Down in the tunnels, it was a different sight from how Jeremy had left it.

For one, an argument had broken out after he left and it was loud.

The tension in the air was palpable as the group voiced their displeasure at their leader.

It was all Lyra could do to talk to them reasonably.

The loudest among them was Torin, the muscular man she trusted as her second-in-command.

He wasn’t on her side either as he couldn’t hold back his frustration any longer.

"We can’t trust him, Lyra," Torin said, his voice low but intense. "He’s dangerous. You saw what he did to our guys. He’s the reason we’re down in numbers."

Lyra raised a hand to silence him, her eyes calm but resolute but he didn’t listen.

"If you don’t care about us, think of all those he killed. Don’t you care about them, he killed Samuel. Samuel!"

As he mentioned the name, she reached out and smacked him across his face.

It made the others quiet down as they all gazed in shock as Torin held his face in surprise.

"How dare you insinuate that I don’t care about them. You all are my priority."

"Is that what the rest of you think? You think I’m being selfish, don’t you?" Her voice was pained and she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

Nobody could answer her or look her in the eyes as they all looked at the ground ashamed of themselves.

It wasn’t often that they saw her showing her emotions so openly.

She had always been tough and wiser than her age.

They all knew that she had been close to Samuel which was why they were surprised that she had offered to make a deal with the person that killed him.

"I’m sorry that I overstepped, it wasn’t in my place to do that," Torin mumbled after a while breaking the silence.

She couldn’t apologize in front of the others since he had actually overstepped but she resolved to make it up to him later.

"I’ve seen the future, Torin. Without him, we won’t survive this Scenario," She said, fighting back the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

The group raised their head shocked at what she told them.

They knew from experience to take whatever she saw seriously as it always came to pass.

Lyra took a deep breath, knowing she needed to explain further.

"Look, I know you all have doubts, and you have every right to. But you need to understand that our survival hinges on making tough decisions. We’ve sacrificed a lot to get here, and I won’t let any more of our people perish if I can help it."

Torin crossed his arms, his expression still skeptical. "This changes things but you can’t expect us to just trust this guy after everything he’s done?"

Lyra nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Yes, I do. Because I’ve seen what happens if we don’t. He is the key to our survival. He has skills and knowledge that we need. We combine forces, we find the catalysts, and we increase our chances of making it through this."

One of the younger members of the group, a girl named Elara, stepped forward. "But what if he turns on us? What if he decides we’re more of a liability than an asset?"

Lyra sighed, knowing this was a valid concern. Elara had always been a smart girl.

"I can’t guarantee he won’t. But what I can guarantee is that without him, our chances are much slimmer. We’re in a dangerous game, and sometimes we have to make alliances with people we’d rather not."

She looked around at her team, seeing the worry and fear in their eyes. "Put your faith in me. I’ve led us this far, and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep us safe."

In her mind, Lyra was fully aware of the risk they were taking.

"Very fishy that he didn’t reveal his name when you introduced yourself to him."

"No doubt, he has his reasons. We will certainly know more when we meet him again."

She couldn’t bring herself to tell them that they had just met the famous Jeremy Lewis a.k.a The Hoarder.

Jeremy was a known entity, infamous for his role in the downfall of Paul, one of the most feared figures in the previous scenario.

The stories of his ruthlessness and cunning were legendary among the Gifteds.

She knew that aligning with him was like making a pact with a devil, but she also knew that desperate times called for desperate measures.

The whole team would lose their minds if they knew who he really was.

Meanwhile,Torin clenched his fists, his frustration clear.

"Fine, but I still don’t like it. If he steps out of line, I won’t hesitate to put him down."

Lyra nodded even though she knew that he stood no chance against Jeremy in a fight.

"Agreed. We stay vigilant, but we also give him a chance. For now, we focus on our goal. We find the catalysts and prepare for the Woes. We stick together, and we stay strong."

In the quiet of her thoughts, she allowed herself a brief moment of vulnerability.

Jeremy was a wild card, an unpredictable element that could either save them or doom them.

She had seen a future where they survived, but it was riddled with peril and uncertainty.

She couldn’t afford to doubt herself now. The stakes were too high. The Scenario was unforgiving, and only the strong, the cunning, and the brave would make it through.

With Jeremy by their side, she hoped they had tipped the scales slightly in their favor.

But deep down, she knew that the path ahead would be anything but easy. The Hoarder was a powerful ally, but also a potential threat.

She resolved to keep a close eye on him, to learn what she could, and to be ready for whatever might come.

As she watched her group prepare, she felt a renewed sense of determination.

They had come this far, and they would go further still. She had to survive no matter what it took.

She needed The Hoarder.