I lower my brows suspiciously. "Do I know you?"

"No." She says. "How could you possibly... I'm no one."

I glance up at Jaron. He glares at the stranger, veins bulging around his biceps as his hand hovers near the sword at his waist.

"I know you, though." The woman twists her hands in front of her, edging away from Jaron. "You're the Runner. I recognize you from the posters."

"What posters?"

"Then ones in Babel." Her gaze darts around the circle of suspicious Wasters. "You can hardly turn a corner without seeing your face. The Madam's labeled you a dangerous terrorist."

"Fitting." Someone murmurs.

I take a step closer to the woman, studying her carefully. She freezes in place, a light sheen of perspiration plastering her strawberry-blonde hair to her forehead. I take note of the scratches marring her skin and her torn dress. Dried mud coats her boots and ankles.

Mud.

Water.

Babel still has water.

"Who are you?" I ask, keeping my face within inches of hers. She trembles visibly at my tone, which tells me that she may truly believe Babel's propaganda. Either that, or she's a pawn of the Madam and a gifted actress.

"Mayweather." She extends a hand, then seems to think better of it and wipes her sweaty palm on her thigh. "Or Mia, if you like."

"And what are you doing outside the dome, Mia?" I press.

"I escaped."

"Escaped." I repeat doubtfully. "And are there more of you?"

"There were." She stares back in the direction of Babel, brushing at the sudden waterfall of tears streaming from her eyes. "Those...those things got to them. Tore them apart like so much—" She chokes on the words and collapses in a heap of wracking sobs.

Looking past Mia's miserable figure towards Jaron, exchanging a look with him. He obviously still distrusts the Babelonian, but seems willing to let me push her further.

I ease myself down into a crouch, wincing from the ache in my tired legs.

"Listen here." I place a hand on her heaving shoulder. "Mia, look at me."

She raises her head, blinking up at me with red-rimmed eyes.

"You're in the Wastelands, now." I say. "Out here, you can't afford to come undone. I take it you lost someone you cared about during your escape?"

She nods wordlessly.

"Use that pain." I tell her. "Let the hurt drive you to survive."

Her trembling slows and then ceases as she draws a shaky breath.

"Good." I say. "Now, look around you."

She casts a furtive glance over her shoulder, registering the image of Jaron and the other Wasters with their various weapons clenched tightly, as well as the endless barren desert surrounding us.

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you that presently, very little trust exists between us." I let my words hang heavy with meaning. "So right now, your job is to explain to me why my comrades and I shouldn't leave you to the lions."

"No, please." Mia gasps, terror etched across her elfish face. "Please, I'm telling you the truth."

I sit back on my heels, one brow arched, waiting.

"Babel's turned into a nightmare." Mia speaks quickly. "The Madam's administration is summoning more people to the tower than ever before, regardless of their age or occupation. Anyone who hides or resists is gunned down in the streets, it's complete chaos." She shakes her head. "I had to get out."

"How did you escape?" I ask.

"A friend told me about a resistance group operating from Babel's old irrigation tunnels." She explains, eyes stretched wide in earnest. "I was able to make contact with them and join up with a group they were smuggling out."

A twinge of excitement sparks in my chest. Mia's way out could be our way in.

"This group." I say thoughtfully. "You're the only one left?"

The barest of nods.

I sit back on my heels, my mind churning, trying to work out whether Mia is telling the truth. Her tears seem genuine, but I have learned not to underestimate the Madam's tactics. The woman has an unbelievable capacity for elaborate schemes. I decide to press a little further, just to be certain.

"Who were they?" I ask. "Tell me."

Mia appears taken aback, but recovers well enough to swallow audibly and lick her parched lips.

"There were six of us." She says slowly. "An older couple, a couple of farmers and then myself and Krysta." Her voice wavers slightly as she utters the name. "We were only briefly introduced. The older couple didn't even make it out of the tunnels."

"Why not?"

"The Scorchers got them." She asserts.

"The what?"

"Scorchers. Babel's failed experiments. I've heard rumours of wretched half-humans living beneath Babel, but I always assumed that they were a legend made up to scare children." Mia shudders at the memory. "I never could have imagined that they are very, very real."

I once again look to Jaron, raising my brows in question. The Waster chief has lowered his blade, resting it against his shoulder as he watches the Babelonian thoughtfully. He catches me looking at him and shrugs his substantial shoulders.

Bringing my attention back to Mia, I am careful to keep my face devoid of expression.

"So, you survived the Scorchers. You and... what was your friend's name?" I tilt my head.

"Krysta." Mia answers. "And she isn't...wasn't...just my friend. She was my cousin." Tears swim in her eyes once again, but she thrusts her chin in the air and manages to keep them from falling.

I exhale through pursed lips, standing and considering the Babelonian before me. Mia stares up at me, her expression equally imploring and pleading with just a hint of defiance.

