The tunnels didn't just shake—
they roared.
A deep, thunderous sound rolled through Sublevel B, the kind of sound that meant everything was about to come down.
Horace held me to his chest, one arm beneath my knees, the other gripping my back tight to him despite his cracked ribs. His breathing was ragged, shallow—pain with every inhale—but he didn't stop moving.
"Stay with me, Elleanore," he whispered, voice thick with fear.
"I'm getting you out."
My eyes fluttered, but I forced them open.
"Horace… put me down… you're hurt—"
"No."
He didn't raise his voice, but the word hit harder than any shout.
"You don't get to ask me to leave you. Not ever."
Behind us, Rowan clutched Chandler's shoulder with his uninjured arm, limping badly.
Cassian half-carried Aiden, who drifted in and out of consciousness.
The ceiling groaned ominously.
Rowan shouted over the noise,
"WE NEED TO MOVE—RIGHT NOW—THE SUPPORT BEAMS ARE GOING—!!"
Cassian yelled back,
"WHICH WAY? EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME—"
"I—I don't know, okay?!" Rowan snapped, voice cracking.
"I've never been in THIS part of the sublevel—Lucian's route was off the grid—"
Chandler turned and smacked Rowan lightly on the chest.
"HEY—HEY—FOCUS—if you panic, WE panic!"
Rowan glared.
"I'm NOT panicking, my shoulder is JUST SEPARATING FROM MY BODY—"
The ceiling cracked again, a chunk of concrete smashing down behind them.
Aiden whimpered weakly,
"Cass… too loud…"
Cassian pressed Aiden's head against his chest.
"I know—I'm sorry—I'm sorry—just stay awake, okay? Don't go back to sleep."
Aiden didn't answer.
Cassian's face crumpled.
"Aiden, please…"
HORACE IS SLOWING
I lifted my head weakly.
Horace was struggling.
His grip trembled.
His steps faltered.
His breath caught each time he shifted me in his arms.
He was pushing past what any Alpha should.
Past instinct.
Past exhaustion.
Past pain that would've broken anyone else.
He was running on sheer will.
For me.
"H-Horace…" I whispered, placing a hand on his cheek.
He flinched at the touch but forced a small smile.
"Hey… I told you. I've got you."
"You're hurt," I said softly.
He let out a pained laugh.
"So are you."
The ceiling above us cracked again.
Rowan screamed,
"MOVE, MOVE—THAT BEAM IS COMING DOWN—!!"
Horace ducked low and sprinted with me in his arms just as a support beam snapped, crashing where we'd been standing seconds before.
Chandler squeaked,
"WE ARE GOING TO DIE—"
Rowan hit him in the ribs with his elbow.
"DON'T SAY THAT—YOU'LL JINX US—"
Cassian shouted,
"CAN WE FOCUS ON THE EXIT—PLEASE—!!!"
Aiden groaned again, barely conscious.
"Cassian… hurts…"
Cassian's voice cracked.
"I know—I know—I promise—we're almost out—we're almost there—just stay—just STAY—"
Aiden's eyes closed again.
"No—Aiden—HEY—HEY—OPEN YOUR EYES—!!"
Chandler spun.
"ROWAN—AIDEN'S PASSING OUT—"
Rowan pressed fingers against his own bleeding shoulder to stay awake.
"I KNOW—
but if we don't get out in the next minute—
WE ALL WILL—!!"
THE COLLAPSE BEGINS
A deafening crack tore through the tunnel.
Pillars gave way.
Dust exploded into the air like a sandstorm.
Horace shielded me with his body as small stones rained down.
Rowan screamed,
"RUN—RUN—THE WHOLE CEILING IS GOING—!!"
Horace gritted his teeth and sprinted.
His breath hitched with each step.
He was close to collapsing himself.
I pressed a weak hand to his shoulder.
"Horace… please… put me down. I can walk—"
"No you can't."
His voice shook.
"You can't even see straight."
"But you—"
"I don't care."
Another pained gasp.
"I'm carrying you."
Rowan glanced back as he stumbled forward, supporting Chandler and guiding Cassian with Aiden.
"Elleanore—
if Horace collapses with you in his arms, neither of you will make it—!!"
Horace growled.
"Rowan—shut up—"
The tunnel floor lurched, tilting.
Cassian almost fell, catching Aiden's limp body before he dropped him.
Aiden made a faint sound of pain. Cassian broke into tears again.
"Stay with me, Aiden—please—don't leave—not now—not now—"
Rowan yelled,
"THERE—THERE—THE RED EXIT LIGHT—GO—GO—GO—!!"
A small glowing panel flickered at the far end of the collapsing tunnel.
Chandler gasped,
"OH THANK GOD—WE'RE NOT GOING TO DIE—
WE MIGHT—BUT NOT DEFINITELY—
I'LL TAKE THE IMPROVEMENT—"
Rowan swore under his breath.
