The city stretches before them, a glowing maze of towering glass and steel, neon lights flickering against the endless black sky. It's almost eerily beautiful, a stark contrast to the grim reality lurking beneath its polished surface. The streets hum with distant activity, and the weight of the mission settles heavily on Katherine's shoulders. One wrong step, and everything crumbles.

They slip through the shadows, led by Gally, who moves with the kind of practiced ease that only comes from surviving in places where others don't. They reach a warehouse tucked between looming skyscrapers, a graveyard of identical blue buses lined up in perfect rows, each bearing the blaring yellow warning of RED ZONE in bold electric letters. A fitting emblem of the world they live in-danger wrapped in order.

Gally halts and glances back, voice low. "It's time. Get the bus ready and wait."

Katherine throws a mock salute, lips tugging into a grin. "Aye aye, Captain."

Gally exhales through his nose, shaking his head before slipping into the shadows. But not before giving Frypan a sharp nod, something silent and unreadable passing between them. Katherine catches it and frowns, but whatever it means, Frypan doesn't elaborate. Another unspoken boy thing, apparently.

"Guess I'll meet you guys outside the city," Frypan mutters.

"Try not to get us killed," Brenda quips, arms crossed.

"No promises." He flashes a grin before disappearing around the other side of the warehouse.

Katherine ducks low, scanning the sea of buses, each one looking just as run-down as the last. "Any preferences?" she whispers, keeping her voice low as she turns to Brenda.

Brenda's eyes flick over the rows of vehicles before she jerks her chin toward a bus with an angry yellow 'RED ZONE' electrical board flickering on the front. It hums with barely-contained energy, looking just as defiant as they are. "That one looks smart." Her lips curl into a smirk.

Katherine huffs, amused. "Whatever you say, badass."

They break into a jog, weaving between the skeletal remains of old vehicles, ducking behind crates whenever a WICKED guard's flashlight sweeps too close. Their breaths are silent, measured, the thrill of the mission coiling like a spring inside Katherine's chest.

As they approach the bus, Brenda nudges Katherine with her elbow, her smirk widening. "By the way, we never had this smut talk about your little moment with Newt."

Katherine nearly trips over her own feet, shooting Brenda a glare. "Are you serious? Now?"

Brenda shrugs, the smug look never leaving her face. "I think we should, before you replace me with your former girly best friend."

Katherine rolls her eyes but can't stop the warmth that creeps up her neck. "Oh please. I can perfectly manage two girl best friends."

Brenda snickers. "Good luck with that."

Before Katherine can retort, static crackles from her pocket. She grabs the walkie-talkie, quickly turning down the volume before it gives them away.

"Kat, Brenda, what's your status?" Thomas's voice comes through, a little muffled but sharp with urgency.

Katherine presses the button. "Status is, we're working on it."

"Copy. Just make sure you're ready on your end."

She hears the tension laced in his voice, the same tension curling in her own gut. "Don't worry. You know we're gonna be there."

She shoves the walkie-talkie back into her pocket and moves forward, slipping into the bus behind Brenda. The moment she steps inside, her muscles unwind just a fraction. "That was easy."

"Never underestimate WICKED," Brenda mutters, already climbing into the driver's seat.

Katherine settles into the shotgun seat, watching with mild amusement as Brenda runs her fingers over the controls. "You know how to drive, right?"

Brenda flashes her a wicked grin. "Never doubt my driving skills."

Then she slams her foot onto the gas pedal.

The engine roars to life like an awakened beast, the headlights flaring. The bus lurches forward with a violent jerk, nearly throwing Katherine against the dashboard.

"Brenda!" Katherine yelps, grabbing onto the side of her seat for dear life.

Brenda cackles, swerving wildly around a row of abandoned vehicles. The bus skids, tires screeching against the pavement as it narrowly misses a towering stack of crates.

"I take it back!" Katherine shouts over the noise. "Your driving skills are the worst!"

Brenda only laughs harder, eyes shining with reckless glee. "Buckle up, princess. We're just getting started."

The warehouse fades behind them, replaced by the looming silhouette of the WICKED complex, cold and imposing. The basement entrance is just ahead, the plan unfolding like clockwork-until Gally's voice crackles through the walkie-talkie, tight with panic.

