The Halfway Around.

The darkness enveloped Selene as she felt herself slipping away. The sound of the second gunshots and the chaos of the explosion all faded into an echo, distant and muffled. Her body ached and her head spun as she struggled to remain conscious. Everything felt heavy and her limbs were slow to respond. She tried to move but it was as if something was holding her in place, keeping her from escaping the darkness that was swallowing her whole. Axel. The thought was like a spark, a flicker of light in the darkness. Her eyes fluttered open, but everything around her was still a blur. The pain in her arm where the bullet had grazed her was sharp, but it wasn't enough to stop her. She had to find Axel. With a grunt of effort, Selene pushed herself into a sitting position. Her body felt like dead weight but she couldn't afford to think about that. Her surroundings began to come into focus and she saw the wreckage around her. The building was still collapsing, the walls groaned under the weight of destruction, and the air was thick with smoke and dust. The heat from the flames was unbearable but Selene didn't flinch. 'Axel!" she called out, her voice raw, filled with desperation but there was no answer. She pushed herself to her feet, her legs shaky, but she didn't stop until she found him. The pain in her arm was growing, but Selene didn't let it slow her down. She scanned the area, her eyes darting from corner to corner, but all she could see were the remains of the building. Pieces of debris were scattered everywhere, and the hallway they had been running through was now blocked by rubble. She had no idea how much time had passed but the urgency was clear, she had to move and then, she saw him. Axel was lying just ahead, his body crumpled against the floor, blood staining his shirt. He was still breathing but his body was unmoving. Selene's heart skipped a beat, and a surge of relief flooded through her. She rushed to him, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she knelt beside him. She could feel his pulse beneath her fingers but it was too weak and she needed to get him out of here but there was no time. The building was falling apart, and the men were still out there. 'Axel, please, wake up." She shook him gently, but he didn't respond. He was unconscious, his body battered and bruised but still alive. Selene's fingers dug into his shoulder, trying to pull him up, but the weight of him was too much and she wasn't strong enough to carry him. Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps echoing through the hall and her blood ran cold as the sound grew louder. 'No." Selene's breath caught in her throat as she scanned the surroundings and there was no way out. The hallway was blocked, and there was nowhere to hide. She couldn't outrun them, not with Axel in this condition. The footsteps stopped and a voice called out from the darkness. 'You can't run forever, Selene." of course it was Lucian's voice. Her stomach twisted as she turned to face him. Lucian stepped out of the shadows, his figure looming ominously in the dim light. His eyes locked onto hers, cold and calculating and he wasn't alone. There were several armed men standing behind him, their weapons raised. 'Lucian, I think is time you let us go, Axel is dying" Selene's voice was shaky, but she wasn't about to show him her fear. Lucian took a step closer, his expression unreadable. 'You still don't understand, do you?" His voice was calm, almost gentle, but there was a coldness to it that sent a chill down Selene's spine. 'It's not about you and was never been about you." 'What is it about then?" Selene demanded, her voice rising with frustration because she couldn't keep running without answers. She couldn't keep fighting without understanding the truth. Lucian smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. 'It's about the bigger picture." He motioned to the men behind him, who stepped forward, their weapons still trained on Selene. 'You're just a small part of something much larger than you can comprehend." Selene's mind raced. She couldn't understand what he was saying. She had been fighting for survival, running from one danger to the next, but this was something different. 'Who's pulling the strings?" she demanded. 'Why us? Why me and Axel?" but Lucian didn't answer immediately. He took another step closer, his eyes narrowing. 'You were always meant to be a part of this, you just didn't know it." Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunfire. One of Lucian's men had fired. The bullet struck the ground beside her, the force of it sending a shudder through her body. 'Move, Selene." Lucian's voice was now sharp, commanding.'You're out of time." Selene's heart pounded as she turned to Axel, still unconscious beside her. She couldn't leave him behind but the men were closing in, and as every second counted, they were trapped. Lucian's eyes never left her, his smile growing darker. 'This is it, Selene, you've run your course and it's over now." But just as the men raised their weapons, preparing to advance, a loud crash shook the building, sending a shockwave through the walls. The ground trembled beneath them and dust fell from the ceiling. The men paused as their attention was diverted for a moment. Lucian's expression darkened. 'No." His voice was low, filled with anger. 'Not now." Before Selene could react, another explosion erupted somewhere deeper within the building, and the force of it rattled the structure, and the room shook violently. The walls cracked, and pieces of debris fell around them, blocking the way forward. The men were thrown off balance, their weapons fumbling in their hands and in the chaos, Selene saw her opportunity. Without thinking, she grabbed Axel, pulling him toward the nearest exit, her hands shaking as she half-carried him, and half-dragged him through the collapsing building. The men behind them shouted orders, but the sound of the explosion had thrown them into disarray. Selene could feel the urgency in every step and could hear the walls crumbling behind her, but she didn't dare look back. They had one chance to escape and as they rounded a corner, Selene felt Axel's body growing heavier. His breathing was shallow, and his skin was cold but she couldn't stop. And then, as they reached the end of the hallway, she saw the exit, it was a narrow door leading to the outside. 'We are almost there." She muttered, her voice hoarse but just as they reached the door, a shadow passed over them. She turned and saw a massive figure standing in the doorway, blocking their escape. 'This is ridiculously insane" she muttered.