The city didn't fall apart.
It just stopped pretending it was fine.
When Aria and Kai stepped out of the command center corridor, the air felt different. Not calmer. Not safer. Just less compressed. Like someone had loosened a hand around the city's throat.
Sirens still wailed in the distance. Drones still hummed overhead. People still gathered at fences and intersections, staring up at the moon like it might blink.
But the sharp edge of panic had dulled.
For now.
Aria walked with her hood up, not because she needed to hide, but because she didn't want to meet the eyes of strangers yet. She could feel them anyway—phones, whispers, the pull of attention like static in the air.
Kai stayed tight at her side. He didn't touch her this time. His presence was enough.
They crossed an outer checkpoint where guards watched them pass without speaking. Some looked relieved. Some looked resentful. One looked afraid, like he wasn't sure if letting her go was a blessing or a mistake.
