The tremors didn't stop.
Even standing on B5, the floor vibrated beneath our feet—
shuddering like something enormous groaned beneath it.
Lucian pressed his back to the wall, scanning the tablet with shaking hands.
"B6 is fully gone.
B7 is gone.
B8… completely wiped."
Rowan clutched my arm.
"And B5—? Are we safe here?!"
Lucian didn't answer.
Which meant no.
Chandler pushed off the railing, one arm braced around two trembling Phase Zero children.
"We can't stay here.
Where's the next exit?"
Lucian swallowed hard.
"Up.
Two more floors.
B3 is the closest stable level."
Horace nodded, voice low and direct.
"We climb."
He shifted Elliot from his shoulder to carry him upright, half-supporting him with a strong arm.
Elliot's head lolled against Horace's chest.
He looked exhausted.
Drained.
Barely conscious.
But the moment I touched his cheek—
He reacted.
His fingers curled around my wrist weakly.
"…Elle…"
My heart clenched.
"I'm here.
Right here."
Lucian adjusted his glasses, voice trembling.
"Elleanore—
he's locking onto you completely.
If you move too far, he'll destabilize again."
Rowan stayed close behind me, clutching the back of my coat.
"I'm not letting her out of my sight anyway."
Sev and Len pressed into my legs, trembling.
The children mirrored them—
eight small bodies instinctively clustering behind me like I was gravity itself.
Elo held onto my sleeve.
"…Elle…
go up…
please…"
Horace looked at me.
"You lead."
Chandler rolled his shoulders.
"I'll guard the rear."
Rowan inhaled sharply.
"I—
I'll stay with Elle."
"And I'll keep the path clear," Horace added.
Lucian took point at the stairs.
"Everyone move.
The system's collapse is accelerating."
THE CLIMB — AGAIN
The stairwell door opened with a groan.
Lights flickered violently overhead.
The air smelled like burning cables and dust.
Lucian motioned urgently.
"Up—
quickly—"
We climbed.
One step at a time.
Elliot dragged his feet, barely conscious.
Horace held nearly all of his weight.
I kept my hand within Elliot's reach—
and every few steps he touched my fingers,
as if assuring himself I was real.
"…Elle… don't… leave…"
"I won't."
Rowan climbed beside me, eyes red, voice trembling.
"I'm not letting you fall.
I swear it."
Sev and Len climbed just beneath me, tiny hands reaching intermittently for my coat to stay balanced.
Elo guided the other children, pointing to each stable step.
Chandler carried two who couldn't walk, still casting glances down the stairwell to watch for danger.
The ground rumbled again.
Lucian nearly fell against the railing.
"THE COLLAPSE IS MOVING UP—
FASTER THAN EXPECTED—!"
Rowan yelped and grabbed me tightly.
Chandler shouted:
"THEN MOVE! MOVE!!"
We ascended faster.
My legs burned.
My arms shook.
My lungs felt tight from dust and fear.
But we climbed.
And climbed.
And climbed.
Until—
Lucian gasped.
"B4 landing—
JUST A LITTLE MORE—!"
He pushed the door open, and we spilled onto the level.
B4 — A TEMPORARY BREATH
The lights here were dim, but stable.
For the first time since B8,
the world wasn't collapsing.
We fell onto the ground—
panting, shaking, barely holding together.
Elliot collapsed into my lap immediately.
His breathing was uneven.
Rowan slid down beside us, hands trembling.
"Elle—
he's losing consciousness—!"
Chandler crouched beside Horace.
"Is he going to pass out?"
Lucian checked his vitals quickly.
"He's in severe exhaustion, panic shock, and instinct rebound.
But as long as Elleanore is close—
he stays stable."
Elliot's fingers tightened around my shirt.
"…Elle…"
I stroked his hair.
"It's okay.
I'm here.
Just breathe."
He shuddered softly.
"…don't go…"
Rowan wiped his face with the back of his sleeve.
"Elle…
let him rest—
just a few minutes—"
"I will."
Sev and Len pressed their foreheads to my lap too, seeking comfort.
The Phase Zero children gathered around us in a quiet ring—
small hands resting on my knees, my sleeves, my boots—
as if they finally believed we weren't leaving them.
Chandler ran a hand through his hair.
"Damn…
we really made it out."
Horace exhaled deeply.
