The scavengers kicked the steel door open like they owned the place.
three of them — filthy jackets, duct-taped boots, blood on one sleeve like it was fashion.
the tallest one grinned when he saw Alva.
"fresh stock," he hissed.
Kai stepped in front of her — lazy posture — like he was bored.
"you should run," he said softly.
they laughed.
Arden didn't bother warning them.
Alva touched Kai's arm lightly — barely a graze.
he looked back at her — met her eyes — and nodded.
just like that.
they moved together.
lightning pulsed from her palms — not chaotic — not wild — but STRAIGHT — precise — threading like a wire down her fingertips.
Kai darted left — fluid — grabbing the closest one by the collar and slamming him into a stacked crate.
Alva's lightning snapped through the room — a controlled whip — hitting the second scavenger right in the knee.
he screamed — fell — dropped his knife.
Kai snorted.
"you like taking knees now?"
Alva smirked.
"if I aim higher, it gets messy."
Kai made a face.
Arden — who hadn't moved yet — actually looked impressed against his will.
she noticed.
"this controlled enough for you?" she asked him — voice sharp but light.
Arden's mouth tightened.
"better," he admitted.
the last scavenger — realizing he was stupidly outmatched — raised his hands to surrender.
Alva's eyes glowed — tiny stars, bright silver.
"if you touch me again, next time you won't beg," she said quietly.
her voice was soft — which somehow made it scarier.
Kai stepped behind her — almost casually — slinging his arm briefly over her shoulder — not fully, just a graze — subtle.
"you have a dramatic side," he whispered.
"says the boy who body-slammed a man into canned tomatoes," she replied.
Arden cleared his throat.
"we should move. scavengers rarely travel alone."
Alva inhaled — slow — the electricity fading from her skin.
but this time, she didn't collapse.
she didn't burn out.
she was still steady on her feet.
and Arden — for the FIRST time — looked at her like she wasn't a threat —
but an asset.
he stepped closer, studying her aura.
"your power is stabilizing," he said.
Alva held his gaze.
"so what happens now?"
Kai looked between them — suddenly quieter.
Arden answered:
"now we take you to the base."
Alva swallowed.
"the safe zone you've all been whispering about?"
"no," Arden said, voice calm.
"the one nobody talks about."