A FEW HOURS LATER
MICHAEL'S POINT OF VIEW:
I held Isabella close in my arms, her weight light but terrifying all the same. She wasn't unconscious, just bone-deep exhausted, her head tucked into my chest, breath soft and uneven. I could feel every heartbeat of hers like it was my own. My steps were slower than usual, careful not to jostle
"Hey." Felix called from ahead, voice laced with urgency. "Before we get too far, something's happening."
I glanced up, just as he stepped into the building's side hallway, gesturing wildly at a glowing terminal that had flared to life, one none of us had noticed before.
"What is it?" Emory asked, frowning as he stepped beside him.
"It's another directive from the system." Felix muttered, squinting at the screen. "It's encrypted, but it's not just a threat this time. It's… a task. An actual task."
"Here? Inside this building?" Lucien's voice was still hoarse, but alert.