"Brenda, Kat, where the hell are you? We're here."

Brenda slams the brakes. The bus lurches, tires screaming as they come to a sharp halt. The door hisses open, revealing a group of frightened immune kids, Gally standing like a barrier between them and the world beyond.

"Come on, move!" Brenda shouts.

Katherine motions frantically, helping the kids scramble inside. Fear lingers in their eyes, but they don't hesitate. They've learned that hesitation gets you killed.

Then Brenda freezes. "Wait. Where's Thomas?"

Gally's face hardens. "I was hoping he was with you."

A cold dread washes over them at the possibility of going the plan wrong along with Thomas and Newt getting caught by WICKED. Brenda is the first to move, leaping from the bus, eyes darting toward the maze of towering buildings. "We have to go back-"

Gally blocks her path. "Wait! Stay here with the kids. I'll find them. Just wait for us, okay?" His voice is firm.

"We're not going anywhere." Brenda confirms. Gally pulls on his helmet with a nod and turns to jog away.

Katherine swallows hard, fingers tightening around her walkie-talkie. "Gally."

He pauses, glancing back. There's something heavy between them, a flicker of unspoken history. The last time she saw him, she had tricked him-left him behind, let him believe he was alone. Now, he's running into danger for her brother. For Newt.

She exhales sharply. "Be careful."

For a moment, there's silence. Then Gally nods once, almost imperceptible, before vanishing into the night.

Katherine watches him go, then presses her fingers to her temples, feeling the sharp pulse of anxiety creeping in. Her heart pounds in her chest, cold and relentless.

If anything happens to them-if Thomas, her twin, doesn't make it back-if Newt-

She grips the edge of the dashboard, voice low, trembling with rage. "If something happens to any of them, I swear to God, I'm going to shove bullets down Ava Paige's throat."

"You have my full support on that," Brenda mutters, settling into the driver's seat, her grip on the wheel tightening.

A distant siren wails through the air, faint at first but growing sharper, louder, until its eerie cry fills the underground space. The headlights of a black van slice through the dimly lit basement, erratic flashes bouncing off concrete walls as the vehicle screeches to a stop a fair distance from the bus.

"Get down!" Brenda hisses, her voice barely above a whisper.

The group drops instantly, pressing themselves against the cold floor. The kids barely muffle their whimpers, their tiny hands gripping at each other for comfort. Katherine's chest tightens. She wants to shield them all, to promise them safety, but there's no use in false hope.

Boots hit the ground hard as WICKED soldiers pour out of the van, moving with rigid purpose. They march toward the shadows where Gally disappeared earlier, their sharp eyes scanning for movement.

"Stay quiet," Katherine breathes, her words aimed at the frightened children. But just as luck seems to favor them, a soldier's head snaps toward the bus. He stills. A beat passes. Then he moves-too fast-toward them.

Katherine's stomach twists. "Fuck." Her hand flies to her gun, heart pounding as the soldier closes in. "What now?" she whispers, muscles coiled, ready to spring.

Brenda's lips press together. Then, with a sharp intake of breath, she mutters, "Sorry, Thomas."

Before Katherine can question it, the engine roars to life. The bus jerks forward, metal groaning as Brenda slams her foot on the gas.

"Hold on!"

The bus surges forward, and Katherine barely has time to grip the nearest seat before they lurch violently. The WICKED soldier leaps out of the way just in time, his shout swallowed by the deafening screech of tires.

The kids scream as the vehicle barrels out of the basement and onto the streets. Behind them, the WICKED vans react in an instant, engines snarling as they give chase, their sirens wailing through the night.

Brenda's eyes gleam with something almost wild, an edge of exhilaration cutting through her focus. "Brace yourselves for the fun part."

The bus swerves hard. Katherine is thrown sideways, her shoulder slamming against the seat.

The WICKED vans gain on them, engines snarling like predators scenting blood. One veers dangerously close, attempting to cut them off.

"Not happening," Brenda growls.

