Chapter 106: The Underground Railroad
The portal spit them out in full darkness. Darius hit the ground hard, feeling broken stones beneath his hands.
The hybrid children fell around him, their network light flickering like dying stars. "Where are we?" Luna whispered, her blood magic leaving eerie red shadows on wet walls.
"Underground," Death answered, his shadows reaching out to map their surroundings. "Old subway tubes, maybe. Haven't been used in decades."
The scaled girl struggled to sit up, her link to the hybrid network weaker than ever. "I can barely feel the others now. The Council's jamming is getting stronger."
That's when they heard footsteps echoing through the tunnel. Multiple sets, moving fast but trying to stay quiet.
Darius tensed, ready to fight, but a familiar voice called out. "Don't shoot! It's us!" Talia emerged from the shadows, her red curls matted with dirt and her hazel eyes sparkling with an intensity that hadn't been there before.
