Chapter 6: The Flooded Streets

As the group moved onward, dawn broke with an ominous glow in the sky. Dark clouds loomed overhead, a storm waiting to break. The air was thick with humidity, and Nate could feel the weight of rain in the air. They trudged through the muddy path at the edge of an abandoned industrial area, silent except for the crunch of gravel and debris beneath their feet.

Finn scowled, kicking at a loose rock. “Feels like the world’s about to swallow us whole.”

“Better keep moving, then,” Nate replied dryly, scanning the area. His eyes caught on a broken bridge up ahead, the remains of cars tangled across it. Below, the river was swollen from recent rain, its dark waters swirling and rising dangerously close to the bridge.

Bella stepped closer, her gaze following his. “Looks like we’re not crossing that bridge.”

Marco nodded, sighing. “We’ll have to find another way across. There should be a drainage tunnel nearby. It leads under the bridge and might take us to the other side.”

Nate looked skeptical but nodded. “Let’s check it out.”

They made their way down the bank, skidding on slick mud and loose rocks until they reached the mouth of the drainage tunnel. Water rushed through it in a strong current, but there was a narrow ledge along one side that looked walkable — if they moved carefully.

Nate led the way, stepping cautiously along the edge, his flashlight casting long shadows on the tunnel walls. Bella followed closely, Finn and Marco bringing up the rear. The sound of rushing water echoed, each step feeling more dangerous than the last. Bella kept one hand on the wall, her gaze focused ahead.

As they reached the halfway point, Finn slipped, his foot splashing into the water. He cursed, quickly regaining his balance, but the splash seemed to echo louder than it should have.

“Keep it quiet,” Nate hissed, glancing back at him.

Finn shot him a glare but stayed silent. They continued, the tunnel growing darker, the air damp and thick. A faint noise reached Nate’s ears — a low, rumbling hum from somewhere deeper in the tunnel. He halted, raising his hand to stop the others.

“You hear that?” he whispered, his eyes narrowing.

They all paused, listening. The sound was faint but unmistakable — a low rumble, followed by the rush of water growing louder by the second.

Marco’s eyes widened. “The storm. It must’ve hit upstream. If the river’s flooding…”

Nate’s expression hardened. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

They turned back, but the rumbling grew louder, water surging toward them from deeper within the tunnel. Nate grabbed Bella’s arm, pulling her forward, and they sprinted back along the narrow ledge, their footsteps slipping on the damp surface. Finn and Marco were close behind, their breathing loud and panicked.

“Faster!” Nate shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of water.

Bella’s foot slipped, and she lurched forward, nearly tumbling into the rushing current. Nate caught her just in time, his grip strong and steady as he helped her regain her balance. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with gratitude, but there was no time for words.

The water was almost upon them, surging forward in a dark, unstoppable wave. They reached the tunnel’s entrance just as the flood hit, a wall of water crashing against the walls, spraying up in a torrent as it forced its way through the narrow space.

“Up the bank!” Marco shouted, scrambling up the slippery slope. Nate pushed Bella ahead of him, keeping his body between her and the flood as they climbed.

Finn was the last to reach the top, panting heavily, his clothes soaked and streaked with mud. He glared at Nate, his tone sharp. “Great idea, going through the tunnel.”

Nate shot him a look, biting back a retort. “We all made it out, didn’t we?”

Bella, still catching her breath, stepped between them. “Enough. We’re all still here. That’s what matters.”

They stood there, watching as the water roared through the tunnel, carrying debris and tearing through the underground path they’d narrowly escaped. Nate felt a flicker of unease. The storm was getting worse, and every route they’d planned seemed to lead to more danger.

As the rain began to fall in heavy sheets, they spotted an old, abandoned warehouse on the edge of the industrial area. It was run-down but still standing, its walls thick and sturdy. They rushed inside, shaking off the rain, their breath fogging in the cold air.

The inside was dim, filled with the faint scent of rust and mildew. Stacks of rotting crates lined the walls, and scraps of machinery lay scattered on the floor. Marco set his pack down and sat heavily against the wall, letting out a weary sigh.

“Better than being out in that storm,” he muttered.

Nate scanned the room, still on edge. The rain pattered against the roof, a constant reminder of the storm raging outside. He settled by a window, watching the rain pour down and making sure nothing moved in the shadows beyond.

Bella joined him, her gaze shifting to the downpour outside. “How much farther do you think it is?”

“Another day or two, if the weather holds,” Nate replied, his voice low.

She nodded, hugging her knees. “Feels like the whole world’s against us.”

Nate looked at her, noticing the weariness in her face. She’d barely slept, her eyes dark with exhaustion. He leaned closer, his voice softening. “We’ll make it. One way or another.”

For a moment, their eyes met, a silent connection passing between them. Despite everything, he knew she was the reason he kept pushing forward. She gave him a small, tired smile, and he returned it with a rare one of his own.

Marco and Finn had moved to a corner, speaking in low voices, casting occasional glances at Nate and Bella. Nate narrowed his eyes, his instincts prickling. They’d joined forces out of necessity, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Marco and Finn were hiding something.

Finn’s voice rose slightly, loud enough for Nate to catch a snippet. “…can’t keep slowing down for them. They’ll get us killed.”

Marco shushed him, casting a wary look at Nate. “Enough, Finn. We’re all in this together.”

Nate tensed, every muscle on high alert. He didn’t trust these two, and if it came down to it, he’d do whatever it took to protect Bella. She deserved to reach the safe zone, even if he had to risk everything to get her there.

Marco cleared his throat, looking between them. “We should get some rest. Long day ahead.”

Nate nodded, his eyes never leaving Marco’s. He lay back, one hand resting on his knife, his senses attuned to every sound in the warehouse. Bella settled beside him, her shoulder brushing against his.

“Do you trust them?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Nate shook his head. “No. But we’ll deal with that if it comes to it.”

She nodded, her face set with quiet resolve. There was something new in her eyes, a fierce determination that hadn’t been there before. Nate realized that she, too, was prepared to fight for their survival — for both of them.

Just before dawn, a noise jolted Nate awake. He sat up, eyes darting around the darkened warehouse. Bella stirred beside him, her hand instinctively reaching for her knife.

Finn and Marco were standing by the door, packs slung over their shoulders, preparing to slip away.

“Going somewhere?” Nate’s voice was a low, dangerous whisper.

Marco froze, his face hardening. “Look, Nate. We appreciate the help, but this is survival. And we’re faster on our own.”

Finn scoffed. “Dragging along dead weight won’t get us anywhere.”

Nate felt a surge of anger, his hand clenching around his knife. “We made a deal to stick together.”

Marco looked torn, guilt flickering across his face. “Maybe… maybe it’s better this way. Less risk for all of us.”

Bella stood, her expression cold. “You don’t get to decide who makes it and who doesn’t.”

For a tense moment, silence hung between them. Then, slowly, Marco sighed and slung his pack back down. “Alright. We’ll stay. But if it comes to a choice between saving us or saving ourselves…”

“We save each other,” Bella interrupted firmly, her gaze unwavering.

Nate looked at her, feeling an unexpected surge of pride. She was strong, stronger than he’d realized. And if Marco and Finn wanted to walk out, they could — but not before they understood the cost.

With a grudging nod, Finn muttered, “Fine. We stay together.”