The facility loomed ahead like a fortress of glass and steel, cold and unyielding under the fading dusk. Its walls reflected the dying light, shimmering like a cage designed to trap secrets—and those brave enough to uncover them.
Ava crouched low in the shadows, her breath steady despite the pounding of her heart. Beside her, Sable scanned the perimeter, eyes sharp as a hawk's, every muscle coiled for action.
Noah and Luca slipped silently behind, their steps ghostlike against the cracked concrete.
The narrow service tunnel yawned open like a wound in the side of the fortress. The faint hum of machinery echoed from within, punctuated by distant footsteps and the flicker of surveillance lights.
Sable motioned forward. "Stay close. Watch for patrols."
Their footsteps were muffled by the worn metal grates beneath them as they slipped inside, swallowed by darkness and silence.
Every corner twisted like a serpent's coil, corridors lined with blinking panels and exposed wiring. Ava's glowing hands were tucked inside her jacket pockets, a secret flame held in check.
Suddenly, a soft click echoed ahead—the unmistakable sound of a security lock disengaging.
Noah froze, signaling the team to halt. Shadows shifted near the end of the hall as a lone guard stepped into view, flashlight cutting through the gloom.
Ava's heart thundered, but her voice was a whisper. "On my mark..."
The guard's footsteps drew closer.
With a sudden burst of speed, Sable lunged forward, knocking the guard into the shadows. A muffled struggle, then silence.
They pressed on, deeper into the maze of cold steel and secrets.
Ahead, the glow of the data core pulsed softly — a beacon in the heart of the fortress.
Time was running out.
To be continued...