CHAPTER 220: Escape

CHAPTER 220: Escape

The group kept running through the narrow duct, breathing heavily and pulses racing. The cold metal of the walls amplified every sound, and in the distance howls began to be heard, traveling through the tunnel like a wild echo.

Fenix raised his hand abruptly.

—There —he pointed toward the ceiling.

A barely visible circular cover stood out among the pipes. Fenix pushed it with force and the rust creaked as it gave way.

—Get up, quick.

Selene was the first to climb, helping Lucian stay steady in her arms. Joe climbed after, struggling because of his injured leg. Fenix was the last to ascend.

The howls could be heard closer and closer.

—Come on, come on —Selene urged.

When all four were up, Fenix pushed the cover from inside and closed it with a dull thud.

The sound was sealed off.

A cold, damp air immediately enveloped them.

They were in an alley in Berlin. The brick walls were covered in graffiti, some streetlights flickered, and the orange glow of the lamps drew elongated shadows on the wet asphalt. In the distance, the distant murmur of the night city could be heard.

A digital clock on a nearby shop read 00:30.

For a few seconds no one spoke.

Joe rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

—I think… we made it.

Selene scanned the alley, making sure there was no strange movement. Only silence, light rain, and the deceptive calm of the early morning.

—We're out —she said at last—. For real.

Lucian poked his head out from Selene's arms.

—I don't like getting complacent, but… this place smells like freedom.

Fenix let out a brief exhale and looked up at the cloud-covered sky.

Selene stood up slowly, looking at the alley and then at the night sky with a serious expression.

—We're not really safe —she said in a firm voice—. But there's a place where we can regroup and recover our strength: the clock tower of the Red Town Hall.

Joe looked at her, confused.

—That abandoned tower? —he asked—. The one at the Rotes Rathaus?

—Yes —Selene replied—. It's been empty for years and, being a large and emblematic building, it's easy to defend and hard to find for anyone who doesn't know where to look.

Fenix raised an eyebrow.

—I've heard that tower is abandoned… but I didn't think anyone would want to live there.

Selene smiled faintly and nodded.

—Exactly. If it's abandoned, all the more reason it can serve us. No one is going to check it for a while.

Joe straightened up a little, leaning against the wall.

—And how long would it take us to get there?

Selene glanced at her digital watch lightly, calculating.

—If we walk from here to Rotes Rathaus, without stopping, it would be about 35 to 40 minutes at a fast pace —she explained—. It's a central area but not that busy at this time of night.

Fenix frowned.

—And if we take transportation?

Selene nodded with more decision.

—We can go faster if we take the surface train before it closes. There's a nearby station: S-Bahn Alexanderplatz. From here we could get to Berlin Hauptbahnhof or change at Friedrichstraße to get as close as possible to Rotes Rathaus.

Joe frowned, trying to remember the map.

—Doesn't that take us farther away?

—No —Selene replied—. The S-Bahn in Berlin runs on the surface and connects well. If we take the S5 or S7 from Alexanderplatz toward Spandau or Ahrensfelde/Friedrichstraße, we can get off at Hackescher Markt or even at Alexanderplatz itself and walk from there. The train ride takes away more than half of the unnecessary walking.

Lucian looked at her fixedly.

—And how long would that be?

—By train, from Alexanderplatz to Hackescher Markt or Friedrichstraße, it would be about 5–10 minutes, and then a walk of less than 15–20 minutes to the tower. In total, even with transfers, we're looking at about 30 minutes at most, and with much less physical effort.

Selene turned toward the other three.

—We have to move before someone discovers us here. The train is our best option if we want to arrive with strength and without drawing attention.

Joe sighed.

—All right. Let's take the train first.

Fenix made a gesture of assent.

The group arrived at the entrance of the S-Bahn Alexanderplatz station. At that time of night, the platform was almost empty. Only a few cold lights illuminated the metal benches and the electronic signs marking the next departure.

They sat together, in silence. The atmosphere was tense. Joe rested his back against a column, still pale from the wound. Lucian remained still between Selene's hands. Fenix watched the tracks with his arms crossed.

On the luminous panel, the notice appeared:

S7 – Direction Potsdam Hbf – Arrival: 00:47

Selene checked the time on her watch.

—Three minutes left —she said in a low voice.

No one responded.

The distant sound of the train began to resonate through the tunnel. The headlights approached and the convoy stopped with a metallic whistle. The doors opened.

—Let's go —Selene indicated.

They boarded quickly. The car was completely empty. There were no passengers, only the constant hum of the motor and the white lighting inside.

Selene sat next to Fenix. Joe took a nearby seat and Lucian ended up between them.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

Selene broke the silence.

—How do you feel?

Fenix lowered his gaze to his hands.

—Strange… —he replied—. My body doesn't feel the same. As if something is still settling inside.

Selene observed him attentively.

—It's normal after everything that happened.

Fenix hesitated for an instant before speaking again.

—Despite everything… —he murmured—. Despite what she did to me… I… I still love Enid.

Selene looked at him immediately.