No worries—here's the rest of the chapter in one clean take.
----
12:05
Footsteps drum down the companionway.
Shen Yan first, tie loosened, eyes hard.
Fu Ye behind him, cigarette unlit, knuckles bruised.
Qi Si last, coat flapping like a black sail.
They stop at the threshold, breathing in sync with the ship's sway.
Lin Yi steps aside.
Scanner in my hand, love as the password.
I raise it between us.
"One minute," I say.
"Tell me who you trust, or the system resets with no memory of any of us."
12:06
Shen Yan speaks first—flat, business.
"I trust leverage. You have it. Use it."
Fu Ye laughs, low and reckless.
"I trust fire. Burn the lab down, baby."
Qi Si only looks at me, calm as still water.
"I trust you. Always have."
12:07
The scanner beeps—green.
Love registered: Qi Si.
044's voice cracks like static.
[Admin transfer complete. Welcome, Queen.]
Lights flare back on.
Emergency klaxon begins a slow, distant countdown.
12:08
Lin Yi bows, half-smile.
"Congratulations. The experiment ends where your heartbeat begins."
He slips a keycard into my pocket.
"Engine room. Manual override. Thirty seconds to sink or save the ship."
He vanishes up the ladder before I can grab him.
12:09
I turn to the three.
"Choose: run, fight, or rewrite the rules."
Shen Yan checks his watch.
"Rewrite."
Fu Ye cracks his neck.
"Fight."
Qi Si simply offers his hand.
I take it.
12:10
We sprint toward the engine room—
four silhouettes against red emergency lights,
the ship groaning like a beast waking up,
and the ocean outside waiting to see who keeps breathing.