The facility shook with every passing second, the countdown to self-destruction looming like a death sentence. The team barely managed to escape the immediate danger, sprinting down the narrow corridors as debris rained from above. Sana led the way, her mind racing with doubts, fears, and questions she couldn't yet answer.
Behind her, Rylan checked the map Zara had downloaded from the terminal. "There's a safe room near the central server," he said, his voice tense. "We can regroup there."
The air was thick with tension, not just from the impending destruction but also from the betrayal that still hung between them. Evelyn, walking at the back of the group with her hands bound, kept her head down. Her betrayal had shaken the entire team, but now wasn't the time to address it—not yet.
As they turned a corner, they encountered another obstacle: a locked steel door. Zara hurried to the control panel beside it, her fingers flying over the keys.
"This should only take a minute," she said.
"A minute we don't have," Rylan muttered, glancing back the way they had come. The sound of approaching guards grew louder. "We've got company!"
Sana and Rylan took positions on either side of the hallway, their weapons ready. The first wave of guards appeared, opening fire without hesitation. Sana returned fire, her movements sharp and precise.
Evelyn pressed herself against the wall, her hands still bound. "Let me help," she said urgently. "You need every hand you can get."
Sana shot her a cold glare but didn't respond. She focused on the fight, taking down two guards with swift accuracy. Rylan, however, hesitated. He glanced at Evelyn, his expression conflicted.
"She might be telling the truth," he said to Sana. "We're outnumbered."
"Not the time, Rylan!" Sana snapped.
The locked door finally hissed open, and Zara shouted, "Got it! Let's move!"
The team retreated through the door, slamming it shut behind them. Zara quickly re-engaged the lock, buying them a few precious moments. They entered a small, dimly lit room filled with old equipment and supplies.
"This is the safe room?" Sana asked, looking around skeptically.
"It's the best we've got," Zara replied, already working to access the next part of the map.
The tension in the room was palpable. Evelyn, still bound, leaned against the wall, her eyes darting between the others. Finally, she spoke. "You're all going to die if you keep doubting me."
Sana spun around, her voice sharp. "And why should we trust you after what you did? You lied to us. You sold us out."
"I didn't have a choice!" Evelyn shot back. "Orion has my family. Everything I've done was to protect them."
"Convenient excuse," Sana said, her tone icy. "But how do we know you won't betray us again?"
Rylan stepped forward, his voice quieter but firm. "Maybe we should listen to her. If she knows Orion's next move, we need that information."
Sana stared at him in disbelief. "You're seriously defending her?"
"I'm saying we don't have the luxury of mistrust right now," Rylan replied. "We're in this together whether we like it or not."
The argument escalated, voices rising as the team's unity frayed further. Zara looked up from her work, her face pale. "Guys, can we not do this now? The map's corrupted. I need time to fix it."
"We don't have time," Sana snapped. "Not with her in the room." She pointed at Evelyn, her anger boiling over.
Evelyn's expression hardened. "I've risked everything to help you! If I wanted to betray you again, I wouldn't be sitting here waiting for your judgment."
Rylan moved between them, his tone calm but firm. "Enough. This isn't helping anyone. We need to focus."
But the damage was done. The cracks in their trust were widening, and every word seemed to push them further apart.
Before the argument could continue, a voice crackled through the room's intercom. It was Orion.
"Well, isn't this entertaining?" he said, his tone mocking. "I expected some infighting, but this is beyond my expectations. Go ahead, tear each other apart. It makes my job easier."
Sana clenched her fists. "You won't win."
Orion laughed. "Oh, Sana. I already have. Every step you've taken has been according to my plan. And now, you'll destroy yourselves without me lifting a finger."
The intercom went dead, leaving the room in eerie silence.
Rylan spoke first. "We can't let him get to us. This is what he wants."
But the seeds of doubt had already been planted. Zara worked frantically on the map, while Sana paced, her thoughts a whirlwind of anger and betrayal.
Finally, Zara gasped. "I've got it! The central server is two levels down. But... there's a problem."
"What now?" Rylan asked.
Zara hesitated. "The only access point is through the maintenance tunnels. But they're flooded with toxic gas. Without the right equipment, it's a death trap."
The room fell silent. Evelyn spoke up, her voice steady. "I know a way around it. Orion showed me the alternative route."
Sana turned to her, her eyes narrowing. "And why should we trust you?"
Evelyn held her gaze. "Because if you don't, none of us are making it out alive."
Before anyone could respond, the sound of explosions echoed through the facility. The safe room trembled, and dust rained from the ceiling.
Rylan grabbed his weapon. "Whatever we're doing, we need to move now."
The team facing a critical decision: trust Evelyn's guidance and risk another betrayal, or find their own way and face almost certain death. The tension hangs heavy as the clock ticks closer to zero.