The explosion Sarah had set off to create an escape route was far more powerful than anyone had anticipated. She had barely turned another corner when the deafening blast hit, the shockwave propelling her forward nearly a meter.
Pain screamed through every inch of her body. The taste of blood filled her mouth, and she coughed, spattering crimson droplets. Internal injuries, at the very least.
Sarah let out a bitter laugh and collapsed to the ground, not daring to move for fear of exacerbating her injuries. Her ears rang from the explosion, making it impossible to hear if anyone was approaching.
"If it's the Shadow Collective, I'm finished," she thought grimly.
But fortune favored her. The massive explosion had thrown the entire auction house into chaos. Even the Shadow Collective members were disoriented, some hiding in fear of a non-existent government assault.
Only Rosalyn and her group, aware of Sarah's plan, understood the situation. When they heard the unexpectedly massive explosion, they were initially startled but quickly filled with hope.
As soon as the dust began to settle, they rushed towards the source of the blast. They found Sarah lying in a pool of her own blood.
"Sarah!" Rosalyn cried out in shock. She quickly retrieved emergency medical supplies from her spatial pocket, administering them to Sarah while her guards deployed advanced first-aid equipment.
Within minutes, Sarah's broken bones were partially mended, though she still required extensive medical attention. Despite her injuries, she found the efficiency of their advanced medical technology fascinating.
Although Sarah felt she could move, Rosalyn insisted one of her guards carry her. They made their way towards the newly created exit, sunlight streaming through the two-story high opening in the wall.
There, partially buried under the rubble, they found Alexis Thorn - the man Sarah knew as Jake. He was alive, seemingly in better shape than Sarah, struggling to free himself from the fallen debris.
Rosalyn's eyes hardened. "Kill him," she ordered without hesitation.
One of her guards moved swiftly, not giving Thorn a chance to speak or react. Sarah watched as blood gushed from Thorn's neck, his eyes fixed on her with a mixture of hatred, anger, and regret.
As life drained from Thorn's eyes, Sarah mouthed words he couldn't hear: "Thank you for the citizen ID, Jake. I really like it."
Thorn's face contorted in fury, blood flowing faster from his wound. Within moments, the light faded from his eyes.
"He's dead," the guard confirmed unnecessarily.
Rosalyn, hearing commotion from within the building, urged everyone to move quickly. They made their way to the gathering crowd outside, where law enforcement had begun to assemble.
As Rosalyn's guards explained the situation to the authorities, Sarah felt the adrenaline leaving her body. Despite the prompt medical attention, the blood loss took its toll. Her eyes closed, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
When Sarah next opened her eyes, seven days had passed. Rosalyn and Buddy were by her side, having accurately predicted her awakening time thanks to advanced medical technology.
"It's been seven days," Rosalyn informed her. "Don't worry, all of the Shadow Collective members have been captured. There are no loose ends."
Sarah listened as Rosalyn explained the aftermath of the auction house attack, including the accelerated plans for an interstellar network to prevent future communication delays between planets.
As Sarah's mind cleared, Rosalyn presented her with an ornate box. "The Ethereal Lotus," she said. "The auction was canceled, but I remembered you needed this. It's yours now."
Sarah stared at the box, realizing that despite the chaos and danger, she had somehow managed to secure the very item she had come for.