Beneath a Dying Sky

Tia peeked cautiously into the now-empty hallway, ensuring no one was in sight.

Then, with a small nod to herself, she slipped back inside the building, her movements fluid and precise.

"Clear," she whispered, motioning for the others to follow.

Zach, Danny, and Matilda moved quickly, landing softly beside her in the corridor.

Tia's fingers darted to her hair, pulling out a slender pin that glinted faintly in the sunlight.

Kneeling by the door, she inserted the pin into the lock, her ear pressed close as she worked.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint, rhythmic click… click… of her makeshift tool against the tumblers.

"Hurry up," Zach hissed under his breath, his eyes darting toward the staircase.

Every sound from the city outside—the distant chatter, the clang of metal, the occasional whistle of a Sentinel—felt amplified, each one threatening to betray their presence.

"Give me a second," Tia replied sharply, her voice barely above a whisper. "This isn't exactly easy."

Then, with a soft click, the lock gave way as she turned the handle and pushed the door open.

"Let's go," she said quietly, stepping inside.

The group slipped into the room, their footsteps muffled by the worn carpet.

The room was heavy with the aftermath of the man's frantic departure—papers scattered haphazardly across the desk, drawers yanked open and left ajar, and a faint trace of cologne lingering in the air, mingling with the stale scent of books and dust.

"Search everywhere. Find anything valuable, and let's get out of here before someone catches us!" Zach muttered, his voice low.

Without hesitation, they split up to search the house.

The small home had four distinct rooms: a kitchen, a bedroom, a hall, and a laboratory.

Matilda darted toward the kitchen, rummaging through cupboards and drawers.

Zach headed into the bedroom, and he began sifting through the wardrobe and nightstands.

Tia stayed in the hall, while Danny slipped into the laboratory.

In the bedroom, Zach's hands moved quickly, finding a small stash of silver and bronze coins tucked away in a drawer.

He pocketed them with a grim smirk, thinking, At least this trip won't be a total waste.

Meanwhile, Matilda scoured the kitchen.

She grabbed a handful of sharp knives, balancing them carefully in her arms as she prepared to boast about her findings to Tia.

But when she returned to the hall, she found Tia standing utterly still, her ear pressed to the door, her face pale and glistening with sweat.

In the laboratory, Danny was mesmerized.

The room was unlike anything he had ever seen—walls lined with shelves bearing strange vials, beakers filled with unknown substances, and a large chalkboard scrawled with intricate diagrams and cryptic equations.

"XePuF6, PuO2, Plutonia…" Danny muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the scribbles.

He reached out to trace a delicate formation drawn in white chalk, his mind racing to comprehend the strange symbols, numbers, and formulas.

He was so engrossed that he forgot why they had entered the house in the first place.

But before Danny could comprehend the equations, Tia's panicked voice shattered through the house.

"Everyone, hurry up!" she shouted, her voice trembling.

Zach and Matilda rushed into the hall to find Tia frantically pushing a table against the door, her movements desperate.

"What's going on?" Zach demanded, his fists clenching as he moved to help.

"Someone's coming here," Tia whispered hoarsely, glancing at the crack in the door. "Might be Sentinels. Sounded like them."

Matilda's knives clattered to the floor as her face drained of color.

"We're trapped," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"No, we're not," Zach snapped, his tone sharp and unyielding.

"Barricade the door. Danny, get out of that lab now!"

Danny tore his eyes away from the chalkboard, snapping back to reality at Zach's shout. He bolted out of the lab, his heart hammering as he joined the others in the hall.

Tia and Matilda worked quickly, piling chairs and furniture against the door as Zach peered through the window, scanning for an escape route.

...

A few moments earlier…

Inside a cozy café, a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen sat by the window, her striking blue hair and piercing blue eyes catching the sunlight as it streamed in.

Her delicate features were framed by a subtle pout as she glanced at her wristwatch.

It was 12:30.

"He's late," she muttered, her voice laced with impatience.

Her eyes darted to the street outside, focusing intently on the entrance of a nearby building visible through the café window.

Moments later, a figure clad in a black robe slipped into the building. Her eyes lit up, and she sprang to her feet.

"He's back, Now!" she exclaimed softly, her tone a mix of relief and anger.

Without hesitation, she stepped out of the café.

As she reached the sidewalk, two Sentinels, their violet shirts and white pants marking their authority, approached her.

One was a tall, muscular man with a blemished face and a commanding presence, while the other was leaner with a tan skin.

"Ms. Alice, is there a problem?" the larger Sentinel inquired, his tone respectful.

Alice shook her head. "No, I'm just going to meet my friend," she replied, her voice calm.

The Sentinel nodded but wasn't convinced enough to let her proceed alone.