The safe house was silent as the team returned, battered and weary. The sun was beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the floor as they filed in. The adrenaline that had fueled their escape was wearing off, leaving behind exhaustion and the bitter taste of defeat.
Ethan slumped into a chair, his mind racing despite his body's fatigue. The Architect had slipped through their grasp yet again, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. But what gnawed at him more was the Architect's words, still echoing in his mind: *You've only scratched the surface… this is far from over.*
Alex set down her gear with a heavy sigh, her usually sharp eyes dulled by fatigue. "We were so close," she murmured, shaking her head. "How did we miss it? How did they know?"
