Ellie sighed as she laid on the couch, staring at the ceiling. The place they were “given”—more like allowed to stay at—was pretty nice. Almost as good as her room at FEDRA boot camp.

  They had a couch and… well, that was pretty much it.

  It was obviously some old storage closet that could just as easily double as another cell.

  Outside, Hawk stood guard, arms crossed, keeping a silent watch. Inside, Joel was laying out two sleeping bags—one for himself, one for James. They had been given their stuff back, besides their guns, which still rubbed Ellie the wrong way.

  She had been given the couch, much to her protest. She figured it would be better on Joel’s old bones, but he had just glared at her and told her to stop complaining. She had puffed out an annoyed breath, but… she had to admit, the couch was actually pretty comfortable.

  James, meanwhile, was checking out an ancient locker in the corner that had been rusted shut. He’d been trying to pry it open for the past ten minutes, alternating between grunting, cursing, and pulling at it like sheer determination would magically break through the rust.

  "Almost got it," he muttered, digging his fingers into the seam and yanking with all his strength.

  Joel, without looking up, sighed. "You're wasting your time."

  James grinned, wiping sweat off his forehead. "No, see, you gotta believe in the process."

  Ellie rolled her eyes. “The process looks a whole lot like failure.” she added, but James just ignored her and went back to trying to open the stupid locker.

  Sighing in annoyance she decided the atmosphere in the room was super boring and pulled out her favorite book.

  The past couple of days had been so stressful she hadn’t even had the chance to think about it—No Pun Intended: Volume Too.

  If there was a Volume One, she was putting it on her bucket list.

  Flipping open the book to a random page, she asked aloud, "You guys hear about the claustrophobic astronaut?"

  James and Joel both stopped what they were doing, looking at her in confusion.

  Joel groaned loudly the second he saw what she was holding.

  James, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow. “Uh… no?”

  Ellie grinned. “He just needed a little space.”

  James let out a surprised laugh, shaking his head. Joel sighed, muttering something about regretting everything, and went back to adjusting his sleeping bag.

  Encouraged by James’ laugh, Ellie flipped to another one.

  "I once had a fear of speed bumps… but I’m slowly getting over it."

  James laughed loudly and Ellie smiled, pleased with herself.

  It had been a long time since someone actually laughed at her jokes. Since someone appreciated them the way Riley used to—

  Her smile faltered for just a second.

  No.

  She cut off the thought before it could take root.

  Instead, she kept reading, determined to not think about that memory.

  She flipped the page and cleared her throat, already grinning. "Okay, okay—this one’s really good—”

  .-.-.-.-.-.

  The next day, the trio found themselves walking through the market again under Hawk’s watchful eye. The underground space was just as alive as the day before, but now, with the knowledge that they'd be leaving soon, James tried to take in everything—as if attempting to etch every detail into his memory.

  The sheer scale of it all was staggering. The tunnels stretched far beyond what he’d initially thought, snaking through repurposed subway stations, abandoned maintenance shafts, and forgotten infrastructure that had been carefully reconstructed into something functional.

  It was incredible.

  They weren’t armed on the same level as FEDRA, but it was clear they weren’t defenseless, either. Most of the guards carried guns—some old, some modified—and they moved with the ease of people who had been doing this for years. Every now and then, James spotted one of their vehicles, beaten-down but still running, likely used for supply runs or trade.

  But what fascinated him the most wasn’t the firepower or the organization—it was their economy.

  People traded freely, bartering supplies, tools, weapons, or even favors. A man offered repairs on salvaged clothing in exchange for extra rations, while a woman handed over a handful of handcrafted bullets for what looked like a small, well-maintained flashlight. There were even businesses down here—people making things, crafting tools, sewing clothes, repairing items, and even carving figurines just to trade for something useful.

  They weren’t just scavengers. They had built a society.

  James turned to Hawk, curiosity burning in his expression. “So how many people actually live here?”

  Hawk glanced at him with a contemplative frown before answering. “Over a thousand.” His voice was steady, certain. “But this isn’t our only community.”

  James’ eyebrows shot up, grinning in surprise. “Wow! How do you guys stay hidden so well? I’ve seen people around the city while I was here, but I always thought they were just drifters or small groups.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Hawk gave a small nod. “That’s intentional.”

  James listened intently as Hawk continued.

