Chapter 18: Breaking Point

The abandoned subway tunnel was dimly lit by a single flickering lamp, its soft glow barely illuminating the tension in the room. Henry sat on the ground, leaning heavily against the wall, his breaths shallow and labored. Blood had dried beneath his nose, and his trembling hands betrayed the toll his abilities were taking. Mia knelt beside him, her eyes red from a mix of frustration and worry, while Leona paced restlessly, her shadow stretching across the cracked tiles.

“This can’t go on,” Mia said, breaking the heavy silence. Her voice was low but edged with desperation. “Look at him, Leona. He can’t keep this up.”

Leona stopped pacing, turning to face Mia with a sharp glare. “And what’s your alternative? You think the upper city’s going to stop because Henry needs a nap? We’re at war, Mia. War doesn’t wait for anyone.”

Mia rose to her feet, her anger boiling over. “This isn’t a war—it’s a suicide mission! He’s killing himself trying to keep up with your plans.”

“My plans?” Leona snapped, stepping closer. “You think I’m the one making him do this? He’s the one who decided to fight. I’m just making sure he has a chance to win.”

“That’s enough,” Henry said weakly, his voice barely audible. He forced himself to sit up, his head spinning. “Both of you, stop.”

Mia and Leona turned to him, their expressions hard but tinged with guilt. Henry took a shaky breath, the effort exhausting. “We’re not going to get anywhere if we keep tearing each other apart.”

Mia knelt beside him again, her hand on his arm. “Henry, you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to push yourself so hard.”

“Yes, I do,” Henry said, his voice steadier now. “Because if I don’t, no one else will. I didn’t ask for this, but it’s happening, and I can’t just walk away.”

The conversation was interrupted by the distant hum of drones, their engines vibrating through the tunnel. Leona cursed under her breath, grabbing her pistol. “They’re getting closer. We need to move.”

Henry closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind. The connection was immediate, the hum in his chip flaring to life. The drones’ signals appeared in his thoughts like a web of glowing threads, their paths converging on the tunnel’s entrance.

“They’re blocking the exits,” he said, his voice strained. “I can feel them.”

Mia looked at him, her worry deepening. “Can you stop them?”

“I’ll try,” Henry said, though the weight of the system pressing against him made his stomach churn.

The drones grew louder as Henry reached deeper into the system, his mind straining to keep up with the overwhelming flow of data. He grabbed hold of one drone’s signal, redirecting its flight path into another. The two machines collided with a deafening crash, sparks flying as they hit the ground.

But the effort left Henry reeling. His vision blurred, and the hum in his chip became a roar, drowning out everything else. The presence was there, pushing back with an intensity that made him feel like he was suffocating.

“You are weak,” the presence whispered, its voice cold and mechanical. “You cannot defy the system.”

Henry gasped, clutching his head as pain shot through him. He felt Mia’s hands on his shoulders, her voice distant but urgent. “Henry! Stop, you’re hurting yourself!”

“I can’t… stop,” Henry said through gritted teeth, his body trembling. “I have to—”

“Enough!” Leona shouted, pulling him away from the connection. Henry collapsed against her, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the remaining drones closed in.

Leona fired at the advancing drones, her shots precise but not enough to hold them off. “We’re out of time,” she said, grabbing Mia’s arm. “We have to go!”

“We can’t just leave him like this!” Mia protested, her voice breaking.

“We don’t have a choice,” Leona snapped. “Help me get him up.”

Together, they hoisted Henry to his feet, his weight sagging heavily between them. The sound of the drones grew louder, their engines echoing ominously through the tunnel. Leona led them toward a narrow side passage, her movements quick and deliberate.

“This way,” she said. “It leads to an old maintenance shaft. They won’t follow us there.”

Mia glanced back at Henry, her heart sinking at the sight of his pale face and trembling frame. “We can’t keep running like this,” she said quietly.

Leona didn’t respond.

When they finally emerged from the maintenance shaft, the sun was beginning to rise, casting a faint orange glow over the desolate streets. Henry collapsed onto a nearby crate, his head in his hands as he struggled to catch his breath.

Leona stood nearby, scanning the area for signs of pursuit. “We’ve bought ourselves some time, but not much,” she said. “They’ll keep coming.”

Mia sat beside Henry, her voice soft but firm. “We need to stop, Henry. At least for a little while. You’re not going to survive if you keep doing this.”

Henry looked at her, his eyes filled with exhaustion and guilt. “If we stop, they win.”

“And if you die, what’s the point?” Mia said, her voice cracking. “You’re not just fighting for them, Henry. You’re fighting for us. For me.”

Her words hung in the air, cutting through the silence. Henry looked away, his resolve wavering for the first time. He knew she was right, but the thought of stepping back, even for a moment, felt like giving up.

Leona approached, her expression softer than usual. “She’s right,” she said. “You’re no good to anyone if you break. Take the time to recover. Then we’ll figure out the next move.”

Henry nodded reluctantly, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. “Okay,” he said quietly. “We’ll stop. For now.”