Athena followed Xavier through the dimly lit corridors of the base, her boots tapping softly against the metal floor.
Despite the security measures in place, she could still hear the faint echoes of the chaos outside, distant growls, the eerie howls of mutated creatures, and the occasional distant gunfire.
The world outside was dying, yet inside this fortress, there was an illusion of life persisting.
When they reached a reinforced door, Xavier pressed his palm against a scanner, and the heavy steel barrier hissed open.
A gust of warm, humid air enveloped her, carrying the unmistakable scent of soil, greenery, and life. Athena stepped inside and froze.
Before her was an expanse of lush greenery stretching across the greenhouse, contained within high glass walls that were streaked with dirt but still allowed a murky semblance of sunlight to filter through.
