They kept running without stopping. Mike was holding 098's hand as she ran behind him.
"Wait."
Mike stopped suddenly and turned around. 098 was breathing heavily, and her leg was injured.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes… I just need a moment to catch my breath."
098 sat down on the ground. Mike tore a small piece of fabric from his clothes and tied it around her wound.
"So… where are we going now?"
Mike asked.
"There's an old factory not far from here," she said. "It used to operate before the war, but now it's just a ruin. The others will meet us there."
Mike looked at her.
"How do you know all this? And… how did 088 know about the plan?"
"088 and I grew up on the streets before we became slaves."
Mike stared at her in shock.
"Wait… you and 088 knew each other?"
"Yes," she replied. "Out there, there was a group. Everyone called them terrorists… but in reality they were people fighting against the system. They helped slaves escape. They're the ones who helped us escape today."
Mike didn't know what to say.
For years, he had been friends with James, yet James had never told him any of this.
Why hadn't he trusted him?
Who was James really?
Did Mike truly know him?
098 stood up.
"Come on. Let's find the others."
After walking for a long time, they finally reached the factory.
The windows were broken, and the walls were cracked. The building was gray and lifeless. It looked like a haunted place.
When they arrived, they saw that some of the others had already reached the place.
One of them stood up and approached 098. His head was shaved, and scars covered his scalp—clear signs of punishments he had suffered when he was still a slave.
"175 is dead."
"What?"
"He was the only one besides 088 who knew where we were supposed to go. What are we going to do now?"
098 froze for a moment.
Mike noticed that her eyes were about to fill with tears… but she forced herself to stay calm.
"We continue according to the plan."
She said.
"Yes, but we don't know where to go."
The man replied.
"Right now they might think we're dead. But once the people out there realize we're escaped slaves, it will only be a matter of time before they find us."
098 remained silent.
Mike took a deep breath before speaking.
"I know where we're going."
Everyone turned to look at him, which made him feel uncomfortable.
"What? How do you know that?"
Someone asked.
"088 told me… just before he died."
098 looked like she wanted to say something, but the man with the scars stepped closer to Mike.
"So," he said, staring down at him, "where is this place, kid?"
Mike froze in fear.
But finally, he gathered the courage to speak.
Even though he knew they might not believe him… because what he was about to say would sound crazy.
"We have to go beyond the ruins."