Finding a new place to sleep was harder than expected.
Every corner they checked was either already occupied, too exposed, or too compromised to risk staying in. The deeper they went, the more the paths twisted into places even scavengers avoided.
After nearly an hour of searching, they settled inside the underside of an old transport platform—metal beams overhead, enough cover to hide, enough space to breathe.
Varik sat down first, exhausted. "This'll do."
"For now," Gavin said.
Lux sank against the wall, pulling his knees in. He hadn't said much since the flare. His hands still tingled occasionally, subtle reminders of something neither boys understood.
Varik watched him quietly. "You holding up?"
"I think so," Lux whispered. "Does it hurt? No. Does it feel wrong? No. But… it feels different, it feels good and bad at the same time."
Gavin finished securing the tarp entrance. "We'll figure it out. One thing at a time."
Varik cut him a pressing glance then turned his sight back to Lux and sighed.
"Yeah, we'll figure something out, you worry too much Lux." "What?" "Are you scared that you'll hurt big bro, aww I'm so touched." Varik said teasingly.
It was obvious he was trying to lighten the mood but it had little effect in calming the younger boy down and taking away the edge.
Silence passed between them, calm but heavy. The cold grew harsher. They were used to the day to day cold in the slums but this cold felt different, it felt concentrated.
Then—
A sound.
A rumble.
Not from above or below, but from somewhere distant.
It rolled through the metal structures like a growl.
It wasn't the growl that you'd hear from any normal rabid animal. Though they are rare in the slums you can still find a few abandoned Mastiff Huskies, but whatever that thing was, it was no dog.
It's growl sounded alien from what you would expect from a living creature.
Its sounded like a deep and strong hail storm with the sharpness of grinding metal.
It was unnerving.
"Did you hear that?" Lux whispered.
Varik stood slowly. "Yeah. That wasn't human."
Gavin's senses sharpened instantly. "Stay low."
The alien sound grew louder. Then faded. Then returned.
Something large was moving nearby and as it got closer the cold also intensified, too heavy for scavengers, too steady for machinery. It could only be one thing.
Lux's breath trembled. "Is it… one of those things near the rim?"
"Maybe," Varik said. "But I don't think we wanna stuck around to find out."
"We don't have anywhere to run." Gavin grimaced.
"We just can't catch a damn break huh." Varik spat irritated.
They pressed into the wall, barely daring to breathe. Gavin held Lux close, steadying him, eyes fixed on the shadows beyond their shelter.
Only one thing was certain:
Whatever was moving…
was powerful and it was hunting them.