Glancing around the circle of Wasters, I realize that all eyes are on me and feel a secret little thrill as I take stock of my position. Jaron and Luca wait expectantly alongside the half-dozen other people, each one of them ready to hear my decision.

My decision.

Standing a little taller, I drum my fingers against my mouth and take my time in speaking. I contemplate Mia's words, her demeanor and current position, turning her tale over in my mind and ultimately letting my instincts guide me.

"That was quite the story, Mia." I say, finally. "Fantastical, really."

"It's the truth." She insists fiercely.

"I'm sure it is, but I'm afraid that I'm going to need more than that from you." I offer a hand and pull her to her feet. "I want you to take me to these tunnels. I want to meet Babel's resistance fighters for myself."

"Go back?" Mia gasps. "No, I can't. I can't go back there."

"You can and you will." I tell her. "Because the thing is, Mia. Out here," I nod towards the horizon, showing her the craggy dunes and white-hot sand. "Things don't get better. You have to contend with starvation, dehydration and—as you've already learned—unfriendly wildlife. Tell me, did your education behind Babel's walls include the skills to contend with the elements?"

Mia's overly-large eyes grow wider. "No." She whispers.

"I didn't think so." I nod at Jaron who sheaths his sword and signals to the others to do the same. Mia relaxes as the tight circle we've formed around her breaks up, the Wasters returning to their posts and dispersing rations of food and water.

I hand Mia a flask and a portion of meat, indicating that she should help herself. She takes a timid bite and watches me warily while I grin through my own mouthful of food.

"We'll make camp here." I call out, wiping my hands off on my trousers and turning to Mia. "I suggest you get some rest, tonight. Tomorrow, you're taking us back to Babel."

* * * * *

The next morning, Mia leads us into the East. The Babelonian drags her feet as she walks, her shoulders hunched and her eyes shifting. We keep our eyes peeled for an ambush, weapons never far from reach while we trudge down a barely-discernible path snaking between the dunes.

As noon comes and goes, there is a noticeable spike in tension. I take note of the tight expressions worn by my fellow travelers and break into a light jog, drawing up alongside Mia.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" I ask, allowing my tone to hold a trace of warning.

She releases a grunt of annoyance. "Of course I'm not sure. I'm a schoolteacher, not a cartographer. I've never even been outside of Babel until yesterday."

I turn my face to the sun in order to hide my smirk. "You know, you remind me of someone."

"Who?"

"My friend, Sera. She's a bit like you. Brave, but in a quiet way."

Mia sneaks a glance at me. "You think I'm brave?"

"You left your home and everything you've ever known. You took off for the desert without any idea of where you'd go or what you'd find." I meet her eyes. "If that's not bravery, I don't know what is."

The ghost of a smile crosses her lips, then abruptly evaporates as she squints into the distance. "I think I see it."

I follow her eyeline, scanning the horizon but failing to notice anything out of the ordinary. The landscape is wholly unremarkable, made up of lightly-blowing sand swept into low hills that butt up against a wall of rock. Mia lengthens her stride, brow furrowed in concentration as she approaches the cliff face. I stand flanked by Jaron and Luca, watching and waiting while Mia gingerly touches the stone, feeling her way across the rough face until she reaches an inconspicuous outcropping. She presses her ear against the rock, her pale brow furrowed in concentration. After a long moment she steps back and waves me over.

Luca trails me to the cliff and I notice that his hand rests near the hilt of his knife as I peer at the shadow Mia indicates. A puff of air brushes against my face and I gingerly stretch out my hand, feeling my way into the crevasse. I look at Luca over my shoulder, raising my brows before slipping into the cave.

An all-encompassing darkness swallows me up. Adrenaline immediately surges through my veins and I breathe forcibly through clenched teeth, fighting with the memory of my time spent in the chambers below the City's gaol. Luca's warm hand encircles my elbow and at once my breath comes more easily, my heartbeat slowing to its natural rhythm while my eyes adjust to the dim light.

A torch helps to illuminate the narrow passageway as the Wasters file in behind us. I force one foot in front of the other, throwing my shoulders back as I follow a gently-sloping path, feeling the impenetrable walls surrounding us press in tighter as we descend belowground. The sound of our footsteps is absorbed instantly by the stone, creating a silence as ominous as the blackened maw ahead. I strain to pick up on any distant echoes, visions of oil-drenched teeth and glowing eyes filling my mind. Daylight recedes to a distant memory as we weave our way through the earth, occasionally brushing up against the wall and causing cascades of pebbles to fall onto our heads and shoulders.

After what seems like an eternity the path widens and our torchlight shows us a branch of tunnels; three gloomy corridors all leading to places unknown.

"Mia." I call the Babelonian to my side, cursing the stale air for turning my voice hoarse.

