. He didn't know the city's underbelly as well as he thought he did, and every move he made seemed to put him in more danger.
"Fine," he said reluctantly. "But if this is a trap—"
"It's not," Ren cut in. "Now move."
---
Ren led him through a series of winding alleys and hidden passageways, her movements quick and confident. Kieran followed closely, trying to memorize the route in case he needed to find his way back.
After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at a nondescript building nestled between two crumbling warehouses. Ren knocked on a metal door in a specific rhythm, and after a moment, it creaked open.
Inside was a small, dimly lit room filled with makeshift furniture and scattered supplies. A group of people sat around a table, their faces a mix of curiosity and suspicion as they eyed Kieran.
"This him?" one of them asked, a burly man with a shaved head.
"Yep," Ren replied, motioning for Kieran to sit. "Found him dodging Enforcers like a pro."
Kieran stayed standing, his eyes scanning the room. "What is this place?"
"Safehouse," Ren said simply. "One of the few left in this part of the city. The Enforcers don't bother us here—not yet, anyway."
"Why help me?" Kieran asked. "You don't even know me."
Ren shrugged. "You've got something they want. And if they want it, it means it's worth protecting."
Kieran frowned, his gaze dropping to the radio. The signal pulsed faintly, almost as if it were alive.
"It's not just about the radio, is it?" he asked.
Ren's expression turned serious. "No. It's not." She pulled a tablet from her bag and set it on the table, displaying a map of the city. Kieran recognized it immediately—it was the same map he and Maya had decrypted, the one showing the glowing pathways beneath the surface.
"You've seen this before, haven't you?" Ren asked.
Kieran nodded. "Maya and I found it. We thought it was just… I don't know, some kind of old network. We didn't know it was important."
"It's more than important," Ren said, her voice low. "It's everything. Those pathways—they're connected to something buried deep beneath the city. Something powerful. The Enforcers will do anything to keep it hidden."
Kieran's stomach churned. "What is it?"
Ren exchanged a glance with the others before answering. "No one knows for sure. But whatever it is, it's waking up."
Kieran's breath caught. "You mean… because of us?"
"Because of the signal," Ren corrected. "You and your sister didn't cause this—you just uncovered it. And now, the Enforcers think you're a threat."
The weight of her words sank in, and Kieran felt a pang of guilt. He and Maya had been chasing a mystery, never realizing the danger they were unleashing.
"What do we do now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ren leaned forward, her gaze intense. "We figure out what the Enforcers are hiding. And we stop it—before it's too late."
Kieran hesitated, his mind racing with questions. But one thought rose above the rest.
"I need to find my sister," he said firmly.
Ren nodded. "Then we start there."