I didn’t sleep, didn’t blink. My back stayed against the cold wall, blade in hand, heart thudding like it was racing someone else’s time. Lark said midnight. I didn't know how close it was, but my gut said soon.

Every sound hit like a warning. Metal creaked, pipes hissed, and somewhere far above, boots scraped concrete. No one here walked softly. They didn’t need to. Everyone below the ground was either loyal or locked up, except me.

I knelt by the drain, the same one ...