"CAN YOU NOT—"
THE FALL
We were twenty meters from the exit—
When the floor split.
A loud, terrible crack rattled the ground.
A section of the tunnel tilted away from us.
Cassian screamed,
"AIDEN—HOLD ON—!!"
Aiden slipped—
But Chandler lunged, grabbing Aiden's arm.
"GOT HIM—GOT HIM—ROWAN—PULL—PULL—!!"
Rowan grabbed Chandler's jacket and dragged both boys back.
"DON'T LET GO—
DON'T YOU DARE—!!"
I looked at Horace.
He was swaying.
Dangerously.
"Horace—
please—put me down—please—
you're going to fall—"
"I won't fall," he whispered, setting his jaw.
But his knees buckled.
Chandler screamed,
"HORACE—NO—NO—NO—"
Rowan slapped Chandler's hand off his arm.
"Chandler—grab Elleanore if she slips—go—GO—!!"
Cassian shouted,
"HORACE—DON'T YOU DARE DROP HER—DON'T YOU—"
Horace's legs collapsed—
But he twisted mid-fall, pulling me tight into his chest and taking the full impact himself.
We hit the ground hard.
I screamed as his body absorbed the blow.
Rowan, Chandler, and Cassian twisted around.
Chandler yelled,
"HE'S DOWN—HORACE'S DOWN—!!"
Cassian panicked,
"Elleanore—HORACE—ANSWER—PLEASE—ANSWER—"
Rowan staggered toward us despite his injury.
"Elleanore—get up—
get up NOW—
the ceiling—
LOOK—!!"
I turned—
Just in time to see the entire roof of the tunnel split open.
"Horace—
please—
GET UP—" I begged, shaking him.
He groaned weakly.
I tried to stand—
But my legs gave out.
Rowan stumbled and grabbed Chandler.
"WE HAVE TO DRAG THEM—NOW—
CASSIAN—HELP—!!"
Cassian laid Aiden down for a second.
"Chandler—carry Aiden—Rowan—guide us—
I'll get Elleanore—
SOMEONE GET HORACE—"
Chandler sputtered,
"I—I can't carry Horace—he's huge—he's—he's a TANK—"
Rowan squeezed Chandler's hand.
"It's okay.
We'll do it together."
THE RESCUE
Then—
A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed down the tunnel:
"STEP BACK!"
A bright flash tore through the dust cloud.
Cassian shielded Aiden.
Rowan pulled Chandler against him.
Horace weakly pushed me under him.
Boots slammed into the ground—
followed by torchlights.
Uniforms.
Civilians.
No—
Not civilians.
Royal Academy medical response teams.
One of them—an older Beta with silver hair—shouted:
"THERE ARE SIX STUDENTS—TWO DOWN—ONE UNCONSCIOUS—MOVE—MOVE—MOVE—!!"
Cassian's knees buckled with relief.
Chandler burst into sobs.
Rowan went silent—completely silent—emotion draining from his face.
For a moment I thought he fainted—
Then I realized:
He recognized the uniforms.
Not with relief.
With fear.
Another medic ran to him.
"You—bleeding—hold still—"
Rowan jerked away violently.
"DON'T TOUCH ME—DON'T TOUCH ME—"
The medic frowned.
"We're trying to help—"
Chandler grabbed Rowan's hand.
"Hey—hey—
it's okay—
they're good guys—
we're safe—"
But Rowan shook his head aggressively, chest heaving.
"No—no—no—
not them—
not those uniforms—"
Chandler squeezed his hand harder.
"I won't let them take you, okay?
Not without me."
Rowan's breathing steadied—barely.
I stared.
He was terrified of the medical team?
Why—
Another medic knelt beside Horace.
"Broken ribs—cracked clavicle—possible internal bleeding—
we need a stretcher—NOW—!!"
I clutched his hand.
"Horace—Horace—don't leave—
please don't leave—"
He forced his eyes open.
"I'm here…
still here…"
Cassian ran to us with wild eyes.
"Elleanore—
Horace—
Aiden's not waking—
he's—he's not—"
My heart dropped.
The medic beside Aiden checked his pulse.
"He's alive.
Weak, but alive.
We need to get them all out NOW."
Rowan forced himself upright, swaying.
Chandler supported him instantly.
Another medic approached Rowan.
"Sir—you're wounded—please let me treat—"
"I'M FINE," Rowan snapped.
"His shoulder's messed up," Chandler said quickly.
"He's being stubborn—don't listen to him—fix him—please—"
Rowan glared at him.
"Chandler—stop—"
Chandler glared back.
"No. You stop."
For a moment—
Rowan froze.
Something in his expression cracked.
The medic began wrapping his shoulder.
Rowan didn't fight again.
