The last stretch blurred with heat and fire behind them. One final push, and the team burst out through the hospital's sealed entrance. The moment the last soldier cleared out..... Then....
...BOOM.
The ground heavily rumbled, and the East wing of the old hospital shook violently.
Windows blew outward as the entire substructure collapsed into flame and ash.
Fire licked up through the cracks in the earth, swallowing every secret, every experiment, and every haunting memory.
Lu Ting Zhou lay unconscious, and Song Yaya lay resting nearby, hand loosely clinging to a warm compress. They were safe.
Lu Zhi Hao stood by the window, watching the distant black smoke twist into the sky.
His arm was wrapped protectively around Wan Ruyi, who leaned against him.
"It's done," she said softly, "finally!" You could feel her relief.
He kissed her forehead, "Yes, you ended it."
"No," she whispered, "We just burned the past. And all is gone with the collapse."
