It was early in the morning, and though the sun had not yet risen, Reinhard was already up, moving through the house with quiet efficiency. The stillness of the countryside surrounded him, broken only by the distant rustle of trees swaying in the cool morning breeze. He finished getting ready, and before heading out, moved toward the bed where Alice y sleeping peacefully. Bending down, he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. For a moment, he lingered, watching her breathe steadily. Then, with a quiet sigh, he turned and left the room.

  He entered the rooms of his children, checking on them one by one. They were all sound asleep, their faces calm, untouched by the burdens that weighed on him. He stood at the door of their room for a few moments longer than necessary, a quiet guilt tugging at his heart. But there was no time to dwell. He shut the door softly behind him and headed toward the celr.

  In the cool, dimly lit basement, his equipment was id out on a broad table, ready and waiting. Reinhard methodically donned his gear, the process automatic, practiced, but his focus sharp. The familiar sounds of metal buckles clicking into pce, straps tightening, and gear shifting against his body gave him a sense of readiness.

  He was startled by a loud bark. Mars, his loyal direwolf, had padded silently into the room and was now sitting at attention, watching him expectantly. Reinhard knelt down and patted the thick fur on Mars’ neck. “You know you can’t come with me, boy,” he murmured. “It’s dangerous down there.” Mars responded with a soft growl, eyes locked on Reinhard with a determined, almost stubborn gleam. The direwolf stood his ground, refusing to move, even when Reinhard tried to get up.

  Reinhard sighed, shaking his head. “Gosh, you’re really a stubborn brat, you know that?”

  Mars didn’t budge. His rge, wolf-like eyes remained fixed on Reinhard, as if he knew better. After a few seconds of the silent face-off, Reinhard finally relented, rubbing the back of his neck with a resigned smile. “Alright, fine. You can come along. But don’t compin about the smell.”

  Mars barked happily, tail wagging with excitement. Reinhard chuckled softly as he opened the vault once more, pulling out a custom vest and gear for Mars. With smooth, practiced motions, he dressed the direwolf in his own pte carrier, attaching various items: glowsticks, a small camera, a waterproof battery pack, and a compact first-aid kit. He also packed a rebreather and a specialized gas mask for Mars in his backpack.

  Once satisfied, Reinhard stood and secured his own gear, making sure everything was in pce. The familiar weight of his equipment helped focus his mind. He then locked the vault, the heavy cng echoing in the quiet celr. They made their way outside, where the crisp air of the countryside greeted them. The first hints of dawn were just beginning to color the horizon, casting a pale light over the grassy fields.

  Reinhard and Mars got into the truck. As the engine rumbled to life, the peaceful expanse of their nd quickly disappeared in the rearview mirror. They drove toward the distant silhouette of Stonewatch, where the industrial sector y just beyond the city’s protective walls. The busy factories, long abandoned, now stood like hollowed-out skeletons, guarding the edges of the city's sprawling sewer system where the pipes met the river.

  The road was empty this early, the dark ndscape around them slipping by in silence, interrupted only by the soft hum of the truck’s tires. The distant city lights glowed faintly against the sky, a reminder of the world beyond their rural home. The countryside was slowly giving way to the industrial outskirts, where the massive sewers from Stonewatch emptied into the river.

  After a while, they reached the outskirts of the industrial sector, where the rge, rusted pipes from the city’s underbelly dumped their waste into the flowing river. The smell of stagnant water hit them even through the closed truck windows. Reinhard parked in the shadow of an old factory, the hulking, rusted buildings looming like forgotten giants around them. He covered the truck with a tarp, leaving it hidden from sight.

  Mars was already pacing, eager to begin. Reinhard pulled his gas mask over his face, the world around him immediately becoming muffled, his breath measured in the respirator. He put his helmet on, flipping down the night vision and thermal optics. The dark sewers below would be an entirely different world from the quiet fields they had just left behind.

  They approached the nearest sewer grate, the faint sound of water echoing up from the tunnel below. Reinhard pulled the grate open with a groan of metal, and the scent of rot and filth assaulted his senses even through the mask. Mars hesitated only for a moment before leaping down into the darkness.

  The tunnel was wide, dark, and stiflingly damp. The stench was overpowering—a putrid mix of decay, waste, and something far more sinister. A central canal ran down the middle, where the sewage sluggishly made its way toward the river. Narrow ledges ran alongside it, slick with moisture, barely wide enough for them to walk without slipping. The air felt thick with moisture, clinging to his skin and equipment as they descended deeper.

  As they navigated the byrinthine sewers, the occasional drip of water from above echoed eerily, and the oppressive silence grew heavier with each step. Reinhard’s eyes scanned the walls, his HUD marking turns on his ATAK as they moved deeper into the network of tunnels. Mars remained focused, nose twitching, ears alert to the faintest sounds in the distance.

  After a while, Mars stopped abruptly. His ears perked, and his stance shifted to one of caution. Reinhard followed his gaze and saw it—a dead Verminthar soldier, half-submerged in the sewage.

  Mars approached first, sniffing cautiously as Reinhard crouched beside the corpse. The Verminthar’s body was a grotesque sight, its cws long and sharp, its jagged yellow teeth exposed in a death snarl. Its gaunt body was draped in expensive, blood-soaked fabric, now torn and filthy. The creature’s small, gleaming red eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling, a permanent gleam of malevolent hunger frozen on its face.

  “Cssic Verminthar society,” Reinhard muttered under his breath. “Stabbed in the back by their own kind.”

  He didn’t waste time. They had a job to do. Reinhard stood up and patted Mars’ side. “Alright boy, it’s time for business. Can you find the scent?”

  Mars let out a quiet bark, lowering his head to sniff the air once more. With purpose, the direwolf began to lead them deeper into the tunnel, moving with a focused determination. Reinhard followed, his senses on high alert. The air grew colder, the stench thicker, and the tunnels darker. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the sewers became, as if the walls themselves were closing in, swallowing them whole.

  Reinhard tightened his grip on his rifle. They were getting closer to something—and whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be pleasant.

  Announcement Hello everyone, Apologies for being te in my submissions. I was experimenting a little with Chapter lengths with the first 3 chapters and I found that this is a good length that I can maintain on a weekly / biweekly basis. If you have any input on how I can improve in my writing, please let me know. Thank you for reading. -Shiroe