The narrow cavern trembled as another explosion rocked the planet. Dust and fragments of glowing crystal rained down, scattering across the smooth stone floor. Lila stumbled, her hand braced against the wall for balance.

“Faster!” Zara called from ahead, her neon pink hair trailing behind her like a comet. “We don’t have much time!”

Lila’s legs ached, and her lungs burned, but she kept moving. Callen was just a few paces ahead, his twin sister Lyra close behind. The group had taken shelter in one of Korranis’ hidden underground passageways, hoping to evade the drones. But the deeper they went, the more unstable the caverns became.

“Are we sure this is a good idea?” Lila shouted over the sound of another tremor.

“It’s the only way!” Zara called back. “The main tunnels are compromised. This route leads directly to the surface, near our escape vessel.”

Lila glanced at Callen, who nodded grimly. “She’s right,” he said. “We don’t have a choice.”

The group pressed on, the faint glow of the vithrium crystals lighting their way. The air grew colder, and the sound of distant machinery echoed through the cavern, sending chills down Lila’s spine.

“Do you think they’ve found us?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“They’re getting closer,” Lyra said, her glowing green eyes scanning the darkness. “We need to move faster.”

Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the cavern, followed by a blinding flash of light. Lila screamed, shielding her eyes as the ground beneath her feet lurched violently. She fell, the impact jarring her bones.

When she opened her eyes, chaos surrounded her. The tunnel had partially collapsed, blocking the path ahead. Dust filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

“Lila!” Callen’s voice rang out, panicked.

“I’m here!” she shouted, coughing as she scrambled to her feet.

He appeared through the haze, his face streaked with dirt and worry. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” she said, though her knees wobbled as she stood.

Behind him, Lyra and Zara were already assessing the damage. The rubble was massive, jagged shards of crystal and stone piled high.

“This isn’t good,” Zara muttered, her pink eyes narrowing. “The collapse blocked our route to the surface.”

“What about another path?” Lyra asked, her tone urgent.

“There isn’t one,” Zara said grimly.

Lila’s stomach sank as she looked around. The cavern trembled again, the ceiling groaning under the strain. Time was running out.

“There’s one way,” Zara said suddenly, her gaze fixed on the largest chunk of rubble.

Lyra frowned. “Zara, no. That’s suicide.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Zara said firmly. “If I can destabilize the central crystal, the energy surge should clear the blockage. But it’s too volatile for all of us to stay here. You’ll need to get back to the lower chamber before I trigger it.”

“No,” Callen said immediately, his voice sharp. “We’ll find another way. I’m not leaving you behind.”

“There is no other way!” Zara snapped, her pink eyes blazing. “You know that, Callen. I’m the only one who can do this.”

Lila’s chest tightened as she looked at Zara. Despite her fiery determination, there was a flicker of fear in her expression.

“There has to be another option,” Lila said, her voice breaking. “You can’t just—”

“This isn’t up for debate,” Zara said, cutting her off. She turned to Callen, her expression softening. “You’re our leader. You have to get them out of here.”

Callen’s jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists. “Zara, I can’t—”

“You can,” she said, stepping closer to him. “You’ve always been the one to protect us. Now it’s my turn.”

Tears glimmered in Callen’s eyes as he reached out, gripping her shoulder tightly. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, I do,” Zara said softly.

Lila’s throat tightened as she watched them. She barely knew Zara, but the thought of losing her was unbearable.

“Go,” Zara said, stepping back toward the rubble. “I’ll buy you as much time as I can.”

“Zara—” Callen started, but Lyra grabbed his arm, pulling him away.

“We have to go,” Lyra said, her voice shaking.

Callen hesitated, his gaze locked on Zara. Finally, he turned, his face a mask of anguish.

“Lila, come on!” Lyra shouted, pulling her toward the lower chamber.

Lila followed reluctantly, her heart pounding. Behind her, Zara stood tall, her pink hair glowing brightly in the dim light.

As they reached the lower chamber, a deafening crack echoed through the tunnel. The ground shook violently, and a surge of light burst through the rubble, blinding them.

Lila stumbled, shielding her face as the energy rippled through the cavern. When the light finally faded, she turned back toward the tunnel. The blockage was gone, the path to the surface clear.

But Zara was nowhere to be seen.

“No!” Callen shouted, running back toward the tunnel. Lyra grabbed his arm, holding him back.

“She’s gone,” Lyra said, her voice trembling. “Callen, she’s gone.”

Callen sank to his knees, his shoulders shaking. Lyra knelt beside him, her own tears falling silently.

Lila stood frozen, her chest aching. She felt helpless, the weight of Zara’s sacrifice pressing down on her.

“She saved us,” Lyra said softly, her voice breaking. “She knew what it meant, and she did it anyway.”

Callen didn’t respond, his head bowed. Lila hesitated, then knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Callen,” she said gently. “We have to keep moving. Zara wouldn’t want us to stop now.”

His glowing blue eyes met hers, filled with grief and anger. But there was also a flicker of resolve.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice hoarse. “We have to finish this. For her.”

Lila nodded, her heart heavy. She helped him to his feet, and together they turned toward the path ahead.

As they made their way toward the surface, Lila couldn’t shake the image of Zara’s determined expression, her glowing pink eyes shining with defiance.

Zara was gone, but her sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain.

And Lila knew, now more than ever, that this fight was far from over.