The air was thick with moisture and the scent of rotting wood.
The only light came from a flickering emergency glow on Elias's Watch.
Left — survival.
Right — unknown opportunity.
"Decide!" Quinn whispered harshly, looking over her shoulder.
The rumble of boots and shouting voices grew louder behind them.
Elias exhaled.
If survival meant hiding forever, he'd pass.
He wanted more.
For himself.
For Elira.
For Quinn.
He turned right.
"Follow me!" he ordered.
They sprinted into the dark, the tunnel sloping downward.
---
After minutes of running, the tunnel widened — opening into what looked like an abandoned subway station.
Rusty tracks. Shattered tiles. Broken vending machines covered in graffiti.
A forgotten world under the city.
Quinn collapsed onto a cracked bench, breathing heavily.
Elira sat next to her, hugging herself for warmth.
Elias checked the Watch.
It pulsed with faint light, displaying:
"Opportunity Detected: Hidden Resource Available."
"What now?" Elira whispered.
"We find that resource," Elias said grimly.
---
Name: Omar "Ox" Castillo
Age: 32
Profession: Former Subway Engineer, now Underground Guide
Appearance: Towering at 6'5", muscular, dark brown skin, dreadlocks tied back, a deep scar running down his left arm
Attitude: Gruff but good-hearted
Flaws: Drinks too much; trusts the wrong people sometimes
Strengths: Knows every tunnel and secret in the underbelly of the city
---
As they explored deeper into the abandoned station, they stumbled upon Ox.
He was sitting against a pillar, polishing a battered old revolver.
When he saw them, he didn't panic — just raised one thick eyebrow.
"Kids lost? Or running from the Devil?" he asked in a voice like gravel.
Elias didn't hesitate.
"Both."
Ox studied them for a long moment... then laughed.
"You're in luck.
The Devil's afraid of me."
He stood up, towering over them like a mountain.
"I know a way out," Ox said, adjusting his faded leather jacket. "But not for free."
"Everything costs," Quinn muttered.
Ox grinned.
"Smart girl."
---
In life, the most valuable things — trust, freedom, even safety — often come at the cost of something dear:
Your innocence.
Your comfort.
Sometimes even your relationships.
Elias was starting to realize: he couldn't save everyone without bleeding for it.
---
"What do you want?" Elias asked.
Ox's smile faded.
"I need a team. I've been planning to take back something that was stolen from me — something important.
Help me… and I'll show you a hidden exit.
Fresh papers, clean IDs.
A chance at real freedom."
Elias's heart pounded.
Another task.
Another risk.
But what choice did they have?
He extended his hand.
"We're in."
Ox's massive palm swallowed his in a firm shake.
"Good," Ox said. "Because there's no backing out."
In the distance, the faint echo of footsteps — their hunters were still searching.
Time was running out.
---
Ox led them into a hidden maintenance tunnel, the faint smell of gun oil and danger following them.
Ahead, lights flickered, revealing rows of strange metallic doors lining the walls.
"Welcome to the Graveyard," Ox said grimly.
"Where old secrets come to die — and some... come back to life."
Elias gripped the Watch tighter.
He had a bad feeling about this.
A very bad feeling.
---