LIFTED OUT OF HELL
Two medics lifted Horace onto a stretcher.
He groaned weakly.
"E—Elleanore…
stay close…"
"I'm right here," I whispered, walking beside him while medics supported my shaking steps.
Chandler and Rowan limped behind us.
Cassian carried Aiden.
More medics swarmed, guiding us up a narrow emergency ramp as Sublevel B caved in behind us.
Dust filled the tunnel.
Lights flickered.
The world shook—
And then—
We burst through a metal door—
into cold night air.
A courtyard.
Open sky.
Breath.
Freedom.
Chandler collapsed onto the ground, laughing and sobbing at once.
Cassian clung to Aiden as medics tried to take him.
Rowan sank to his knees and covered his face.
And Horace—
Horace reached for me weakly.
"Elleanore…"
I grabbed his hand.
"I'm here."
He exhaled—
and closed his eyes.
Not from pain this time.
From relief.
From survival.
From everything.
The Crown's Retaliation
The courtyard blurred behind us as medics rushed us into the emergency building.
Bright lights.
Cold air.
Shouts echoing off metal walls.
The smell of antiseptic hitting sharply.
Everything was too bright.
Too loud.
Too clean.
Too unreal.
Horace's stretcher disappeared down a hallway before I could follow.
"Wait—Horace—HORACE—"
I reached out, my voice cracking.
A medic gently blocked me.
"Miss—he needs immediate treatment. You'll see him when he's stable."
Stable.
The word made my stomach twist.
He had been bleeding.
He had been crushed.
He had pushed far past his limit to carry me out.
I needed to be with him.
But before I could demand it—
another medic took me by the arm.
"We need to check you too—your vitals are unstable."
"I'm fine," I whispered.
I wasn't.
I knew I wasn't.
My body still trembled from overextending my scent center.
My head pounded.
But all I could think about was Horace.
Then—
"MISS—WATCH OUT—!"
Someone collided with me.
Hard.
I nearly lost my balance before hands caught me.
"Elleanore—"
Cassian's voice was shaking, frantic, broken.
"You have to help—Aiden—he's—he's not—"
Aiden lay limp in his arms, his head tucked beneath Cassian's chin.
His skin was frighteningly pale.
His breathing faint, shallow.
Cassian's tears fell onto Aiden's hair as he tried to talk through his panic.
"Please—please—he's getting worse—he won't wake up—
Elleanore—what do I do—what do I DO—?"
A medic approached.
"Let us take him—"
"No!" Cassian tightened his grip, voice cracking.
"No—don't touch him—don't—"
"Cass," I whispered gently,
"let them help him."
He shook, tears spilling down.
"I can't let go—he'll think I left him—he hates waking up alone—he—"
"Cassian," I said softly.
"They'll save him.
But they need to take him now."
Cassian looked at me—
desperate
scared
lost.
Then he pressed a shaking kiss to Aiden's forehead and whispered,
"I'm right behind you.
I swear it."
Only then did he let the medics lift Aiden away.
He stumbled forward with them, refusing to fall behind.
But before I could follow—
A voice yelled down the hall:
"ROWAN—DON'T MOVE—YOU'RE BLEEDING—"
That was Chandler.
Rowan shoved someone away.
"I SAID I'M FINE—DON'T TOUCH ME—DON'T TOUCH—"
I turned.
Rowan was pressed against a wall, hyperventilating.
He kicked away a medic trying to clean his wound.
Chandler held both Rowan's wrists—not restraining, just grounding him.
"Rowan—hey—hey—look at me—LOOK AT ME—"
His voice was shaking, too, but steady enough to anchor.
Rowan's breathing hitched, a panic rising from somewhere deeper than pain.
"Chandler—no—
not the white coats—
not the needles—
not the lights—
get them away—
GET THEM AWAY—"
My breath froze.
Rowan wasn't scared of the collapse.
He was scared of the medics.
"Chandler," I whispered, "what happened—?"
"I don't know," Chandler whispered back.
"But he's terrified.
And I'm not leaving him.
Ever."
Medics backed off as Chandler slowly lowered Rowan to the floor, arms wrapped around him.
Rowan pressed his forehead into Chandler's shoulder, voice breaking:
"Don't let them take me…
don't let them…
please…"
"I won't," Chandler whispered fiercely.
"I swear."
A medic hesitated.
"He needs medical attention—"
"He gets it," Chandler said,
"but you're not going near him with needles or machines until he calms down.
Or until I say it's okay."
Rowan clung to him harder.
I felt my eyes sting.
So much pain.
So much fear.
And Lucian's name lingered behind all of it.
THE SEPARATION
A sharp voice cut through the hallway:
"Separate them."
Everyone turned.
The medic in charge—a stern Beta woman with an officer's armband—walked toward me.
"Elleanore Fonze.
By orders of the Crown, you are to be examined in isolation."
