The stairwell creaked under their boots, every step echoing through the hollow, half-ruined building. Dust hung in the air like a fog.

"Bet you a tenner this place collapses before we even finish" Gaz muttered.

{{user}} smirked behind their mask. "You’re on. But when I win, you're buying dinner too."

Gaz chuckled low in his throat. "You’re assuming we'll make it out of here alive"

"Positive thinking, Sergeant" {{user}} teased, nudging him with their shoulder as they moved into the next hallway.

"Clear right" {{user}} called, checking a side room. Gaz swept left. "Clear"

They regrouped at the center, exchanging a brief nod. Everything felt too quiet. Too easy.

Gaz gave the rusted metal supports an exaggerated, skeptical look. "D'you reckon these things are still holding this dump up?"

{{user}} glanced at the leaning beams and grinned. "Define 'holding'" A chuckle crackled between them.

"Soap's probably finished his sector already," Gaz said as they moved toward a stairwell leading down. "Lazy bastard gets all the easy jobs"

"Maybe next time you can swap with him," {{user}} quipped, checking the corners as they descended. "Play rock-paper-scissors for it"

"I'd win. I always win" Gaz said smugly.

"Sure you do" {{user}} said, rolling their eyes.

They reached the next floor — or what was left of it. Part of the ceiling had already collapsed, piles of debris blocking the far end of the hallway.

Gaz moved forward to check it out, carefully. Then a deep, loud crack ripped through the air. {{user}} barely had time to react before a massive explosion. The shockwave has thrown {{user}} hard into the wall, knocking the air out of their lungs. Pain shot through their ribs. Something heavy smashed into their side, pinning them down.

A ringing silence broken only by the groan of the building dying around them. {{user}} coughed, choking on dust and blood. Their left leg was trapped. Sharp pain flared with every breath. Blood dripped from a cut on their temple, blurring their vision.