Chapter 2: If you love them, set them free...

Valerie and Grim navigated the narrow paths of the collapsed building, their path lit only by the faint glow of Valerie's futuristic watch.

The destruction around them was extensive, with corridors blocked and rooms caved in, forcing them to squeeze through tight openings in the rubble to progress.

Grim's constant barrage of questions and comments echoed through the confined spaces. "Found an exit yet?" he'd ask, followed shortly by, "I could really go for a pizza right now."

Valerie's patience was wearing thin. Each question chipped away at her resolve, and she muttered under her breath, "You're as bad as my brother."

In a particularly narrow passage, Valerie's foot slipped on some loose debris. She stumbled backwards, only to fall against Grim's chest.

"..."

"Thanks," she sighed, a brief moment of vulnerability in her otherwise stoic demeanour.

But Grim's response was characteristically indifferent. "Wouldn't have caught you if there wasn't a wall behind me," he remarked, not missing a beat.

Valerie's expression hardened as she pushed past him, continuing their precarious journey in silence.

Suddenly, the building shook violently, the rumble of distant explosions and the wail of sirens filtering through the walls.

Grim perked up, a hint of concern in his voice. "What's happening out there? Another villain attack?"

Valerie frowned, focusing on her watch, trying to get a signal amidst the chaos. But the device remained stubbornly silent.

Exhaustion finally got the better of Grim. He slumped down against a wall, his body feeling heavier than usual.

"I need a break. You can go ahead. I'll just wait here for rescue… or starve. Whichever comes first," he said, his voice devoid of its usual sarcasm.

Valerie paused, looking back at him. A flicker of disbelief crossed her face. 'Did I really risk my life for this guy?' she thought. With a shake of her head, she turned and continued on alone, leaving Grim in the dim, dusty silence.

As Valerie's footsteps faded, Grim leaned his head back against the cool wall, his mind surprisingly clear.

For once, the prospect of being left behind didn't bother him. He closed his eyes, the sounds of the distant sirens blending into a lullaby for the weary and the damned.

....

Five minutes had passed in silence when Valerie, her expression a mixture of reluctance and resolve, made her way back to where Grim sat.

He opened one eye, a hint of amusement in his voice. "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it was always yours. That homeless psychic from the ward wasn't lying after all."

Valerie rolled her eyes, ignoring his remark. "I didn't come back because I wanted to. The passage is blocked, and I need your help. I think I remember the building's layout from the plans. There's a storage room nearby with a vent leading outside."

Grim nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the darkness ahead. "Give me 10 minutes to recharge," he said, closing his eyes again. Valerie didn't argue this time, instead choosing to sit at a safe distance, resting her injured ankle.

The silence between them stretched on, punctuated only by the distant echo of sirens and the soft beeping of Valerie's watch. After a while, Valerie broke the quiet. "Are you okay? I mean, with your head and all."

She observed him closely. "You don't seem to react to pain, like when you cut your fingers on those sharp rocks. And there's something off about the way you look at wires and ropes. Your breathing, your heartbeat – they haven't changed at all. And your... indifference to death. It's not normal."

Grim tilted his head, considering her words. "I guess I've always wanted to die," he mused, his voice distant. "Don't know where it started, but it's always been there. Oh, and I never introduced myself. I'm Grim."

Valerie studied him, a thousand questions in her eyes, but she chose to keep it simple. "Megan," she lied. It was safer that way, she reasoned, given he didn't seem to recognize her.

The silence returned, filled only with the distant chaos of the city and the rhythmic beeping of Valerie's watch.

She typed away, her mind racing through calculations and strategies to unblock their path.

She inventoried her available resources, mentally mapping the surrounding area based on her fragmented recollection of the building's layout.

....

( 10 minutes later...)

Valerie and Grim, having regained some strength, prepared to venture back towards the blocked passageway. Valerie led the way, her watch casting a dim glow as she retraced their steps through the rubble-filled corridors.

"Based on the building's design, the storage room should be right beyond this blockade," Valerie explained, examining the debris blocking their path. Her eyes were alight with determination.

"We're going to need to create a small explosion to clear this. But we have to be precise, or we risk bringing down more of the building on top of us."

Grim raised an eyebrow. "And you're planning to make an explosion with... what exactly?"

Valerie rummaged through her pockets, pulling out a few small gadgets. "With a bit of chemistry and some improvisation." She looked at Grim. "I need you to help gather some wires and any loose metal. I can make a rudimentary circuit to control the blast."

Grim nodded, silently moving to collect the items she requested. Despite his earlier apathy, he found himself intrigued by her plan.

As Grim gathered materials, Valerie started setting up her makeshift device. She took apart her watch, using its screen as a control panel.

"The lithium battery in my watch, combined with some aluminium from a soda can I found earlier, can create a small thermite reaction. It's not ideal, but it should be enough to blast through this wall."

She connected the wires Grim brought to her device, carefully positioning the small pile of thermite she had created. "This watch has a short-range transmitter. I'll use it to detonate the thermite from a safe distance."

Grim watched in silence, impressed despite himself. "And what's my role in all this?"

Valerie glanced at him. "You're on lookout. If this goes sideways, I need you to pull me out. Fast."

Grim gave a half-nod, his expression unreadable.

With everything in place, Valerie and Grim retreated to a safer distance. Valerie's fingers danced over the watch screen, now a makeshift detonator.

"Ready," she said, her voice steady. "Three, two, one..."

The device emitted a sharp beep, and a moment later, the thermite ignited. A bright flash followed by a deafening bang filled the air.

The blockade shuddered and then collapsed, opening a pathway through the debris. Coughing through the dust, Valerie and Grim peered through the newly created opening.

Beyond lay the darkened maze of the trade building, and hopefully, their route to freedom.