The hallway stretched ahead, quiet and heavy. Pipes lined the walls, some hissing softly. Lights blinked above, casting pale glows that danced across their faces. Every bootstep hit metal, low and steady, like a drumbeat before a storm.
Then Ash looked over.
"So... what do you want to talk to him about?"
Max slowed down. His shoulders sagged, not from weight, but from something inside. His eyes didn’t meet Ash’s.
"I just want to check on the people of Dunehaven... They lost too much at Sandworms’ Valley. Families... friends... All gone under the sand."
Ash watched him in silence.
"If it weren’t for you, Ash... they’d all be dead."
Ash shifted his gaze to the side, jaw tight. His hands balled up behind his back. The praise never sat well with him.
Max’s fists trembled.
"I blame myself. I should’ve left them behind. We could’ve gone on without them. Found another way. Maybe they’d still be alive. Maybe..."
Kael’s voice cut through, sharp and direct.
"Typical you. Blame yourself when things go wrong."
Ash snapped his eyes to him, heat rising behind them.
’Kael, not now. Don’t push him further.’
But Kael kept going, walking ahead of them.
"Leaving them there was risky, But if we had listened to them, we’d all be dead. They were using kids, Max. Sending children into that pit. Like they didn’t matter."
The word children hung in the air like smoke.
Kael turned his head, looking back at him. His voice dropped.
"Look... I know I’m not the best little brother. And you’re definitely not the best big one. But what you did back there? That was the best call anyone could’ve made. You saved lives. If anything, they should be thanking you."
He paused, eyes cold now.
"Besides... Dunehaven had it coming. They killed their own. That kind of crime doesn’t deserve mercy."
Ash ran a hand through his hair.
"i hate to admit it, but i agree with keal. This whole mess started because they messed with our food in the first place."
Max finally looked up. Some of the weight behind his eyes had faded.
"Yeah... You’re both right. I shouldn’t carry this alone. I’m just glad you two made it out alive."
Ash gave a slight smile.
"We’re Team Vortex. We don’t die that easy."
"Not until I say so."
A tall metal door stood ahead, glowing faint red around the edges. Cold air leaked through the cracks. On the other side, the world waited—silent, grey, and wide open.
Max stepped forward first. Kael followed.
Ash came last, shutting the door behind them.
The cold wind hit them as they stepped outside, sharp against their skin. Ironhold’s streets buzzed with life, people moving quickly through the marketplace. Some carried bags, others walked with their heads down, lost in thought.
But despite the busy crowd, a quiet tension clung to the air, visible in the tightness of every face, in the way people glanced over their shoulders.
Kael broke the silence, his voice low.
"Now I get why they all look this way. A creature wave isn’t a small deal."
Max’s eyes swept over the crowd, his expression hardening.
"I’ve been thinking about something. Why is there a creature wave all of a sudden?"
Ash raised an eyebrow, curious.
Max’s gaze drifted, his mind turning the words over slowly.
"Ever since the asteroid explosion, headquarters has been getting calls... and I’m sure this place isn’t the only one being attacked by creatures. Something’s off."
Kael shrugged, a careless gesture.
"Let’s just let it be. When the fight comes, we’ll fight and win."
Ash’s stomach tightened. He didn’t speak the thought out loud, but it lingered like a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach.
They walked on, the noise of the marketplace fading behind them. As they reached the crossroads leading to the market area, Kael’s attention shifted.
"Where’s the Infirmary?"
Max tapped his wristwatch, a flicker of blue light glowing across his face. A map appeared, casting a cold, eerie glow.
"Looks like we were going the wrong way after all."
his tone tinged with frustration.
He turned, following the map’s route. Ash, lost in his thoughts, spotted the guard from earlier—the one who had stopped him at the gate. He smiled, a moment of calm breaking through his otherwise grim mood.
’guess I should pay him a visit. I promised him after all...’
He glanced at Max and Kael.
"Well, guys, I gotta go. I’ve got a friend to meet here. I promised him I’d swing by when I got back."
Max gave a distracted nod, his focus already on the map.
"Alright. Meet us at the Infirmary when you’re done."
Ash gave a small smile, then veered off, heading toward where the guard had stood. His steps quickened, the promise pulling him forward.
Kael watched him leave, muttering just loud enough for Max to hear.
"Well, it’s still the same."
Max frowned in confusion.
Kael rolled his shoulders, like he was shaking off something heavy.
"Even if he’s still here, I wouldn’t notice. He’s too damn quiet."
Max’s face darkened, the words hitting harder than Kael intended.
"You don’t get it, Kael. He shared a little with me... back when we were heading to the meeting."
Kael’s attention shifted, curiosity piqued.
Max sighed, his voice rough, as if the words weighed more than they should.
"He talked about Mom. He’s still carrying the weight of it—the emotional trauma of losing her."
Kael’s expression twisted into frustration, his tone sharp and dismissive.
"C’mon, Max. Can you guys just forget about her and move on? Mom’s gone. She’s never coming back. Can you stop dragging it around like it’s a damn anchor?"
Max’s jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Kael, the words hanging between them, thick with unspoken anger.
"You don’t understand. We can’t just—"
Kael had already turned, walking away with that same swagger that always grated on Max’s nerves.
Max called out, his voice tense.
"You’re going the wrong way."
But Kael didn’t stop.
Max stood still for a moment, watching his brother’s retreating back. The tension between them felt heavier now, sharper.
Kael’s indifference stung deeper than Max expected. It wasn’t about dragging up old wounds, but he wasn’t ready to forget. The loss of their mother wasn’t something that could just be erased, no matter how much Kael pretended it didn’t matter.
Max rubbed his temples, the familiar ache creeping in.
’Maybe he’s right. Maybe I should just let go.’
But how could he? The memories of their mother were too vivid, too raw. The pain from that day still felt fresh, like it had never left.
With a deep, bitter sigh, Max turned and followed the map’s path, his steps echoing in the empty space between them. He didn’t know where they were headed anymore. Didn’t know if he ever would.
But he couldn’t stop moving.