Read Chapter 17: Chapter 17

The Conseil's response came three days later. In the early hours of the morning, units of the Garde Souterraine swept through the lower levels, arresting dozens of activists and community organizers. Claire Fontaine was among them, taken from her apartment in Level Two and brought to the detention center at Châtelet.

Léon heard the news from Amelie, who had narrowly avoided arrest by sleeping in a safe house in the quarry tunnels. She found him at the maintenance office, her face pale with shock.

"They took Claire," she said. "And dozens of others. They're calling it a crackdown on sedition."

Léon felt the blood drain from his face. "What about the others? Marcus? Richard?"

"Marcus is still in hiding. Richard was arrested two days ago. They're holding him at a Garde barracks near the Bastille station."

Léon sat down heavily, his mind reeling. The Conseil had struck back, swiftly and brutally. The movement was in disarray. Its leaders were in prison. Its members were scattered and afraid.

But he could not afford to despair. He had been in the darkness before, and he had found his way out. He would find a way through this too.

"What do we do?" Amelie asked, her voice trembling.

Léon thought for a moment. "We regroup. We organize. We find out who's still free and who's been taken. We support the families of the arrested. We keep the movement alive."

"But the Garde—"

"The Garde is watching, but they can't be everywhere at once. We'll be careful. We'll use the cells. We'll operate in secret until the political situation changes."

Amelie nodded, though her face was still pale. "And Claire? What about Claire?"

"We'll find a way to help her. There are lawyers who support the movement. They can challenge the arrests. We can pressure the Conseil through public opinion. The people won't forget what she did."

Léon's words were confident, but inside, he was uncertain. The Conseil had shown that it was willing to use force to maintain its power. The movement's leaders were in prison. The path forward was unclear.

But he had made a commitment. To Claire, to Marcus, to Amelie, to all the people who had risked everything for change. He would not abandon them now.

"We start with the basics," he said. "Food, water, shelter. We need to support the families of the arrested. We need to find safe places for the people who are in danger. We need to rebuild the network."

Amelie straightened, a new resolve in her posture. "I can help with that. I know people who can provide food and shelter. I know safe houses that haven't been compromised."

"Good," Léon said. "Let's get to work."