Chapter 56: A Fragile Truth

The cold night air shocked the system as they emerged into the dense woods from the shaft. Ava took a deep breath, the fresh air clearing the tension built during their harrowing escape from the tunnels. For a brief moment, there was silence—only the sounds of falling leaves in the wind and the faraway calls of night animals. Lucas stood beside her, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. Lydia and Callum were just behind, still catching their breath, while Leon was the last to pull himself up from the shaft. He moved slowly, his body stiff with exhaustion, but an urgency in his eyes hadn’t wavered. Ava kept her distance from Leon, her grip still tight on her gun. She wasn’t ready to let her guard down just yet. Leon’s sudden decision to help them, his mysterious warnings, and how he had navigated the tunnels raised too many questions. “Is it safe?” Lydia asked, glancing around the trees as though expecting an ambush at any moment. “For now,” Ava said cautiousl