Mia appears beside me.

"Which way?" I ask, indicating the three tunnels.

She frowns, glancing back and forth between each road. "I...I'm not sure."

"Think, Mia."

"It was so dark." She bites her lip. "So dark and they were chasing us. They made such horrible noises..."

Just then, a strange, high-pitched screech and a series of clicks sound from one of the tunnels. Mia jumps, jostling me as Luca and the others draw their weapons. My hand finds the sword at my back, lingering on the hilt as I concentrate on the gaping holes, waiting and listening.

Another screech ricochets off the stone. Louder this time. Louder and closer.

Much closer.

Mia begins to shake violently. She clutches my tunic and pulls desperately.

"We have to go." She whispers. "Please."

"Which way?" I ask again.

"I don't know!"

This time, the mysterious shriek is followed by a furious scratching sound, as though a million clawed fingers were tearing apart the walls. The clicks increase in fervor and my head snaps to the left, at once convinced of the sound's origin.

"Too late." I speak through clenched teeth, loosing my sword from its scabbard.

"Ready weapons." Jaron orders and the we fan out as best we can in the tight quarters. The scratching and shrieking explodes from the far tunnel, the terrifying noise at once engulfing us. I barely have a moment to brace myself before the creatures are upon us, falling on our swords and spears like rain from the sky.

The Scorchers are everywhere at once, above us and below, clammy skin and greasy hair accompanying razorlike nails and sightless eyes. My blade strikes air again and again as I fight, the spectres impossibly fast, their cries disorienting. I catch glimpses of malformed bodies, dull metal implements replacing limbs, upturned noses with gaping nostrils, forever snorting and snarling. Their skin is pale, silver like moonlight. Unnaturally, ludicrously discoloured. My stomach heaves as I strike flesh, the creature releasing an all-too-human death cry.

In the chaos of battle I fail to notice Mia's absence. Her blonde hair winks in the torchlight and I realize she's vanished into one of the tunnels. I curse the Babelonian's cowardice, thrusting my blade into someone's gut and fighting to see our way past the attackers. A new creature appears with each passing second and it has become all too clear that deep inside the mountain, away from light and open ground we are hopelessly outmatched.

A moment later Mia's wide-eyed stare materializes from one of the passages. "This way!" She shouts, her words barely audible amongst the terrifying shrieks.

I reach for Luca's arm, ushering him and the others ahead of me, sending them away from the fight and towards Mia's tunnel, shouting for Jaron to follow. We sprint headlong into the darkness, the Scorchers' sharpened teeth and gnarled fingers still tearing at us. A heavy body slams into me, pinning me against the wall. The creature's hot, sour breath coats my face as I struggle to push him back, grappling for my dagger. A deafening screech fills my ears and I stab blindly, raking the creature across the chest and sending it into a fit of convulsions, clicking and clacking as it dies. I drop to the ground, rolling out of the way of its flailing limbs before clambering to my feet, stumbling as I take off after the group. The darkness and the Scorchers encroach at a terrifying speed, gaining ground as I chase the torchlight. We round a bend and stop abruptly, slamming into one another when the flame reveals a horrifying sight.

Scorchers, dozens of them, clicking and shrieking as they creep towards us. The torchbearer raises the light and I gasp, panic and bile gathering in my throat. A dozen more creatures are crawling along the ceiling, their clawed hands gripping the narrow pipes running above.

We're surrounded.

My back presses into Luca's as we stand in place, weapons clenched in shaking fists. The Scorchers' milky-white eyes glow in the light of the dying flame and their jaws gnash while they snap and shriek.

"Fire in the hole!"

A canister rolls across the ground, bumping against my foot harmlessly. There is an ominous snap, followed by a thunderous bang and the tunnel is at once filled with a blinding light.

The Scorchers unleash a chorus of blood curdling screams but I'm unable to see them, I'm unable to see anything as my vision is assaulted by an all-consuming whiteness. Someone grabs my arm and I reflexively shake them off, confused and disoriented and blinking furiously in an effort to restore my eyesight.

"Hurry!" The stranger grabs me again, tugging me to the side. "There isn't much time!"

Relieved to hear a human voice in place of the Scorchers cries I allow myself to be led away, one hand on Luca while I stumble and pick my way towards a hatch laid into the wall. Still blinking the spots of light from my vision I count off the Wasters and Mia, making certain everyone is safely through the hatch before helping the stranger tug the door closed, standing back and rubbing my eyes forcefully while the spokes spin, sealing us off from the monsters with a satisfying clank.

The room we now find ourselves in is eerily silent compared to the anarchy of the tunnel. I stand between the Waster brothers, fighting the surge of adrenaline still coursing through me as our rescuer steps free of the shadows.

"Welcome back to Babel, Runner." She says. "We've been waiting for you."