Chapter 80: The unknown

"Why does it feel like everyone is hiding something from me?" Sarah whispered, her voice trembling as the chilly night air bit at her skin. Her words lingered, heavy with doubt, fear, and something deeper—something she couldn't quite name. She glanced at Alex, who was limping beside her, his face pale but set with determination.

Alex didn't answer right away. His jaw tightened, and he leaned heavily against the wall of the narrow alley they had ducked into moments earlier. The city around them buzzed with distant sirens and the muted hum of nightlife, oblivious to the chaos that had unraveled just blocks away.

"You're not wrong," Alex said finally, his voice low, almost defeated. "There's more going on than you know, Sarah. But right now, all that matters is getting out of here alive."