The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 40: The Shadow Strikes

The forest was silent except for the distant echo of their pounding footsteps. Smoke still rose in the direction of the Nexus depot, a grim reminder of the chaos they had just unleashed. Victor led the group deeper into the wilderness, choosing paths shrouded by thick underbrush and towering trees. The air was cool, but tension kept everyone's nerves razor-sharp.

"We've got to keep moving," Victor said, his voice firm but quiet. "Nexus will be hunting us by now."

Lex adjusted the strap of her pack, her breathing heavy from the relentless pace. "And where exactly are we going, fearless leader? Back to the resistance, or straight into another mess?"

Victor didn't break stride. "First, we lose any tails. Then we regroup."

Adam, walking in the middle of the group, felt the familiar pressure mounting. His mind buzzed with unanswered questions, but he had to be careful. He could only ask the system three times today, and every query had to count.

"System," Adam whispered, "are there Nexus patrols nearby?"

Adam relayed the information, and Victor adjusted their route. The group veered toward the southeast, pushing through denser foliage where branches snagged on their clothes and the ground turned into uneven slopes.

By the time they stopped to catch their breath, the sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Marcus leaned against a tree, wiping sweat from his brow. "So, do we get a plan B now, or are we just running blind?"

Victor pulled out a folded map, spreading it on a flat rock. "There's a resistance safe house about fifteen miles from here. If we make it by morning, we can regroup and figure out our next move."

Lex groaned, flopping onto a fallen log. "Fifteen miles, huh? Sounds like a dream."

Adam stared at the map, his thoughts spiraling. Verdan wasn't the type to let an attack on his depot slide. There would be repercussions—not just for them, but for the resistance and anyone caught in the crossfire.

"System," Adam whispered, "what is Verdan's next likely move?"

Adam's heart sank. "They'll ramp up patrols here soon," he told the group. "We need to get to the safe house before sunrise."

Victor folded the map, his expression grim. "Then we move now. No rest until we're clear."

The night deepened as they pressed on, the forest alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures. Crickets chirped in a relentless rhythm, and the occasional rustle of leaves hinted at unseen animals. Adam's legs burned from the constant march, but the thought of Nexus patrols closing in pushed him forward.

Marcus suddenly held up a hand, signaling the group to stop. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness ahead. "I heard something."

Everyone froze, their breaths held as the distant crunch of boots on fallen leaves reached their ears.

"Patrol," Victor whispered. "Get down."

They dropped to the ground, hiding behind a cluster of bushes and fallen logs. The glow of flashlights danced through the trees as voices drifted closer.

"System," Adam whispered, his heart pounding, "what's the best way to avoid detection?"

Victor nodded at Adam's silent gesture, and the group stayed perfectly still. The Nexus patrol passed within a few feet, their conversations muted but tense.

"They must've gone southeast," one soldier said. "Keep sweeping. They couldn't have gotten far."

The patrol moved on, their voices fading into the distance. Marcus exhaled slowly, his grip on his rifle relaxing. "Too close."

Victor motioned for them to keep moving. "Let's not give them a reason to come back."

Hours later, they reached the edge of a wide clearing. Moonlight spilled over the field, revealing a small, weathered cabin nestled against the trees on the far side. The safe house.

"Looks abandoned," Marcus muttered.

"It's supposed to," Victor replied. "That's the point."

They crossed the clearing quickly, their steps light and cautious. Victor opened the cabin door, his rifle raised, but the interior was empty. The space was simple—a single room with a table, chairs, and a few cots pushed against the walls.

Lex dropped her pack onto the table with a sigh. "Finally, somewhere that doesn't smell like mud and gunpowder."

Victor began checking the windows and doors, reinforcing them with heavy wooden beams. "We'll rest here for a few hours, but we can't stay long."

Adam sat on one of the cots, his mind still racing. He thought of the depot explosion, the patrols, and Verdan's growing shadow over everything. For all their small victories, it still felt like they were fighting an uphill battle against an unstoppable force.

As the others settled in, Adam whispered to himself. "What's next?"