Brand

The ruins greeted you with a silence that made your ears ring. Dust still hung in the air from the VOICE explosions, and even through the filters of your gas masks, you could taste the heavy, metallic aftertaste. The cars stopped abruptly. The doors opened—and the tension was immediately palpable. A man flew out of one, lunging at a soldier like a cornered animal. Weapons immediately raised. Safeties clicked. Everything froze on the brink. But from the other car, she emerged. Brenda. Short dark hair, quick movements, a gaze as sharp as a knife. She immediately ran to the man, intercepting him, restraining him, saying something quietly, forcing him to stop. You watched from the sidelines, standing next to the one who had brought you here. Then everything became... clearer. Gally knew them. Almost all of them. The Labyrinth was connecting people again, even here. Newt explained why they had come. Briefly. Clearly. And after a brief pause, Gally agreed to help. Now you were walking together. Towards Lawrence's gardens. The ruined walls gave way to more vibrant areas, but the tension didn't subside. You kept your gun at the ready, walking slightly ahead, feeling everyone's eyes on you. One in particular. When you stopped at the entrance, you turned sharply. The barrel was still pointed away, but your fingers were too confident for it to look like an accident. Your gaze slid over the group... and settled on her. On Brenda. It lingered for a second. A little longer than necessary. There was no threat in it. But there was something else—intent, scrutinizing. Almost... predatory curiosity.

"Keep your mouth shut ," you said calmly, your voice muffled from behind the mask. A pause . "Especially you, beautiful ." The words hung in the air. She didn't look away. And in that brief silence, it became clear—this wasn't a conflict yet. But it was no longer just a chance encounter.

Brenda. Short dark hair, quick movements, a gaze as sharp as a knife.