Darkness.
Dust filled the air.
The sound of collapsing stone echoed through the tunnel.
Then—
Silence.
Amina's eyes opened slowly.
Her vision blurred.
Everything spinning.
Her head hurt.
Her breathing heavy.
"Adam…"
Her voice was weak.
Almost gone.
She tried to move.
Pain shot through her body.
But she forced herself up.
Ignoring it.
Looking around.
Nothing was clear.
Broken walls.
Fallen debris.
Shadows everywhere.
"Adam!"
This time louder.
Desperate.
No answer.
Her heart started racing.
"No… no, no…"
She moved forward.
Stumbling.
Searching.
Then
She saw him.
Under the rubble.
Not moving.
Everything stopped.
"Adam…"
Her voice broke.
She rushed to him.
Dropping to her knees.
Hands shaking.
"No… please…"
She pushed the debris away.
One piece.
Then another.
Faster.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring everything.
Finally—
She reached him.
His face pale.
Eyes closed.
Too still.
"Wake up…"
Her hands held his face.
Gently.
Desperately.
"Adam… wake up."
Nothing.
Her breathing became uneven.
"No…"
Tears fell.
She shook him slightly.
"Don't do this… please don't do this…"
Still nothing.
Her heart felt like it was breaking.
"No…"
She leaned closer.
Her forehead touching his.
"Not like this…"
Then—
A weak breath.
Almost nothing.
But enough.
Her eyes widened.
"Adam…"
She checked quickly.
Pulse.
Faint.
But there.
Relief hit her so hard she almost collapsed.
"You're alive…"
Her voice shaking.
"Stay with me… okay?"
She pressed her hand against his wound.
Trying to stop the bleeding again.
"You promised…" she whispered.
"You said you'd come back…"
Adam's eyes moved slightly.
Barely.
Then opened.
Just a little.
Blurry.
Unfocused.
"Amina…"
Her heart stopped.
"I'm here…"
She leaned closer.
"I'm here."
His lips moved slightly.
"You… didn't leave…"
A weak breath.
She shook her head.
"Never."
A small, tired smile appeared on his face.
"Of course you didn't…"
Her tears fell again.
But softer now.
"You're not allowed to die, okay?"
His eyes closed again.
"Not planning to…"
"Adam."
Her voice stronger now.
"Stay awake."
Silence.
He wasn't responding again.
"No…"
Fear came back.
Stronger.
"Adam, look at me!"
His eyes opened again.
Barely.
"Still here…"
She exhaled slowly.
"Good."
She looked around.
The tunnel was unstable.
Cracks everywhere.
They couldn't stay.
"We need to move," she said.
"You can't stay here."
He tried to move.
Failed.
Pain hit him instantly.
"Don't move," she said quickly.
"I'll help you."
She positioned herself next to him.
Carefully lifting him.
His arm over her shoulder.
He let out a weak breath.
"You're stronger than you look…"
She gave a faint smile.
"You taught me."
Step by step
They moved.
Slow.
Painful.
But forward.
Every step felt like forever.
But she didn't stop.
Wouldn't stop.
"Stay awake," she kept saying.
"Talk to me."
He tried.
"What do you want me to say…?"
"Anything."
Silence.
Then
"If we survive this…"
His voice weak.
"…you're not allowed to disappear again."
Her heart tightened.
"I won't."
"You said that before…"
She stopped for a second.
Then continued walking.
"This time… I remember why I stay."
Silence.
After a few steps
He spoke again.
"Say it again."
She frowned slightly.
"What?"
"That you won't leave."
She looked at him.
Then said clearly
"I'm not leaving you."
His breathing slowed slightly.
Like that was enough.
Finally
A faint light appeared ahead.
The exit.
Amina's eyes focused.
"Almost there…"
She pushed forward.
Ignoring everything.
Until
They reached it.
Fresh air hit them.
Cold.
Real.
They stepped outside.
Collapsed near the ground.
Exhausted.
Alive.
Amina looked at him.
Still holding him.
Still close.
"You made it," she whispered.
Adam looked at her.
Weak.
But real.
"So did you…"
Silence.
Soft this time.
Amina leaned closer.
Resting her forehead against his.
"We're not done," she said.
His eyes met hers.
"No…"
Pause.
"…we're just getting started."
End of Chapter 18