Ampelius felt the trains motion push against his balance, backward, away from the wreckage they’d just escaped. Soldiers scrambled to account for their wounded and dead, shouting over the grind of metal. He glanced through a small gap in the protective barrier, catching sight of the tunnel stretching away ahead of them, being pulled out of hell.

  Ampelius saw the construct, right as it was shifting again, its form tightening into a spear-like shape. Its target was a wounded soldier, who was crawling toward the train with everything he had left. A split second later, the spear shot forward, impaling him clean through. His body jerked violently, then collapsed, dissolving into that same thick, blue liquid he had seen too many times before.

  No one said a word. The survivors could only watch, their faces hollow with shock, anger, and helplessness as what remained of their comrade, and everyone else left behind.

  As the Zavon war machine finally faded into the smoke, the passengers remained quiet. The threat was behind them now, but not far enough. Only the rush of air and the rhythmic clatter of steel on steel kept the silence at bay.

  Commander Corvinus stood at the center of it all, jaw set as he reached for the comms. His voice was steady, but the strain beneath it was clear. He looked like a man holding himself together through sheer force of will, pressing the fear down before it could take root.

  “Command, this is Eagle, do you read?” Corvinus’s voice caught everyones attention,

  followed by the crackle of static. For a moment, nothing came back but dead air.

  Then a distorted voice came through. “Eagle, we copy. Go ahead with your transmission.”

  “We’ve engaged the enemy, contacts used unknown tech, took heavy losses. Two civilians recovered, one wounded and in need of medical attention. Tunnel Z is compromised. Preparing for demolition on exit. How copy?”

  “Solid copy, Eagle. Stand by for further orders.”

  “Understood command, awaiting orders.” He replied.

  The train began to slow as it neared a half-collapsed station. Ampelius was trying to get comfortable while drifting in and out of sleep. He could feel his body sway with the motion of the train until something red above him snapped him wide awake. Dynamite. Dozens of charges were strapped along the ceiling, wires twisting between them like veins. Then the realization hit, this whole section was rigged to blow.

  Corvinus noticed his concern and spoke up before Ampelius could ask. “Those are just detonation charges,” he said. “We had them planted earlier. But don’t worry, we’ll be out of here long before they go off.” He paused, glancing toward the dark stretch of tunnel behind them. “Blast should bring the whole thing down. But, it should keep those things from following us. For now, at least.”

  A few minutes later the train rolled to a stop.Two soldiers climbed aboard, each clutching what looked like detonators. Their uniforms were covered in dust and grime as they stood at attention. Corvinus gave them a short nod, then signaled the engineer to move. “Everyone hold on,” he called out. “Brace for the blast.”

  They barely had time to react before the world erupted. The tunnel roared like thunderstorm, following a shockwave that slammed into the train and showering them in dust and debris. Ampelius threw a hand up to shield his face, coughing and struggling to breathe. The engineers were grinning like school children, clearly proud of their work, however Corvinus didn’t share their enthusiasm. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burning with anger that he could barely keeptin check.

  “IDIOTS! How long did you set that timer for?” he roared, slapping one of the soldiers to the ground.

  The soldier, now stunned, scrambled to his feet, while his comrade spoke, “Ten seconds, sir! We thought—”

  “Ten seconds? We could have been buried alive!” Corvinus screamed, his fury undeniable. He took a deep breath, visibly trying to control his temper. “From now on, you don’t make a move without my orders. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir!” the soldier replied, his voice trembling with fear and embarrassment.

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  Corvinus turned away, taking a long breath as he tried to rein in his anger. Ampelius glanced at Bella, and she met his eyes with the same uneasy realization, that they survived the Zavon attack, but that was only half the battle for survival. The rest was human. And humans, Ampelius thought, could be just as dangerous when they become desperate.

  Before the tension could thicken any further, a captain’s voice cut through, trying to get Corvinus' attention. “Commander, we’ve just received intel on a possible Vandal headquarters in Sector Three.”

  Ampelius’s heart skipped. “The Vandals? Are they sure?”

  Corvinus hesitated, rubbing at the bridge of his nose before answering. “It’s solid enough to act on. We’ll rearm and resupply first, but once we’re ready, we’re taking those bastards apart for good.”

  Some time had passed as the train continued to rattle through the dark tunnels. The soldiers had gone quiet, each lost in their own thoughts, and the hum of the engine filled the space between them.

