EARTH'S SECOND FALL—5:21 AM—5 HOURS LEFT
The blue hour.
The sky began to shift from the thick darkness of the night to the pre-dawn blue. The academics subtly swayed with the steady, staggered movement of the MRAP, as they advanced metre by metre along the lonely stretch of an expressway.
The air was fresh, the morning dew settling on the roof of the vehicle, providing it a sleek surface. Levi took in a deep breath and glanced behind him.
The Academy wasn't in sight.
At the farthest end of the expressway, where the road meets the horizon, there was nothing but a hazy view—no sophisticated buildings, no sign of The Academy.
"You've been standing for a very long time," Box said to Levi, one hand on the steering wheel and the other operating the screen fixed to the dashboard.
When Levi didn't respond, Box turned to look at him. Levi was still standing, his gaze distant on the road, both hands on the headrest of the front seats.
