The group continued their careful journey through the dark, humid sewer system, each step echoing in the narrow corridor. The air was thick with the smell of dampness and rot, and the harsh glow from their flashlights illuminated only small patches of the wet stone floor ahead. The steady drip of water from above added to the unnerving silence, broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional quiet exchange.

  Vivian walked at the back, still trying to keep her pace steady, though the blood seeping through her bandages was a constant reminder of how much her body was starting to give out. Her skin was pale, too pale, her face drawn with exhaustion, and her breath came in short, shallow bursts. Every time she tried to stand taller, her legs would shake, and she would quickly brace herself against the wall, trying to maintain her balance. Her body was fighting, but it was losing.

  Whiz kept a watchful eye on her, glancing over his shoulder as they moved. "Vivian, you need to let me look at that wound again. You’re losing too much blood."

  Vivian glanced at him briefly, shaking her head. "I’m fine," she said, though the weakness in her voice betrayed her. "I can keep going."

  But Whiz wasn’t convinced. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the way her body swayed with each step, her face gradually paling. "No, you’re not. We’ll take care of it as soon as we’re in a safer place, but you need to stop pushing yourself."

  The rest of the team fell into a tense silence, all of them exchanging worried glances. Even Gator, who usually kept a confident, tough exterior, was concerned. He had seen people break before, and the way Vivian was moving didn’t sit right with him.

  "Vivian," Gator said slowly, "you need to come with us. Back to the base. You’re not going to make it if you don’t get proper medical help. It’s the only way."

  Vivian’s eyes flicked from Gator to the others, and the weight of her refusal hung in the air before she even spoke. "No," she said flatly, her voice hoarse. "I’m not going to your base."

  The words were simple, but they struck a chord with the team. Razor’s jaw tightened at the stubbornness in her tone, but it was clear to him—clear to all of them—that she wasn’t just rejecting their help; she was refusing something deeper, something they couldn’t yet understand.

  "Why?" Razor asked quietly, his voice rough. "We’re not leaving you here alone. You need medical treatment. You need rest. It’s the only option."

  Vivian’s eyes hardened, her face betraying a flash of pain as she took a step forward, determined to push through despite her body’s protests. "Because every time I’m with someone, they die," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "And I can’t—I won’t—be responsible for that."

  The team froze, absorbing the weight of her words. The heaviness of her past, of whatever she had been through, was evident in her eyes. But they weren’t about to let that stand between her and survival.

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  "You’re not going to kill anyone, Vivian," Gator spoke firmly, stepping toward her, his expression softening. "We’re in this together. We’ll get through this together. You’re not alone anymore."

  Vivian shook her head, the exhaustion creeping into her voice. "I’ve been alone for a long time. And every time I’ve let someone in... they’ve ended up dead." Her gaze dropped, and for a moment, she seemed lost, almost broken.

  She took a deep breath, and then, as if to prove her point, she tried to straighten herself again, determined to keep moving. But her legs betrayed her, giving out from under her. She lurched forward, her body swaying, and before she knew it, she was in Razor’s arms.

  The world around her blurred, the darkness of the tunnel swallowing her as she felt his strong grip catch her, pulling her into his chest. She felt strangely secure in his arms, despite the fear and confusion that churned inside her. His arms, so steady and firm, offered a brief moment of safety, a sense of protection that she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time. She felt herself sway against him, her consciousness slipping, but she fought to stay awake.

  Razor’s heart skipped a beat as he caught her, his chest tightening as her fragile form sank into him. For a moment, he just stared down at her, his gray eyes locking onto the delicate, pale face that was now so close to his. Her platinum blonde hair framed her features, her forest green eyes wide with a mixture of fear and exhaustion. He could feel the heat of her body, the slow rise and fall of her breath, and the vulnerability she was trying so hard to hide.

  He couldn’t help but feel the strange sense of protectiveness surge through him. He hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected her to feel so... fragile. It made him tense, his muscles tight as he fought against the strange warmth spreading through him. He looked at her face for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on her lips before snapping his focus back to her eyes.

  "Vivian…" he murmured, his voice low. "You’re not going to be alone, not if you come with us."

  Her voice was weak, barely a whisper. "Please… don’t take me to the base," she begged, her eyes fluttering as she struggled to keep consciousness. "I can’t be a lab rat again."

  Razor’s grip tightened imperceptibly, and his heart pounded as he tried to make sense of her words. Lab rat? What the hell did she mean by that?

  The team gathered around them, sensing the deep tension that had suddenly settled between them. Gator, stepping closer, frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, Vivian?" he asked softly. "What do you mean by 'lab rat'?"

  But Vivian’s eyes were already closing, her strength slipping away with every passing second. She didn’t respond, her head drooping slightly as her body began to lose the fight.

  "I can’t go… it’s final," she whispered, almost too faint to be heard.

  The silence stretched, the team exchanging glances, the weight of her refusal sinking in. They couldn’t just leave her here like this, but they also couldn’t force her to go to the base if she wasn’t ready.

  Jace, who had been standing back, stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. "I’ll stay with her," he said, looking at the others. "I’ll stay here until we figure out what to do. The rest of you can leave. We can keep in touch."

  Whiz nodded as well, though his expression was filled with concern. "I’ll stay too, as her medic. I’ll keep an eye on her wounds."

  Vivian immediately shook her head, her voice weak but still holding a trace of defiance. "No," she said, the word sharp despite her fatigue. "You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine."

  Hale, who had been watching the exchange in silence, now spoke up. His tone was firm, resolute. "Jace stays with her," he said. "we need to keep in touch until we regroup. We can’t afford to leave anyone behind."

  Vivian opened her mouth to protest, but the exhaustion in her eyes made it impossible for her to argue further. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and with a soft sigh, she gave a reluctant nod. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Okay… but only until tomorrow morning."

  Jace gave her a reassuring nod, while the rest of the team turned to leave, their expressions filled with unspoken concern. The tunnel fell silent, only the faint sound of water dripping could be heard. As the group made their way back toward their route, Razor turned to Jace and Whiz.

  "Make sure she’s safe," he said, his voice low, his eyes locking with Jace’s. "Don’t let anything happen to her. Keep the earpieces on at all times. If anything goes wrong, you contact me immediately." His gaze shifted to Whiz, a warning clear in his tone. "That goes for you too, Whiz. Stay in contact."

  Jace gave a quiet but determined nod, his fingers adjusting the earpiece in his ear. "Understood, Lieutenant. We’ll be in touch."

  Razor’s eyes lingered on them for a moment longer before he nodded once more and turned away, signaling to the rest of the team to continue their journey. As they disappeared into the dark tunnel, their footsteps echoing off the wet walls, Vivian, now surrounded by Jace and Whiz, closed her eyes briefly, feeling the weight of the decision settle over her. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel quite so alone.