Daniel's lungs burned as he sprinted through the dim industrial corridor, alarms blaring overhead.
Lockdown Protocol Activated. All Exits Sealed.
The automated voice echoed mockingly through the speakers.
"Leo, status?" Daniel muttered into his comm.
"Every exit is sealed tighter than a vault. Manual override isn't working — they've rerouted core control to a secondary server. You're boxed in."
Daniel slid behind a steel pillar as laser turrets descended from the ceiling — metallic irises whirring open, preparing to fire.
He cursed under his breath.
This wasn't just defense. This was execution.
"Option B?" Leo asked grimly.
Daniel's jaw clenched. Option B meant detonate the explosives on his own suit's belt to blow through the walls — at the cost of his own body.
"…Not yet," Daniel muttered.
He scanned the hall.
Five turrets. One central node. Distance too far to cross before being shredded. Only one path left — the security maintenance door to the left.
Except—
It was sealed. And only internal staff had access.
Dead end.
He exhaled slowly.
Then the door clicked.
Just a faint tick. Barely audible over the alarms — but unmistakable.
Daniel froze.
The lock light flickered from red to green.
That door wasn't supposed to open.
"…Leo," Daniel whispered. "Did you patch into that lock?"
Leo's voice came through, baffled. "Negative. I didn't touch it."
The door creaked open a sliver — like a silent invitation.
Daniel stared for half a second, instinct slicing through doubt.
He knew only one person who could unlock that door.
As he slipped through, the turrets re-aimed — but stopped.
Whoever opened the door had looped the camera feed too.
The hallway beyond was narrow and dark.
But on the metal floor — he saw something. A small silver clip, deliberately dropped.
Daniel picked it up.
It was a hairpin. Silver, with a faint floral engraving.
Clara's.
He exhaled — somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.
"…So you finally chose a side."