The sewer exit eventually led them outside the walls of Asphyxia.
Fresh air greeted them.
Kai hated it.
A part of him kept looking behind.
Toward the ground.
Toward the tunnels.
Toward where Andre had been left behind.
The image refused to leave his mind.
Andre grinning.
Andre fighting.
Andre shouting stupid things.
Then disappearing behind falling stone.
Eric noticed.
Of course he did.
"You know."
Kai remained silent.
Eric continued.
"If it was me down there."
Kai glanced at him.
The architect adjusted his glasses.
"I'd be dead."
"That's reassuring."
"I'm serious."
Eric pointed toward the city walls.
"Andre isn't normal."
"Neither is Fais."
"Exactly."
Kai frowned.
"That doesn't help."
Eric shrugged.
"It helps me."
They continued walking.
Several moments passed.
Then Eric spoke again.
"You know what he'd say."
Kai already knew.
Unfortunately.
Eric grinned.
"'Stop crying and go do something useful.'"
Kai snorted despite himself.
"Sounds like him."
"Or maybe he'd say something dumber."
"Dumber?"
"'If I die, take my wallet.'"
Kai sighed.
"That definitely sounds like him."
For the first time since the collapse—
He smiled.
Only a little.
But it helped.