"We're not out yet."
Lucian stiffened suddenly.
"No.
We aren't."
Rowan tensed.
"What…?"
Lucian's eyes fixed on a single blinking message on the tablet.
"It wasn't a malfunction."
"What wasn't?!"
"The collapse."
He swallowed hard.
"Someone triggered it."
The air froze.
Chandler straightened sharply.
"You mean someone did this ON PURPOSE?"
Lucian nodded.
"Yes."
Horace's tone darkened.
"Who?"
Lucian turned the tablet toward us.
A single line flashed on the display:
MANUAL DETONATION: INITIATED (LEVEL B8–B6)
AUTHORIZATION KEY: ADMIN — C.
Rowan went pale.
"C…
C as in—"
Lucian whispered:
"Caliban."
My stomach dropped.
Chandler cursed.
Horace's jaw clenched.
Rowan looked at me in horror.
"He…
he tried to bury us alive…"
Lucian nodded grimly.
"And his priority wasn't us."
His gaze lowered to Elliot.
"He was trying to bury Elliot."
Elliot stirred at his name.
"…Elle…?"
I held him tighter.
"It's okay.
You're safe."
His eyes fluttered open.
Tired.
Pained.
Fearful.
Then his fingers reached for me—
weakly—
"…don't leave me…"
And instantly,
every boy in the room stiffened.
Chandler's eyes flicked to Elliot's grip on me—
jaw tightening with something sharp.
Horace's hand subtly moved closer to my shoulder—
not claiming,
but protective.
Rowan's breath hitched—
both relieved and anxious.
Lucian looked away respectfully.
Even Sev and Len huddled closer—
fear of losing me
woven into instinct.
The Phase Zero children murmured softly.
"Elle…"
"Elle stay…"
"Elle safe…"
And Elliot—
he leaned into me with the last of his strength.
"…I'm here…
right…?"
My heart ached.
"Yes.
You are."
He exhaled shakily.
"…then I'm okay…"
And for the first time since we found him—
he stopped trembling.
BUT BEFORE WE COULD REST—
The lights flickered.
Lucian's head snapped up.
"Oh no—
the collapse has reached B5—
we don't have time."
Chandler groaned.
"You've GOT to be kidding me—"
Horace stood immediately.
"Elleanore."
I lifted Elliot carefully, helping him stand.
Rowan steadied me.
Sev and Len took my sleeves.
The children gathered around.
Lucian pointed toward the next stairwell.
"B3 is stable.
Once we reach that floor,
we're OUT of the Below system."
Chandler cracked his knuckles.
"Then let's finish this."
Horace reached for Elliot, intending to help—
but Elliot's fingers locked around my wrist.
Rowan blinked.
"He…
he won't let go of her…"
Lucian nodded.
"He can't.
She's the anchor of his stability."
Chandler barked a rough laugh.
"Great.
We climb like a conga line."
Horace shot him a look, but didn't deny the truth.
I adjusted my hold on Elliot.
His forehead pressed weakly against my shoulder.
"…Elle…"
"Let's go," I whispered.
"Let's get out of here."
The group tightened formation.
And together—
limping, breathless, shaken but unbroken—
We headed toward the final ascent.
Breaking the Surface
The rumbling didn't stop.
The walls vibrated with a deep, angry groan beneath us,
as if the entire lower system resented our escape.
Lucian waved us forward, voice strained.
"B5 is collapsing—
we have to reach B3 before the stairwell fails!"
Horace shifted Elliot's weight, adjusting his arm around Elliot's waist.
The boy could barely stand.
Elliot leaned heavily into me, mumbling:
"…Elle… don't… let go…"
"I won't," I whispered.
Sev and Len clung to my coat, their small bodies trembling.
The Phase Zero children followed Elo in a tight, instinct-driven formation—
silent and terrified, but determined.
Chandler took the rear, carrying two kids at once.
Rowan stayed glued to my side, eyes wide and unblinking.
Lucian led the way up the final stairwell.
THE LAST ASCENT
The stairwell door slammed shut behind us.
Chandler locked it in place with a metal rod he ripped from the wall.
Rowan gasped.
"Th-that's not going to hold if the floor collapses—"
"It'll buy us seconds," Chandler said.
"That's enough."
Lucian pointed upward.
"Go!"
