A Second Chance by the System

Chapter 41: Bound by Resolve

The team barely breathed as the speaker crackled and faded, leaving them in an uneasy silence. Dr. Trent’s voice had hung in the air like a ghostly reminder of the eyes constantly watching them, his words echoing through the dimly lit passageways.

Lila took a step back, her eyes darting toward the door. “He knows,” she said, her voice low, almost whispering. “He’s been watching us.”

Ethan looked at her, reading the fear beneath her resolve. “We don’t stop now. We adapt.”

Mara nodded, her gaze shifting to the rest of the team. “If we let fear in now, he wins. We have to stay focused.”

Ethan placed a hand on Lila’s shoulder, a grounding presence amid the chaos. “Whatever he knows, it doesn’t change our objective.”

Taking one last look around the room, the team gathered their gear, re-checking their weapons and devices. With Jaxon and Jared leading the way, they slipped out of the hidden command room and back into the shadowy corridors. Each step seemed to echo louder than the last, thei