The tunnel stretched endlessly, damp and silent, its walls echoing with Clyde's hurried footsteps. Albert's lantern flickered against the stone, guiding them forward. Behind them, the mansion burned, its collapse muffled by the earth above.
"Where does this lead?" Clyde whispered, his voice trembling.
Albert's reply was steady, though his eyes betrayed urgency. "To the woods. There is a cottage there, hidden from sight. It was built for the city's elite — a refuge in case of disaster. Stronger than it looks, reinforced with tempered glass and titanium disguised as wood. You'll be safe there."
Clyde's heart pounded. His siblings were asleep in their rooms, and though Albert had promised they were safe, dread gnawed at him. He clutched the butler's hand tighter, forcing himself forward.
At last, the tunnel opened into the night air. The woods stretched around them, quiet and eerie, the scent of smoke drifting from the city beyond. In the distance, a cottage stood among the trees, its walls appearing wooden but hiding steel beneath.
Clyde stumbled forward, his breath ragged. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.
She was tall, with long brunette hair streaked with red highlights, her icy blue eyes piercing like the sky. Her nails gleamed red in the lantern light, and her presence was commanding.
"I'm Brianna Shaden," she said simply.
Albert stiffened. "This passage is known only to the city's elite. How did you—"
Brianna's lips curved into a faint smile. "During one of the big shots' parties, I stumbled upon it. I was curious, and I found the tunnel by accident. I never thought it would save me one day."
Her tone was calm, but there was something mysterious in her gaze, something Clyde could not decipher.
They approached the cottage. Its door was no ordinary barrier — it required a passcode, face recognition, voice scan, liquid test, and fingerprint. Albert pressed his hand against the panel, spoke his name, and offered a drop of blood. The door clicked open, revealing a penthouse‑like interior hidden within the woods.
The walls gleamed with tempered glass, strong enough to withstand explosions. The floors were polished, the furniture elegant, yet every surface carried the weight of secrecy.
Inside, another figure was waiting.
She was slim, with silky black hair and striking green almond eyes. Her presence was both cute and elegant, her posture confident yet approachable. She turned as Clyde entered, her expression softening.
"I'm Maddie Hamelton," she said, her voice smooth, a little pitchy. "You made it out too."
Clyde hesitated, studying her. "How did you get here?"
Maddie glanced at the tunnel behind her. "I overheard my parents weeks ago. They were whispering about enemies who wanted to destroy the city's elite. They mentioned this cottage, hidden in the woods, protected by layers of security. When the explosions started, I remembered their words. I ran, and the tunnel led me here."
Her words faltered, but her eyes held steady.
Albert closed the door, sealing them inside. The cottage hummed with hidden power, its reinforced walls a fortress against the chaos outside.
From a hidden radio, fragments of reports crackled through the static. The news was grim: multiple estates belonging to the city's most powerful families were under attack. Flames consumed mansions, sirens wailed, and the police scrambled to contain the chaos. But the scale was too vast, too coordinated.
"This is bigger than a simple terrorist attack," Albert said grimly. "The city is in ruins. The police are doing what they can, but it's not enough."
Maddie's green eyes narrowed. "It's not random. Someone planned this. And whoever did must be powerful. Powerful enough to pull such an attack against the people in Auravale."
Brianna crossed her arms, her red‑tipped nails gleaming in the dim light. "And whoever it is, they wanted us here. Together."
The three children sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the night pressing down on them. Then Brianna spoke again, her voice softer.
"I wasn't supposed to be here tonight," she admitted. "My parents were invited to one of the big shots' parties months ago. I wandered off, curious, and found the tunnel entrance. I kept it a secret. When the attack started, I remembered it. I ran, and it led me here."
Maddie nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I didn't stumble on it. I overheard my parents. They were worried, whispering about enemies and conspiracies. They said if anything happened, this cottage would be the safest place. When the explosions began, I knew where to go."
Clyde listened, his deep blue eyes clouded with grief. "Albert led me here," he said softly. "When the mansion collapsed, he pulled me through the tunnel. I didn't want to leave — my siblings were asleep, my parents were still inside. But Albert said survival was my duty. So I ran. And now... here I am."
The three stories blended together, weaving a tapestry of fate. Each had arrived by different paths, yet all were bound by the same tragedy.
Albert cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I'll check the storage," he said gently. "And perhaps prepare something to eat. You children should talk. You need each other now."
He left quietly, his footsteps fading into the deeper rooms of the cottage.
The moment he was gone, Maddie's smile faded. Her green eyes hardened, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"You think this was chance?" she asked. "That we just happened to survive?"
Clyde frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
Brianna's icy blue eyes glinted. "Think about it. If they had the power to attack Auravale, the place where elites live... don't you think the cottage might be exposed?"
Clyde's breath caught. "But Alfred said—"
Maddie cut him off, her tone colder now. "Alfred says many things. Servants always do. But I've seen people betray my father before. Power makes loyalty fragile."
Brianna's voice softened, almost persuasive. "We should leave. Escape somewhere far, where no one knows us. Maddie and I are leaving tonight. If you want to survive, Clyde, you'll meet us at the giant oak tree tonight."
Clyde's chest tightened. He was only nine, yet the weight of the decision pressed on him like stone. Trust Albert, the man who had saved him, or follow these two strangers whose words carried both comfort and menace.
The radio crackled again, announcing more estates in flames, more families lost. Auravale was unraveling, and Clyde realized the city he thought invincible was nothing more than glass waiting to shatter.