  “The people in our community who want to go out and scavenge have to make a request. If they get approved, they’re debriefed on how to act.” His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. “They aren’t allowed to mention The Lanterns.”

  James tilted his head slightly, intrigued. “What if someone asks where they’re from?”

  “Then they lie.” His expression didn’t waver. “Anyone outside these walls thinks we’re just another group of drifters. No one travels in packs big enough to draw attention, no one returns to the same places too often, and if someone starts asking too many questions… they don’t get the answers they’re looking for.”

  Ellie, who had been listening closely, narrowed her eyes. “And what if someone finds this place?”

  Hawk’s gaze met hers, unreadable. Then, with a small shrug, he gestured to the tunnels around them. "You saw how we brought you in. We keep entrances hidden, change our routes. If someone finds a way in, we collapse it. We’ve got the advantage down here. And if we have to… we make sure they don’t leave.

  James and Ellie stared at each other and grinned, “So cool…” They muttered, making Hawk shift awkwardly.

  Joel, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his tone neutral but firm. “Is there still a group of hunters operating out of Kentucky? The Vultures?”

  Hawk’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied Joel. “…How do you know about them?”

  Joel ignored the question, his gaze steady. “So they’re still there,” he muttered to himself before looking back at Hawk. “You guys trade anything useful down here, right?”

  Hawk nodded, still watching him closely. “We do.”

  Joel sighed, running a hand down his face before exhaling. “I can give you information on them… in return for something useful in exchange.”

  Hawk’s eyes didn’t leave his. “And how exactly do you have information on them?”

  Joel hesitated for a beat before running a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening slightly. “…I’ve had dealings with them in the past.”

  Hawk didn’t respond right away. He studied Joel carefully, his expression thoughtful, as if weighing him, trying to decide what kind of man he was dealing with.

  Finally, he exhaled through his nose and gave a small nod. “I can’t make any promises, but I can take you to Lola. She’s in charge of information around here.”

  Without another word, he gestured for them to follow.

  The trio trailed behind him as he led them through several tunnels, weaving deeper into the underground stronghold. They passed through dimly lit corridors, where the low murmur of conversation and the occasional clang of tools against metal filled the air. Eventually, they stepped into a room overlooking part of the underground garage—a small, cluttered space that smelled faintly of old paper and machine oil.

  A desk sat near the far wall, buried under scattered notes and stacks of paper, with a radio sitting among the clutter, its antenna bent at an awkward angle.

  Behind the desk sat a woman James immediately recognized. She had been standing beside Akil and Peter when they were first brought in for testing. Dusky-skinned, sharp-eyed, and composed.

  Hawk rapped his knuckles against the doorframe to get her attention.

  “Lola.” His tone was respectful but direct.

  The woman—Lola, apparently—looked up and gave him a brief nod before turning her gaze toward the trio.

  “What are they doing here?” she asked curtly, eyes narrowing slightly.

  Hawk tilted his head toward Joel. “Joel here says he’s got information about the Vultures he wants to trade.”

  At that, Lola’s brow lifted slightly, her interest piqued. She turned her full attention to Joel, her gaze assessing. “What kind of information? And how do you have it?”

  James leaned against the doorframe, watching the exchange with mild interest. She seems no-nonsense.

  Joel crossed his arms, his expression as unreadable as ever. “How they work. Their tactics. How they pick their targets. Stuff of that nature.”

  Lola’s gaze didn’t waver. “And? How exactly did you come by that information?”

  Joel’s face remained neutral. “Does it matter?”

  A pause. Lola studied him for a long moment, her expression giving away nothing.

  “…I suppose not.” She finally answered, leaning back slightly in her chair. “And what do you want in return?”

  Joel didn’t hesitate. “Information on a safe passage west. And two weeks’ worth of supplies.”

  Lola tapped her fingers against the desk, considering.

  “We can give you information on a safe route.” Her voice was even, measured. “But as for supplies… that depends on how useful your information actually is.”

  Joel nodded, “Fair enough, how do you want to do this?” he asked.

  She shrugged, “Right here and now. You tell me the information and i’ll get you a map with a safe passage west.” she answered.

  Joel nodded before turning to look at James and Ellie, “Go wait outside” He told them.

  Ellie looked ready to protest but a firm look from Joel shut her down. James, less invested, simply shrugged and followed.

  "Don't go too far," Hawk called after them as they stepped into the hallway.

