The neon glow of Lumina District felt different now—less comforting, more like a warning. Every street, every billboard, every flickering light seemed to pulse in response to the Echo I had unleashed.
Mira and I crouched behind a stack of crates in a narrow alley, catching our breath. The shadow hovered silently beside us, its form now calmer, but still faintly shimmering.
"We can't stay aboveground," it said.
"Collectors will search every street. And the Remnants… they can follow Echo anywhere."
Mira's eyes widened. "Then where do we go? You said something about a network?"
The shadow nodded. "Yes. Beneath the city exists a network of tunnels, safe houses, and hidden enclaves. Echo-Readers like you sometimes seek refuge there. It is the only place where you can train, learn, and survive."
I frowned. "Train? Learn? Survive? You mean this… this is just the start?"
"Exactly," the shadow said. Its voice echoed slightly, almost like it was coming from the walls themselves.
"Your abilities are raw, Aren Hale. But if you do not learn to control them, the next Collector you face may not leave you alive."
I clenched my fists. "Then I need to learn. Now."
The shadow drifted slightly upward, pointing toward a dim service hatch across the alley.
"Through there. It will lead you to the network. But beware—the tunnels are not empty. Rogue Echo, stray Remnants, and other humans with unknown intentions roam below."
Mira bit her lip. "Other humans?"
"Some are allies," the shadow explained.
"Some… are worse than the Collectors."
I nodded grimly. "We don't have a choice. Let's go."
---
We slipped through the hatch into darkness. The air was cooler here, tinged with a faint metallic hum. My pulse raced—not entirely from fear, but from anticipation.
The tunnel stretched endlessly before us. Pipes ran along the ceiling, humming with faint energy. Shadows twisted along the walls, some clearly Echo-formed, others just tricks of the dim light.
Suddenly, a voice called from the darkness ahead:
"Hold it right there."
A figure emerged—a girl about Mira's age, dressed in a sleek black jacket with faint glowing lines. She carried a staff that hummed softly, pulsing with Echo energy. Her hair was streaked with neon blue, and her eyes glinted like city lights reflected on water.
"You're Aren Hale," she said flatly. "Heard your Echo earlier. Impressive, but sloppy. You'll get killed if you keep acting recklessly."
I opened my mouth, but Mira beat me to it. "Who are you?"
The girl's eyes softened slightly, though her tone remained stern.
"Name's Kael. I work with the Underground Network. I hear Echo too. And right now… you've got trouble following you."
I swallowed. "Collectors. I know. And a Remnant."
Kael nodded. "Good. You know enough to survive. Follow me if you want to live. But first… you'll need to learn control."
The shadow drifted closer to me.
"You will not only learn to control Echo, but you will also discover its secrets. Hidden abilities, ancient knowledge, things the Collectors fear… and crave."
I looked at Mira. She nodded. "I'm with you."
I took a deep breath. "Then let's go."
The three of us—me, Mira, and the shadow—followed Kael deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Lumina District. Neon blue reflections danced across the walls, Echo humming through the air like electricity.
I could feel the power building inside me. The fear, the determination, the chaos—it was all ready to explode again.
But this time… I would be ready.
Because the first real lesson of surviving Lumina District was about to begin.
And I wasn't planning to fail.