Gray was panting like a wild dog. Beads of sweat formed on his face and fell silently onto the cold pavement. Each breath he took was ragged, desperate, like he was clinging to air that refused to welcome him. After a moment, he raised his head and looked at the glowing remnants of the broken LED signs that lined the massive wall ahead.
District 2. He had made it.
In truth, Gray had rarely stepped outside the boundaries of his own district. The risks were too high. Territory lines were strictly enforced, and patrols often detained anyone without clearance. He had heard of people vanishing after being caught too far from home. Still, this was the first time he had ever come close to a district exit.
The sight was overwhelming. A massive steel gate loomed above him, carved into the thick walls that surrounded the city. The gate itself was tall enough to hide skyscrapers behind it, and higher up, blinking red lights scanned the area like the eyes of silent machines. Beyond the gate was the unknown. A world outside Ironhold.
This gate was one of eight. Each district had one. It was the only way in or out of the walled city. And leaving? Nearly impossible. You needed a verified reason, approval, and official identification. Most people had none of those. Which meant they stayed trapped, born and buried within the same concrete prison.
Gray stared in awe, feeling his own insignificance crushing down on him.
A voice cut through the fog.
"Hey you. What're you doing here? Get out!"
Gray flinched. An officer had spotted him. The man was dressed in dark armor, helmet visor flickering with a red interface. His tone was harsh, not one that invited negotiation.
'Not very pleasant at all' Gray thought bitterly.
He reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out the glowing blue card he had been given. No words. Just a gesture. He stepped forward cautiously, extending the card toward the officer.
The man eyed him suspiciously, hand close to his holster, then snatched the card out of Gray's hand. He stared at it. His expression changed instantly. The hard lines of duty vanished from his face, replaced by a look of discomfort. His brows furrowed and he rubbed his eyes as if trying to forget what he had just seen.
Poor kid. Doesn't know what he got himself into. Why do I have to be the one to send him to his grave?
The thought came and went in the officer's mind, but Gray didn't notice. The man exhaled slowly and turned around.
"Follow me," he muttered.
Gray didn't ask questions. He kept his head down and walked behind the officer in silence. The streets around them were strangely empty. Only green military tents stood here and there, some flapping softly in the breeze. The streetlights were dimmer than usual. Even the wind sounded tired.
They walked for a while until they reached the edge of the dock.
Gray stopped in his tracks.
In front of him was something out of a storybook.
A massive metallic vessel hovered just above the dark water, held aloft by engines that hummed quietly beneath it. It looked like a warship, but one not made for the sea. The front was shaped like the blade of a weapon, and sleek armored plating ran along its hull. Dozens of smaller crafts floated nearby, docked to the main vessel or bobbing in formation.
The officer stopped walking and pointed toward a group standing at the loading bridge. Then he turned without another word and walked away.
Gray approached cautiously.
A familiar face stood at the edge of the platform, briefcase in hand. The man from earlier. The salesman.
He looked just as polished and out-of-place as before, with sharp features and a stare that sliced through the fog. Gray wasn't sure if he was relieved or horrified to see him again.
"You made it," the man said, lips curling into a smile that wasn't quite warm. "I expected you would."
Gray gave a small nod, unsure what to say.
"You're not alone, of course," the man added, tilting his head slightly.
Gray turned to see around 10 kids. But only five stood out from the others. A girl with long braided hair and torn gloves, her eyes watching everything like a hawk. A large man leaning against a crate, arms crossed, face unreadable. A boy younger than Gray, maybe fifteen, bouncing on his feet nervously. Beside him stood a pale woman with a crooked smile and burns on her neck. And lastly, a tall figure cloaked in cloth and shadows, face hidden completely.
Gray swallowed. These were the others who had taken the offer. Strangers. Like him.
"These are the other candidates," the man said, stepping to the side. "Each of you will be debriefed upon boarding and will be prepared for whats to come"
The girl narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly are we preparing for to come?"
The man simply smiled.
"All in good time."
Behind him, the massive bridge of the ship extended with a quiet hiss. Lights along its edges flickered to life.
"Board now. We depart in ten minutes."
The group exchanged glances. No one moved at first.
Then Gray stepped forward.
The metal under his feet vibrated faintly with power. The air smelled like oil, salt, and old machinery.
Whatever waited ahead, it had already begun.
And there was no turning back