  Ellie didn't even turn around as she shot up a middle finger in response.

  Hawk sighed. "Charming."

  .-.-.-.-.-.

  Ten minutes later, Joel stepped out of the room, tucking a folded map into his jacket. His gaze flicked around, searching for Ellie and James, and it didn't take him long to find them.

  They were sitting on the ground near a dimly lit wall, playing some kind of hand game.

  Ellie had her hands positioned underneath James', both of them locked in an intense staring contest. Then, without warning, she snapped her hands up, trying to slap the back of his.

  She missed.

  James grinned as he smoothly yanked his hands away at the last second, his reflexes just a little faster than hers. Ellie scowled.

  Joel could already tell this had been going on for a while.

  James swapped positions, putting his hands under hers. He faked an upward slap, causing Ellie to flinch and yank her hands back instinctively—only to realize a second too late that she'd been tricked.

  “Oh, you little—” she started, but before she could fully recover, James immediately slapped the back of her hands with a loud smack.

  Ellie jerked back with an outraged yell.

  "FUCK!" she shouted, grabbing her stinging hands as James laughed like a bastard.

  Joel could already tell she’d been losing a lot based on how red the back of her hands were.

  She looked about half a second away from punching James in the face, so Joel cut in before things got out of hand.

  “Enough,” he called out, his voice firm but not harsh.

  Both Ellie and James looked up at him.

  Joel exhaled, adjusting the strap of his bag. “I got the map. We’ve secured two weeks of supplies. We’ll stay one more night, then we’re leaving Ellie.”

  Ellie, still rubbing the back of her reddened hands, frowned at how he singled her out. “What about James?”

  At her words, James finally looked up at him, waiting for an answer.

  Joel shrugged, indifferent. “I’m sure the Lanterns will take him.”

  Ellie gawked. “No way! He’s coming with us!”

  Joel’s frown deepened. “Ellie, we have a mission. We can’t just bring more people along. You remember what happened last time, right?”

  Ellie didn’t even hesitate. She turned sharply, locking eyes with James.

  “I’m immune.”

  Joel’s entire body stiffened. “Ellie!” he barked, his tone edged with warning.

  But she was already rolling up her sleeve, shoving her arm toward James. “Check it out,” she said, pointing at the bite mark. “I was bit months ago, but I’m perfectly fine.”

  James leaned forward, his usual grin replaced by curiosity. He inspected the faded scar with clear intrigue.

  Ellie continued, her voice even, “We’re heading to Wyoming to find Joel’s brother. He used to run with the Fireflies, and Joel thinks they might be able to figure out a cure by studying me.”

  James blinked, taking a moment to process it all.

  Joel groaned loudly, running a tired hand down his face, his patience officially shot.

  James, meanwhile, grinned like she had just offered him VIP seats to the end of the world. “Awesome. I’m in.”

  Joel threw his arms up in frustration. “Fine! He can come!”

  Ellie and James grinned wildly, practically buzzing with excitement as they dapped each other up, like two kids who just got away with something.

  But before they could celebrate too much, Joel’s voice cut through their moment like a blade.

  “But!”

  The sharpness in his tone snapped James’ attention back to him.

  “I have rules.” His eyes locked onto James, his expression unyielding.

  James straightened, the humor in his face dimming slightly, but he nodded.

  “You follow exactly what I say, when I say it. No ifs, ands, or buts.” Joel’s voice was firm, unwavering. “You don’t mention Ellie’s condition to anyone. Ever. And you don’t risk our lives for any of your ‘fun’.”

  His gaze hardened.

  “You already almost got us killed because you wanted to go to an infested hospital for shits and giggles. No more of that.”

  James’ grin faded slightly, and a smidgen of guilt seemed to cross his face for a moment before he nodded.

  He saluted lazily, smirking. “Got it, boss.”

  Joel’s eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything else, James turned back to Ellie, his grin fully returning as they started chattering again, their energy infectious and carefree.

  Joel exhaled slowly, shaking his head as he followed after them.

  None of them noticed the movement.

  A few feet away, near the cracks in the floor, something stirred in the dark.

  A thin, wiry tendril of orange fungus snaked up from a jagged split in the concrete. It twitched, almost sensing something, stretching toward the air.

  It wriggled, pulsing, as if testing its surroundings.

  Reaching.

  Searching.