The explosion never came.
Instead, the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the warehouse, thick and sudden. A sharp ringing filled Elara’s ears as the floor trembled beneath her feet. She lost her balance and fell hard, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs.
Smoke spread through the air.
Shouts echoed. Gunfire followed, wild and uncontrolled.
“Elara!”
Adrian’s voice cut through the chaos.
She coughed, forcing herself to crawl forward. Her fingers brushed against broken glass, then fabric.
“Here,” she gasped.
Strong hands grabbed her, pulling her against a solid chest.
Adrian.
He wrapped one arm around her, shielding her body as bullets struck metal nearby.
“Can you stand?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, even though her legs were shaking.
He helped her up, his grip firm an
