CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 258: THERE WAS NO ESCAPE

Yuxi ran her hand along the edge of the wall and stopped when her fingers touched something. She crouched, using her own light to inspect the base of the door.

"Debris," she said grimly. "It’s blocked from the other side. Looks like the ceiling caved in, right up against the entrance."

Qingran clicked her tongue and straightened, eyes narrowing.

[Confirmed,] Lingquan’s voice murmured. [The path into Sector E is obstructed by collapsed debris and reinforced structural plating. You’ll need at least four people and tools to shift it. Estimated time: three to four hours.]

"So much for a quick solution," Yuxi muttered.

Qingran sighed. "We need those rooms. Let’s go back and get the boys."

They returned to the main room to find Meng Nian chatting with Xu Tianming over by a crate of unpacked supplies.

Ruihuang was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded but alert.

"We’ve got a job," Qingran said, striding straight up to them. "The hallway to Sector E is blocked. We need muscle."

Meng Nian tilted his head. "Blocked how?"

"Collapsed ceiling. The whole entrance is jammed shut. If we want those beds, we’re going to have to earn them."

Xu Tianming stood immediately. "I’ll get gloves."

Ruihuang pushed off the wall, expression unreadable. "Finally," he said dryly. "Something to hit that won’t cry."

"Bring your strength.." Qingran said. "And patience. It’s going to take hours."

Qingran led the way back to Sector E, now with a full team behind her. The hallway felt different again, less like a tomb, more like a worksite.

She stepped aside, and Ruihuang sized up the door.

He gave it a quick test push, then snorted. "That’s not budging without a fight."

Qingran and the team made their way back to the blocked entrance, determined to clear the debris and access the rooms in Sector E. As they arrived, Yuxi examined the door more closely.

"Debris," she said grimly. "It’s blocked from the other side. Looks like the ceiling caved in, right up against the entrance."

Qingran’s eyes narrowed. "[Confirmed,]" Lingquan’s voice murmured. "[The path into Sector E is obstructed by collapsed debris and reinforced structural plating. You’ll need at least four people and tools to shift it. Estimated time: three to four hours.]"

"So much for a quick solution," Yuxi muttered.

Qingran sighed. "We need those rooms. Let’s go back and get the boys."

They returned to the main room, gathering Meng Nian, Ruihuang, and Xu Tianming. Qingran briefed them on the situation, and the team set off to clear the debris.

With the doors removed, the team began working together to clear the blockage. Sweat dripped, muscles strained, and the sound of scraping and grunting filled the air.

After hours of labor, the entrance to Sector E was finally accessible. Qingran stepped forward, cautious, and pushed open the door.

The air inside was stale, but the rooms seemed structurally sound. Qingran’s eyes scanned the area, taking note of the bunk beds, the bathrooms, and the overall layout.

"It’s livable.." she said, her voice firm. "Let’s get the others and move in."

The team nodded, relieved, and began to make their way back to the main room. Qingran stayed behind, inspecting the rooms more closely.

She checked the bathrooms, the kitchenette, and the ventilation system. Everything seemed functional, but she knew they needed to be thorough.

As she finished her inspection, the rest of the group arrived, led by Yiran and Yuxi. They began to claim rooms, assign beds, and settle in.

Qingran watched, a sense of satisfaction growing. They’d worked hard to get here, and it was paying off.

The sound of chatter and laughter filled the air as people started to make themselves at home. Qingran smiled, feeling a sense of hope rising.

Qingran’s smile faltered as she suddenly felt a strange sensation wash over her. Her eyes glazed over, and she stumbled forward, her vision blurring.

She was no longer in the bunker. She was standing in a desolate wasteland, surrounded by ruins and destruction.

The sky was a deep, foreboding red, and the air was thick with smoke and ash.

People were running, screaming, and crying all around her. Some were injured, others were dying. Qingran saw a child, no more than ten years old, lying on the ground, her leg twisted at an unnatural angle.

A woman, presumably the child’s mother, was kneeling beside her, wailing in despair.

Qingran’s vision expanded, and she saw the devastation stretching out as far as the eye could see.

Cities were in ruins, buildings were burning, and the sounds of chaos and panic filled the air.

She saw people trying to escape, but there was nowhere to go. The world was ending, and there was no escape.

Qingran’s vision snapped back to the bunker, and she found herself on the floor, gasping for breath.

Her heart was racing, and her body was trembling.

She looked around, disoriented, and saw the concerned faces of her group members.

Yiran was kneeling beside her, holding her hand.

"Qingran, what’s wrong?" he asked, his voice full of worry.

Qingran shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. She didn’t know how to explain what she had seen.

She didn’t know how to tell them that there was no escape, that the world above was gone, and that they were just delaying the inevitable.

She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I’m fine.." she said, her voice shaking. "Just...just a little dizzy."

Yiran looked skeptical, but he didn’t press the issue. "Let’s get you to a bed.." he said, helping her up.

Qingran nodded, still feeling shaken. She knew she had to tell them, but she didn’t know how.

She didn’t know if she could find the words to convey the hopelessness she had seen in her vision.

As they walked back to the main room, Qingran’s mind was racing.

She knew she had to prepare them for the worst, but she didn’t know where to start.