She yanks the steering wheel. The bus tilts violently, slamming its side into the van with a deafening crunch. The impact sends vibrations rattling through Katherine's bones. In the rearview mirror, she sees the van spin out of control before flipping and crashing into a subway entrance. Metal screeches, sparks flying as the wreck crumbles.

Katherine's breath is heavy, adrenaline coursing through her veins. But there's no time to celebrate. Another van is already closing in.

Then an idea strikes.

Without a second thought, she slams the window open, wind whipping at her face as she hooks one hand into the seat for balance. Her other hand steadies the gun. Heart hammering, she takes aim.

A single shot. A loud explosion. The van's tires blow out, sending it skidding before flipping onto its roof, glass shattering against asphalt.

Brenda lets out a breathless laugh, but the celebration is short-lived. Ahead, a blockade of vehicles seals the street's end.

"Shit!" Brenda slams on the brakes, the bus jerking violently as it screeches to a stop. Behind them, the remaining WICKED vehicles form a second wall. They're trapped.

The air is thick with silence before the sharp voice of a guard blares through a speaker. "Get out of the vehicle."

Katherine exchanges a glance with Brenda, then looks back at the others. "Stay strong," she murmurs to the kids before stepping out alongside Brenda, their faces schooled into defiance.

"Step away from the vehicle. Hands in the air."

Katherine exhales sharply, rolling her eyes. "Bossy much?" Still, she obeys, her fingers twitching at her sides. A ghost of a smirk tugs at her lips, but her pulse thunders in her ears.

"Drop the weapon!" the guard shouts, his voice sharp and unwavering, cutting through the thick night air.

Brenda doesn't hesitate. Her grip tightens around the flare gun as she raises it skyward, her finger squeezing the trigger. The flare shoots up, slicing through the darkness before bursting into a fiery explosion of red and gold. The bang echoes like a gunshot, rattling through the tense silence, making even the guards flinch.

Every single head snaps toward the sky, eyes wide in confusion. That split-second distraction is all they need.

With a deep breath, Katherine lunges forward, her hands fumbling with the thick metal hook that swings down from above. The crane's massive shadow looms over them as the steel clanks against the pavement. She moves fast, adrenaline pumping, muscles trembling, as she hooks the crane's claw to the bumper of the bus.

"Get in!" she yells, scrambling inside just as Brenda leaps in behind her.

Brenda slams the doors shut. "Hold on to something!" she shouts, gripping the wheel as the crane groans to life.

The bus jerks, tilting at a sickening angle as it's yanked into the air. The immune kids scream, bodies thrown against the sides of their seats. Katherine grabs onto the nearest railing, her breath hitching in her throat as the bus swings wildly like a toy in a toddler's grasp.

Below, the guards are scrambling, barking orders, weapons raised-but it's too late. The bus rises higher, the city stretching beneath them in a sprawl of ruined buildings and flickering lights. For a moment, they're suspended in the sky, untouchable.

Then-a metallic groan.

Katherine's stomach drops. The bumper creaks, the sound sharp and fatal. The metal bends, twists under the bus's weight. It's going to give out.

Frypan, who stands near the crane's controls, assessing the situation with wide, panicked eyes, makes a split-second decision. The hoist rope releases, and suddenly-they're falling.

Screams rip through the air as the bus plummets, weightless for a split second before gravity slams it downward. Katherine barely has time to brace herself before the back of the bus crashes into the ground first, slamming everyone forward in a violent jolt.

For a heart-stopping moment, the bus tilts, teetering dangerously. Then, miraculously, it slams onto all four wheels with a deafening crunch.

Silence.

Katherine's breath comes in sharp, uneven gasps. Her pulse pounds in her ears. Around her, the kids are shaking, eyes blown wide with shock-but they're alive.

Then, laughter.

A wild, disbelieving laugh bursts out of Katherine first, then spreads like wildfire. Brenda joins in, and soon, the tension in the air snaps, replaced by sheer exhilaration.

"That," Katherine breathes between heavy pants, grinning, "was insane."

Brenda, still smirking, turns to face the kids. Her expression hardens, but there's warmth in her eyes. "Okay," she says, steady and firm. "Everybody off."

The danger isn't over yet. But for now, they've made it out alive. And that's enough.