OVER THE SIRENS🌸

Chapter Eight: Unraveling Bonds

The sirens’ wails echoed through the corridors, reverberating in Maeve’s chest like a war drum. She turned to Rona, her heart racing. “I didn’t want you to get involved. You need to leave—now!”

But Rona shook her head, her eyes wide with confusion and concern. “You’re in over your head, Maeve! What are you doing here? You could get caught!”

The wailing of the sirens intensified, and Maeve felt a surge of urgency. “Rona, listen to me! Protocol Zero isn’t just a rumor. It’s real. The Council has a plan to erase everyone’s memories, to wipe us all clean if they lose control!”

Rona paled, her face draining of color. “What? How do you know this?”

“I hacked into the database. I downloaded the file,” Maeve said, glancing nervously at the door. “But we don’t have much time. If they discover I’m here—”

Before she could finish, the lights flickered overhead, and the sound of footsteps approached. Maeve's pulse quickened. She had to get Rona out of here.

“Come with me,” Maeve urged, pulling Rona toward the exit. But Rona hesitated, her brow furrowed in thought.

“Maeve, if you found this information, you need to tell the others. We can’t just run away; we need to expose the Council!”

“I can’t,” Maeve said, fear creeping into her voice. “Not without getting caught. We need to find a way to escape first.”

Rona’s gaze hardened, determination replacing her earlier confusion. “We can’t run forever. The Council has to be stopped. If what you say is true, we have to act now!”

The footsteps drew closer, and Maeve glanced back at the door. “You don’t understand, Rona! If they find us—”

“Then we’ll fight!” Rona shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. “We can’t just let them erase everything we know. We have to stand up!”

At that moment, the door burst open, revealing two Council Enforcers dressed in dark uniforms, their faces obscured by masks. “Stop!” one of them commanded, raising a weapon.

Maeve’s instincts kicked in. She pulled Rona away from the door, and they bolted toward the far exit. “This way!” Maeve shouted, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The sirens continued to wail, blaring an alarm that shook Maeve’s resolve. They dashed through the halls, Rona right beside her, but the Enforcers were fast on their heels.

“Where are we going?” Rona asked breathlessly.

“Down to the maintenance tunnels,” Maeve said, recalling the blueprints she had memorized. “If we can reach them, we might be able to lose them in the maze.”

They rounded a corner and skidded to a stop in front of a door marked with a caution sign. Maeve quickly punched in the code she had memorized, and the door swung open to reveal a dimly lit tunnel.

“Get in!” Maeve urged, pushing Rona ahead of her. They ducked inside just as the Enforcers reached the corner, their footsteps echoing ominously behind them.

Maeve closed the door and pressed her back against it, her heart racing as she strained to hear their voices.

“We have to seal the exits,” one Enforcer barked. “The alarm has been triggered. They can’t escape!”

Rona was panting beside Maeve, eyes wide with fear. “What do we do now?”

Maeve took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “We need to move fast. The tunnels lead out toward the outskirts of the district. We can find the Resistance and warn them.”

They began to navigate the dark, winding tunnels, the sound of the sirens growing fainter behind them. As they moved, Maeve felt the weight of Rona’s gaze. She could sense the questions bubbling beneath the surface.

“Maeve,” Rona said quietly, “why didn’t you tell me about the Resistance? Why keep me in the dark?”

“I was trying to protect you!” Maeve snapped, frustration boiling over. “This isn’t a game. It’s dangerous. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“But I can take care of myself! I’ve been working alongside you for years. I have a right to know the truth!” Rona’s voice rose, filled with passion.

Maeve paused, her heart sinking. “I didn’t think you’d believe me. I thought you would choose the Council over me.”

“I would never do that,” Rona said, her voice softening. “I’ve lost so much already. I want to fight back, Maeve. I want to make a difference.”

Maeve felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had been so focused on protecting her friend that she hadn’t considered how much Rona wanted to be part of this fight. “I’m sorry, Rona. I should have trusted you.”

Just then, a loud crash echoed through the tunnel, followed by the sound of footsteps. The Enforcers were still on their trail.

“Run!” Maeve shouted, and they took off again, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air behind them.

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