I froze.
"Isolation?" I whispered.
"Why—?"
"Your scent index destabilized," she said flatly.
"We need to confirm if you are a danger to the Academy."
Horace's words echoed:
"Elleanore… don't you ever walk toward him again."
A dread settled in my stomach.
Cassian looked back from down the hall, voice cracking,
"DON'T TAKE HER—she didn't do anything—Elleanore—"
The officer held out her hand.
"Come quietly, Miss Fonze. We are making sure you are safe."
Safe.
That wasn't what this was.
This was containment.
This was surveillance.
This was Lucian.
And then—
A new voice boomed across the hallway.
"NO ONE touches her."
Everyone turned.
A guard in full royal uniform marched through the doorway, carrying a rolled scroll sealed with the royal crest.
Behind him walked someone I didn't expect to see—
Crown Prince Horace's father.
King Aldric Frinton.
No—
Not the king.
But his advisor.
High Advisor Ronen Hale.
One of the most feared political figures in the Academy.
Cassian stopped shaking.
Rowan went dead silent.
Chandler stepped in front of him.
And I—
I felt my blood run cold.
The advisor looked from the officer to me, assessing, calculating.
"Student Elleanore Fonze," he announced,
"the Crown has issued a decree."
My throat tightened.
"What decree…?"
He unrolled the scroll.
And read:
"By authority of the Crown of Frinton,
Student Elleanore Fonze is hereby placed under protective observation
due to involvement in a Sigma-class activation event,
and is to be temporarily removed from the Academy until further notice."
Everything in me froze.
Cold.
Heavy.
Hollow.
Remove me?
From the Academy?
Chandler sputtered,
"What—WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN—"
Rowan whispered something soft and broken:
"…isolate her… bury her case… hide the evidence…"
The advisor continued reading—
ignoring the horror spreading across our faces.
"During this period, all students involved with the sublevel incident are forbidden from contacting her directly."
Cassian's knees gave out.
"NO—NO—don't take her from us—don't—please—she didn't do anything wrong—"
Chandler shouted,
"You can't do that! She literally SAVED US—"
The advisor didn't blink.
"This is not punishment.
It is containment."
My hands shook.
Containment.
Like I was dangerous.
Unstable.
A threat.
"Where—" my voice cracked.
"Where are you taking me?"
The advisor lowered the scroll.
His answer was quiet.
"To the Crown Wing."
Rowan jerked violently, grabbing Chandler's arm.
"No—
NO—THE CROWN WING—
ELLEANORE—DON'T LET THEM—
YOU CAN'T GO THERE—
IT'S NOT SAFE—"
Chandler tried to hold him still.
"Rowan—stop—please—your shoulder—"
Rowan shoved him away.
"NO—
NO—
HER BROTHER WAS TAKEN THERE—
ELLEANORE—
DON'T LET THEM TAKE YOU THERE—!!!"
Silence.
Even the medics froze.
Chandler stared at Rowan.
"What did you just say…?"
The advisor's eyes hardened.
Rowan's face went white.
He clasped a hand over his mouth, horrified by his own outburst.
"Elleanore…"
he whispered,
"don't go with them.
Don't."
Cassian grabbed Aiden tighter, shaking his head violently.
"NO. If you take her, we're going too—WE'RE ALL GOING—"
The advisor raised a hand.
"You have no authority to refuse.
She is under Crown protection now."
"Protection?!" Chandler yelled.
"Is that what you call it?! You scared Rowan HALF TO DEATH just by walking in—"
Rowan tugged hard on Chandler's sleeve, eyes wide with panic.
"Shh—stop—stop—Chandler, PLEASE—don't argue—don't—"
The advisor finally looked at him.
A slow, cold stare.
"Rowan Hale," he said quietly.
Rowan flinched so violently he nearly fell.
Chandler caught him again.
"You…" Chandler whispered,
"You KNOW him—?"
Rowan shut his eyes.
The advisor's tone softened in a terrifying way.
"You shouldn't be here."
Rowan's breath cracked.
"T-Then don't take her," he whispered.
"Take me instead."
Chandler's heart dropped.
"Rowan—…no—"
The advisor shook his head.
"No.
Elleanore must come."
He beckoned two guards.
"Escort her.
Now."
The guards stepped toward me.
Cassian screamed.
Chandler grabbed Rowan, ready to lunge in front of me.
Aiden, unconscious, whimpered.
And Horace—
Horace wasn't here.
I had no one at my side.
No one to defend me.
But then—
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Sharp.
Familiar.
Enraged.
The guards froze.
Everyone turned.
And Horace—
still in a hospital gown, bleeding from the mouth, half-bandaged—
stormed forward, gripping the wall for support.
His voice was low, shredded with pain and fury:
"Touch her…"
He lifted his head.
"…and I'll kill you."