We climbed.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Elliot stumbled.
His grip tightened around me, fingers shaking uncontrollably.
"…Elle…
hurts…"
I lifted his hand to my chest.
"I know.
But we're almost out."
Rowan reached for Elliot's other side, helping lift his weight.
"Elle—
I've got him.
Just… just don't push yourself too hard—"
Horace placed a firm hand on Rowan's back.
"You focus on the pace.
I'll cover her."
Chandler grunted as he climbed, the kids on his shoulders crying softly.
"You two stop coddling and MOVE—
this staircase sounds like it's about to fall apart!"
Lucian shouted from above:
"B4–B3 junction incoming—
just a few more steps!"
Sev tripped—
Len caught him, both of them huddling into my legs as we climbed.
Elo directed the children again:
"Hold rail…
no fall…
stay by Elle…"
Their tiny voices overlapped.
"Elle…
Elle help…"
I reached down to touch their heads gently.
"I'm here."
Elliot stirred, breath uneven.
"…don't…
leave…"
"I'm not going anywhere."
THE FINAL DOOR
The B3 landing was the first stable surface we'd touched in what felt like hours.
Lucian slammed his tablet against the door scanner.
"COME ON—
OPEN—
OPEN!"
The scanner flashed red.
Rowan panicked.
"No—
NO—
NOT NOW—!"
Chandler banged his fist against the metal.
"LUCIAN—
GET. THIS. DOOR. OPEN."
"THE SYSTEM IS STILL OVERRIDING—
I CAN'T—"
The corridor behind us cracked.
A deep splitting sound—
CRRRRKKKKKKK—
Horace's eyes snapped wide.
"Lucian.
Now."
Lucian gritted his teeth.
He forced the tablet into emergency bypass mode, swiping manually through error screens.
"Override—Override—Override—"
Elliot suddenly tensed violently.
"No—
no—
it's coming—"
My stomach dropped.
"WHAT'S COMING?!"
Lucian froze.
"Subject Ten—
it's still moving—!!"
Rowan screamed.
"NO—NO—WE CLOSED IT—WE CLOSED THE DOOR—!"
But Elliot shook his head, voice weak but terrified:
"It's not following—
it's collapsing with the lab—
it's being dragged down…
and it wants…
me to…
stay with…
it…"
My blood went cold.
Chandler swore.
Horace tightened his grip on his weapon.
Lucian slapped the door panel again.
"COME ON, COME ON—"
The scanner flashed—
Green.
Chandler shouted:
"GO!!!"
Horace grabbed Elliot under one arm and shoved us through the doorway.
Rowan pulled Sev and Len inside.
Elo herded the children through like a mother hen.
Chandler dove inside last and slammed the door shut.
Lucian locked it.
Hard.
THE FINAL COLLAPSE
The moment the lock sealed—
the entire stairwell behind us caved.
CRASH.
A deafening roar shook the air.
Dust blasted through the cracks.
Rowan covered his head, trembling.
Chandler shielded the kids with his body.
Horace braced himself like a barrier.
I held Elliot tightly as he sagged against me.
The world didn't fall quiet.
But it stopped trying to kill us.
Lucian pressed his forehead to the door.
"…We made it."
Rowan sobbed with relief.
Chandler dropped to his knees, letting the kids cling to him.
Horace finally lowered his weapon, shoulders loosening for the first time.
Elo hugged my leg.
Len leaned into my thigh.
Sev curled into my coat.
The children murmured.
"…Elle safe…"
"…Elle here…"
"…safe now…"
I looked down at Elliot.
His eyes fluttered.
He whispered:
"…Elle…
are we…
out…?"
I brushed my hand through his hair gently.
"Yes.
We're out."
His breath shook.
"…good…"
Then he went limp.
Rowan grabbed my sleeve.
"Elle—
ELLE—
Elliot—he—HE—!"
Lucian moved fast.
"He's not dead—
just unconscious.
Extreme exhaustion.
But stable."
Rowan broke down, pressing his forehead to my shoulder.
"Thank god…
thank god…"
Chandler smirked weakly.
"Tell your brother not to do that again."
Horace placed a steadying hand on my back.
"We're safe, Elleanore."
I looked around—
At the sealed door.
At the children.
At the boys.
At the trembling lights of B3.
A deep breath left my lungs.
"Then let's go home."