novelnext Chapter 10 – Let the Exploration Begin
Chapter 10 – Let the Exploration Begin
Alice was probably just as uneasy, which became obvious when her voice, laced with worry, echoed through the train car: “Oliver! Are you out of your mind? We don’t even know what’s out there! You two are completely insane! Why don’t we at least try calling for help first?”
A heavy silence fell over the place. Personally, I didn’t think there was much to say — at least, not in my opinion. It felt like those words were aimed more at Oliver than at me.
I mean, we had only met less than half an hour ago. It’s hard to believe anyone could form a real bond that quickly. So I just stayed on the sidelines, quietly observing.
Oliver, tension written all over his face, squeezed his eyes shut, like he was digging deep inside himself for answers—lost in some distant, heavy thought.
Moments later, he turned slowly, locking eyes with Alice in a way that made her catch her breath. His expression, though grim and shadowed, carried a subtle tenderness — like, in that moment, she was the only thing left giving him any hope.
He looked at her for a long second before speaking, his voice edged with urgency: “We don’t have a choice, Alice. If what they told us in that white room is actually true... if it’s real, then the world we knew is already gone. And if we don’t adapt fast to whatever this new reality is... we’re all going to die”
Honestly, I was genuinely surprised by how quickly he seemed to have accepted everything. And the truth is, I know I’ve been acting strangely too — like none of this really matters to me.han, watch over Alice and Noa while we’re gone. We’ll come back as fast as we can, but we don’t know what’s out there”
Ethan nodded, slow and firm. His eyes, filled with resolve, met Oliver’s for a second. Then, gripping his own arm, he gave it a light squeeze — a small but deliberate gesture of strength.
His deep, steady voice broke the silence: “Yeah. Don’t worry. I swear I’ll protect both of them with everything I’ve got”
Oliver gave a faint smile and nodded, like something unspoken passed between them. The train door opened, and we stepped out. As soon as my feet touched the ground, a strange feeling washed over me — like I’d just stepped through an invisible barrier.
It wasn’t physical, but more like the warm air from the train vanished entirely, replaced by a faint, chilling breeze that wrapped around me. Oliver stood beside me, his face layered with emotions — a silent storm behind his eyes.
Maybe he was feeling the same thing I was. And if there was one difference between us, it was this: while I tried to stay calm, the bow in Oliver’s hands was trembling, just slightly. Not enough to throw off his aim, but... enough for me to notice.
That moment of vulnerability didn’t last long though. With one sharp motion, he tightened his grip on the bow, and the trembling stopped — like it had never even happened.
“Ready?” he asked, slowly turning toward me again.
I nodded, and we started moving through the ruins of the subway. The place was desolate — broken walls, scattered debris. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure we were still in the subway anymore. A rusted train still sat on the platform, but everything else felt... otherworldly.
The air was thick — damp and heavy, with a darkness so dense it felt like it could swallow you whole. There was a weight to it, like something just waiting in the shadows to strike the moment we slipped up. It was like the atmosphere itself was on edge, waiting for one wrong move to reveal its hand.
Oliver definitely sensed it too. His eyes scanned every corner, sharp and alert, like he expected danger to jump out at any moment. Our formation was far from ideal, and his fear of an ambush made everything worse — every step more uncertain, more tense. That’s when I decided I needed to speak up, before things got worse.
“Oliver” I said, trying to sound steady: “I have an ability that lets me detect nearby presences. I’ve never used it in a real situation, so I don’t know how reliable it is... but I think it’ll help. We won’t get caught off guard so easily”
He looked at me for a long moment before giving a slow nod. I noticed his expression ease a little, like the tension in his body had softened — reassured by the thought we wouldn’t be walking blind. His grip on the bow tightened again — not from fear this time, but purpose.