  When the lights of the main base finally came into view, Corvinus turned toward Ampelius and Bella, handing them both canteens of water. “We’ll get you treated and back on your feet,” he said. “But medical care isn’t free. There’s a debt to be paid. However, if you accept my proposition, that debt disappears.”

  Ampelius frowned, with a little suspicion creeping into his voice. “What kind of proposition?”

  Corvinus met his gaze. “We’re short on manpower. We need soldiers, people who will join our fight. If you join us, her treatment’s covered. The debt’s cleared once the Vandal headquarters is destroyed.”

  Ampelius looked over at Bella, who was now pale and trembling, barely hanging on. The knot in his stomach tightened, but he knew he wasn’t a soldier. He didn’t even know if he could pull a trigger again. But Bella needed the help, and he couldn’t stand the thought of losing her.

  He swallowed hard. “And if I die?”

  “The debt is still paid. But, you can't refuse orders, or else you’ll be forced into community service. Not something I recommend.”

  Ampelius’s throat tightened. He felt trapped, cornered by circumstances beyond his control. “Do I have any other options?”

  “You can work odd jobs to pay it off, but it’ll take a long time. That's assuming we remain safe and alive. Additionally, food and housing will add to your debt. We’re doing our best to maintain law and order, but these are uncertain times. We need everyone to contribute.”

  After a deep breath, he thought against the idea at first, but Bella needed him. With a heavy sigh, Ampelius agreed.

  “Alright, I’ll do it. But do I get a weapon and some training?”

  “We’ll arm you with whatever we can spare. As for training, if you’ve shot a gun before, that’s good enough. There’s no time for anything more advanced. Follow me, I'll get you ready.”

  Ampelius was led through the base, passing by soldiers preparing for the next assault. Some of them eyed him warily, their faces gaunt and haggard from exhaustion themselves.

  “New recruit, huh?” one of them called out, a note of skepticism in his voice. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Ampelius forced a weak smile. “A ghost in an endless nightmare.”

  A few soldiers chuckled dryly. “Yeah, welcome to the club,” another one muttered. “Hope you can shoot straight.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Ampelius replied. He felt out of place, like a child pretending to be a warrior. But the soldiers nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the shared burden they all carried.

  The captain led him to a small room lined with weapons. “Take your pick,” he said, gesturing to the array of guns and ammunition. “We’ll see about getting you some proper armor, but for now, just make sure you don’t shoot yourself or others.”

  Ampelius stared at the weapons, feeling a sense of dread washing over him. He reached out, hesitating, before picking up a rifle that felt solid and balanced in his hands. He took another deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “I won’t let you down.”

  “See that you don’t,” the captain replied, his tone gruff but not unkind. “We’ve all got something to fight for. Make sure you remember what yours is.”

  Ampelius nodded, gripping the rifle tightly. He thought of Bella lying on that stretcher, and a steely resolve settled in his chest. “I will.”

  Ampelius nodded, his mind already spinning with anxiety. He had used a gun before, sure, but he had never aimed at anything more dangerous than a wild boar. And now Rome wanted him to fight monsters, when they were the monsters that needed shooting. But he held back his hatred and clenched his fists. “I’ll make it work, for her sake.”

  Medics rushed to Bella and lifted her onto a stretcher, running off into the base, out of his sight. Ampelius tried to follow but was stopped by the captain.

  “You can see her in recovery. Let the medics do their job. Now, you have a debt to pay. Follow me.”

  Reluctantly, he turned to follow the captain, feeling the weight of his decision. “Alright, let’s get this done.”

  Corvinus observed Ampelius carefully, noting his tense shoulders and hesitant steps. He could see the fear and uncertainty in the young man’s eyes, and he sympathized more than he cared to admit. But they were desperate for fighters. Too many good men had already been lost, and he couldn’t afford to be lenient. Every able body counted.

  "Was he a soldier?" Corvinus wondered, watching Ampelius struggle to keep pace. "He has the qualities of one, but he certainly doesn’t move like it anymore." He exhaled sharply.

  "Still, he’s got something to fight for. That’s more than I can say for some of the recruits we’ve taken in." He shook his head, pushing down the guilt that gnawed at him. Desperate times called for desperate measures. They needed every ounce of strength they could muster to fend off the attacks.