CHAPTER 117: ALL ROADS END HERE

Jacob accepted it with shaking hands. "Okay."

Zaara touched my arm lightly. "Vincent..."

I turned toward her, searching her eyes.

"I’m still mad at you," she said quietly. "But I’m not letting you do this alone."

My throat tightened.

"Understood," I said

Zaara’s hand lifted halfway toward me, then dropped. Her shoulders trembled as if caught between wanting to touch me and wanting to stay as far away as possible.

Theo slapped my back, a little too hard. "Let’s go, hero. Time to save the world."

East Hallway

The hallways were dim, the flickering lights overhead washing everything in pulses of white and shadow.

Theo took the lead. Zaara stayed close behind me, fingers lightly brushing my jumpsuit sleeve every few steps.

We reached the east corridor and slowed our pace.

My eyes swept the walls. Metal panels. Exposed pipes. A thin trickle of water ran across the floor from somewhere overhead, the puddles shining under the lights.

"There," Theo pointed.

And finally...I saw it.

A narrow grey door, half-hidden behind a support beam. A single red light glowed above it.

Zaara leaned closer. "That’s it."

Theo glanced back at me. "Moment of truth."

I swallowed, stepped up to the keypad.

I punched in 4-9-2-0.

Red light.

I tried 4-9-2-1.

Still red.

Theo blew out a slow breath. "We’re gonna be here all night."

"Shh." I tried another combination. And another. Sweat rolled down my spine under my collar. My fingers were trembling.

4-9-2-7.

There was a soft beep.

The red light switched to green.

Theo slapped his hand over his mouth to muffle a shout. Zaara let out a shaky exhale.

"Holy shit," Theo hissed. "Open it."

I pushed the door slowly. It gave way an inch, groaning on its hinges.

A blast of cold, recycled air hit my face.

Behind the door was a narrow stairwell, lit with strips of white lights leading down.

I turned to Zaara. "Stay here. If we’re not back in five minutes—"

"Not happening," she snapped. "We’re all going."

Theo gave me a helpless look.

"Fine," I said. "Quiet. Single file."

We slipped inside and started down the metal steps. Each footstep echoed, the walls closing in around us.

I felt Zaara’s hand slip into mine halfway down the stairs. I squeezed em back.

At the bottom, we reached a steel door. A flickering sign above it read SYSTEMS CONTROL – AUTHORIZED ONLY.

Theo shot me a look. "Wanna knock first?"

I swallowed. "Let’s hope there’s no one inside."

I gripped the handle, ready to push in.

"Vincent," Zaara whispered urgently.

I froze.

Footsteps.

Coming from behind us, up the stairwell.

Theo hissed, "Shit."

I turned, pulse hammering.

And saw a figure silhouetted in the stairwell shadows.

A man in a white suit and silver mask. Holding a briefcase.

And behind him...

Two armed guards.

The man lifted his gaze and smiled.

"Well," he said smoothly. "It looks like some of our little players are getting curious."

Zaara’s fingers crushed mine.

Theo’s jaw clenched, fists balling.

My heart slammed in my chest.

I stepped forward, planting myself between the man and Zaara.

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded.

The man in the white suit tilted his head.

"I’m the reason you’re all still alive. Get them."

Everything exploded at once.

The two masked guards surged forward, rifles swinging up.

"Run!" I shouted, grabbing Zaara’s hand and yanking her behind me.

Theo ran past me, shoulder-checking one guard hard enough to slam him into the stairwell wall. Metal rang out as the guard’s rifle clattered down the steps.

Zaara’s breath was ragged in my ear as we stumbled back up the stairs two at a time. My boots slipped on the wet steps, sending up splashes of cold water.

The first guard lunged for my leg, grabbing my ankle. I kicked backward, heel smashing into his faceplate. The man grunted and fell back a step, blood smearing the black visor.

"Keep going!" Theo yelled.

We reached the top landing, burst through the grey door into the east corridor...and skidded to a halt as another guard rounded the corner, weapon up.

Theo charged him without hesitation, slamming his forearm into the barrel of the rifle. The shot went wide, punching a hole in the wall and spraying sparks.

I swung at the guard’s helmet, fists landing hard on metal. Pain shot through my knuckles, but I kept hitting until the man staggered.

Theo slammed the guy’s head into the wall.

Zaara hovered behind us, breath coming fast.

And for a split second, as she stared at me and Theo fighting side by side, there was something almost like pride shining in her face.

But it didn’t last.

A sharp bang cracked through the corridor.

Theo jerked backward with a strangled yell, clutching his upper arm. Dark blood bloomed across his grey jumpsuit sleeve.

"Theo!" Zaara cried out.

A masked guard surged past Theo and grabbed Zaara around the waist, dragging her back.

"Let go of her!" I roared, lunging forward.

But the guard jammed a pistol against Zaara’s neck.

Zaara froze, her lips were trembling.

"Vincent," she whispered, voice breaking.

I lifted my hands, my pulse pounding so hard.

"Don’t hurt her," I said, forcing my voice steady. "Don’t—"

The man in the white suit finally stepped through the grey door behind us, smoothing his tie, utterly calm.

He glanced at Zaara, then at me.

"I’d advise you not to be foolish, Mr. Aston," he said lightly. "Unless you’d like to watch her bleed out right here."

The guard’s pistol pressed tighter against Zaara’s skin. She winced, tears brimming in her eyes.

Theo staggered forward, blood dripping from between his fingers, teeth gritted in pain.

"Vincent... don’t you dare surrender..." he rasped.

"Oh, but he will."

He stepped closer.

"Because, Vincent..." His smile widened. "We both know who matters most to you in this room."

I stared at Zaara.

At the terror in her eyes.

At the way she tried to stand straight despite the barrel pressing into her throat.

My fists shook so violently.

The guard’s grip on her tightened.

Zaara swallowed hard, eyes locking with mine.

"Don’t give them what they want, Vincent," she whispered.

The man in white chuckled softly. "Too late for that, honey."

My chest felt like it might split open. My brain screamed at me to fight, to rip the gun from his hand, but another voice whispered that if I moved, Zaara would die. And I couldn’t lose her. Not again. Not now.

Zaara lifted her chin, even as the pistol dug into her neck. "Go to hell," she spat at the man in the suit.

He lifted his hand.