Ratom, surrounded by his captors, took his final step upwards and looked up to find people living like it was their last day. In every direction he faced, he saw people. He saw land that stretched quite some distance—perhaps as large as the entire slum.
He gazed at the houses built with fine detail and minimal engineering. They had the structure of domes like half blown bubbles, and on top of them he could see plants growing. Everyone was preoccupied with what they were doing. They had smiles on their faces, like they weren't living in an apocalypse.
"Walk faster!" one of the male captors barked. This one was tall, with light skin and intimidating eyes.
After a few minutes of walking, they paused at what seemed like a bus stop. The woman pressed some buttons on a control panel nearby. A dome-shaped capsule rose smoothly from beneath the ground. They all stepped inside, the doors sliding shut behind them. Noise and vibration started almost immediately, and within seconds, everything went still again.
They stepped out of what Ratom now accepted as a vehicle. The doors sealed, and the capsule sank back underground. Before him stood another dome-shaped building—this one tall and wide.
They accompanied him inside. For the first time, everyone in the building had their eyes on him. Ratom met their gazes shamelessly and even struck a pose, like some sort of celebrity.
Eventually they reached a door, and one of his captors kicked it open.
A man inside looked up. "Why don't you ever knock, Lucas?"
"We brought him," Lucas said.
Ratom glanced around. The room was unusually plain. A few devices lined the walls, along with some digital paintings. The man seemed calm, with dark hair and a few wrinkles that somehow fit his face—as if they emphasized all he had been through.
The room contained a set of sofas facing each other, taking up most of the space. Behind them was a desk where the man had been seated. Now, he rose from his chair.
"I am Eidan," he said in a gentle but firm voice, gesturing to the chair opposite him.
Ratom hesitated for just a moment before lunging into the chair, sitting like a king claiming his throne. His captors closed up their weapons and took seats as well.
"You must have a lot of questions," Eidan said.
"I do," Ratom replied sharply.
Eidan gestured toward the tall man. "That's Lucas. He has quite the temper. I imagine he made your journey here difficult."
Ratom glanced at Lucas again—tall, scary eyes, deep black hair, still gripping his weapon like some sort of serial killer.
"What are you looking at?" Lucas snapped.
"Oh, relax. You might pull a muscle with all that intensity."
Eidan smirked slightly and gestured toward the younger man. "This is Aki."
"He doesn't talk much, does he?" Ratom commented.
"And this is my daughter, Lyra."
Ratom looked at the slim young woman and grinned. She smiled back at him.
"No comments on my daughter," Eidan warned.
"Not one you'd want to hear," Ratom replied, still grinning.
"You're funny—I'll give you that," Eidan said.
"So this is Ghost Town?"
Eidan chuckled. "Do we seem like ghosts to you?"
"Well... Aki kinda does."
Aki looked at Ratom, puzzled, while the others smiled as if holding back laughter.
"The thing is—we need your help," Eidan said.
"Is that why I was abducted?"
"It was a precaution. I'm sorry for that."
"Why would I help people who clearly tipped off the Hive?"
The room fell cold. All eyes turned to Ratom in shock.
"How did you know?" Lyra asked.
Lucas tightened his grip on his gun. Aki stared at Ratom, his gaze intense.
"We had to," Lyra said finally. "We didn't know they'd send a Shade unit."
"Yeah, sure," Ratom said. "And now you need my help after watching me kill one of those things?"
Silence. It was as if everyone expected Eidan to scold him.
Then Eidan spoke, voice measured. "We know where the Divergent Key is."
Ratom clenched his fists in his lap. "I'm listening."
Lucas was about to speak, but Aki put a hand on his shoulder.
"You've got something to say?" Ratom asked, eyeing Lucas.
Lucas stayed quiet.
Eidan continued. "We'll offer you tech, shelter, food—everything we have here—and the Divergent Key, if you agree to fight for us in the coming weeks."
"Who am I fighting?"
"Humanoids. Like you've always fought."
"Before I decide," Ratom said cautiously, "what's this about meeting Cole?"
Eidan nodded. "He requested to see you. Said he wanted to thank you."
Ratom arched a brow but said nothing, the weight of the moment settling in.