The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 18: Hold the Line

The cold, stale air of the abandoned facility was thick with tension. Adam sat crouched near the wall, gripping the metal pipe he had used earlier. Victor and Marcus moved like seasoned predators, their weapons ready, eyes scanning every shadow.

Victor's voice broke the silence. "We have two options: hold this position or try to escape before they overwhelm us."

Adam glanced at the system, half expecting it to glow with unsolicited advice. It didn't. He clenched his fists, his mind racing.

"If we run, we're exposed," Marcus said, reloading his shotgun. "This place isn't ideal, but we've got choke points. We can use them."

Victor nodded. "Agreed. Marcus, you take the east side again. Adam, stay with me. If they breach, you're our last line of defense."

Adam swallowed hard but nodded. "I'll do what I can."

Victor read the message over Adam's shoulder and grimaced. "Twelve. That's manageable if we play it smart."

"Manageable," Marcus muttered. "Sure, let's call it that."

---

The minutes ticked by in agonizing silence. Adam's pulse hammered in his ears as he strained to hear any sound. Finally, it came: the distant crunch of gravel, the faint rustle of movement.

"East side," Marcus whispered over the radio. "I see four, maybe five. Waiting for the others to circle around."

Victor nodded. "They're probing. Hold your fire until they commit."

Adam peeked out from behind a stack of crates. Through the broken windows, he could see faint shapes moving under the moonlight. His hands tightened around the pipe.

Suddenly, the first shot rang out, echoing through the facility.

---

The east side erupted into chaos as Marcus opened fire. His shotgun blasts were deafening, each one sending a flash of light into the darkness. Shouts of pain and alarm followed.

Victor fired next, his pistol sharp and deliberate. Adam stayed low, watching as the attackers tried to rush the entrance, only to be repelled by Marcus's relentless barrage.

"They're regrouping!" Marcus called out. "Two down, but the rest are pushing hard!"

Victor moved to a better vantage point, picking off one of the attackers with a clean headshot.

Adam's chest tightened as another group of figures emerged from the shadows, this time heading for the north entrance.

"North side!" he yelled.

Victor cursed under his breath and motioned for Adam to follow him.

---

The attackers at the north entrance were better organized. They moved in pairs, using cover as they advanced. Victor fired rapidly, forcing them to retreat temporarily, but Adam could see more shapes gathering in the distance.

"Adam!" Victor barked. "Cover me while I reload!"

Adam nodded and stepped forward, his hands trembling as he raised the pipe. One of the attackers was climbing through a window. Without thinking, Adam swung the pipe with all his strength, catching the man in the side of the head.

The attacker crumpled, but another was already climbing in after him.

Victor, his pistol reloaded, dispatched the second man with a precise shot. "Good work," he said quickly, his tone urgent.

---

Meanwhile, Marcus's voice crackled over the radio. "They're pulling back on the east side. Feels like they're regrouping for a final push."

Victor's jaw tightened. "They're testing our defenses. They'll hit us hard next time."

Adam looked at the system. "Can it tell us how they'll attack next?"

Victor nodded. "Ask it."

Adam typed quickly.

"They're splitting," Adam said. "East will be a distraction, but the real push is coming from the west."

Victor's eyes narrowed. "Marcus, shift to the west side. I'll hold the east. Adam, stay here and be ready to move."

---

Marcus sprinted across the warehouse, his boots echoing loudly on the concrete floor. Adam stayed behind, gripping his pipe and trying to steady his breathing.

The attackers came again, just as the system predicted. The east side exploded in noise as Victor fired relentlessly, keeping their attention focused.

From the west, Adam heard the distinct boom of Marcus's shotgun. He could picture the scene in his mind—Marcus holding the line with brute force, every shot precise and devastating.

Adam stayed alert, listening for anything that might suggest a breach.

Adam's stomach sank. "Victor! More are coming—20 minutes until reinforcements."

Victor swore loudly. "We can't hold this place that long. We need an escape plan."

Adam nodded and quickly posed another question.

Adam relayed the answer, and Victor's eyes widened. "There's a tunnel? Marcus, fall back! We've got a way out!"

---

The team regrouped in the storage room, the sound of gunfire still echoing in the distance. Marcus was covered in dirt and sweat, his shotgun nearly out of ammo.

"Tunnel?" Marcus asked breathlessly.

Victor nodded, prying open a heavy metal hatch in the floor. "This way. Let's move."

Adam climbed down first, his heart pounding. The tunnel was dark and cramped, but it felt safer than the chaos above.

Marcus followed, then Victor, who sealed the hatch behind them. The sound of gunfire faded as they descended deeper into the tunnel.

---

The tunnel stretched on endlessly, its walls damp and covered in grime. Adam's legs burned from the effort, but he kept moving.

Finally, they emerged into the abandoned train yard. Rusted cars and overgrown tracks surrounded them, the area eerily quiet under the moonlight.

Victor leaned against a metal beam, catching his breath. "We bought ourselves some time, but they'll figure out where we went soon enough."

Marcus checked his weapon, his expression grim. "We need a new plan. Fast."

Adam stared at the system, waiting for it to reset. His daily questions were used up, but he knew tomorrow would bring more.

For now, all they could do was wait and prepare for whatever came next.