The Silence After War,the fires still burned, Emily stood on the remains of Valeria Cain's fortress, the acrid stench of smoke and blood thick in the air.
The once-imposing structure had been reduced to ruins, its steel walls crumbling, its security systems shattered the war had ended here—at least, this war.
Her body ached the wound on her shoulder throbbed, but she ignored it, the pain didn't matter. Not yet.
She could hear the scattered voices of survivors—Resistance soldiers gathering their wounded, securing what little remained of the enemy's stronghold.
Some of Valeria's soldiers had surrendered. Others had fled into the night, leaderless, a few still resisted, but they wouldn't last long.
Jared approached, his rifle slung over his shoulder.
His face was streaked with soot and exhaustion. "We've swept the lower levels.
A few pockets of resistance, but nothing we can't handle."
Emily nodded. "And Lena?"
