425 The room was a powder keg of panic, fear coursing through every guest like a live wire. People huddled together, whispering frantically, while others broke into sobs, clutching their loved ones close. The clock on the screen counted down relentlessly, every second like a drumbeat heralding the
426 Selena’s hands moved with practiced precision, her brow furrowed in concentration. Jeremy stood beside her, his face pale as he handed her tools, clearly out of his depth. The entire room seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the ticking of the clock as it continued its merciless countdown.
427 "It’s a security system we installed years ago," Lady Margaret explained quickly. "In case of emergencies. It might buy us some time." The guests stared in stunned disbelief as the shields locked into place, the tension rising even higher. But it wasn’t enough to calm everyone. "You fool!" A
428 Lady Margaret’s breath hitched. "No! Wait, please!" She stepped forward, her voice breaking as she tried to bargain once more. "There must be something—anything—you want! Just don’t do this!" For a brief second, there was a flicker of hesitation on Harrison’s face, but it quickly vanished. "I’
429 A tense silence filled the space, broken only by the sound of ragged breathing and faint sobs. Slowly, eyes began to open, and confused murmurs spread through the crowd. "What… what just happened?" a woman stammered, clutching her child tightly. "We should be dead," a man whispered, his voice
Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. Everyone remained frozen, waiting for the end that never came. Darwin slowly opened his eyes, confusion flickering across his face. "What’s going on?" he muttered under his breath. Lady Margaret blinked, her hand still clutching her chest as she r
431 A heavy silence blanketed the room, broken only by the faint rustling of clothing as people shifted uncomfortably, still processing what had just transpired. Darwin glanced around, disbelief etched into his features. He tried to grasp the reality of their survival, but the sudden entrance of K
432 Once Maelstrom left, the doors closed behind him with a heavy thud. The silence that followed was thick, the enormity of what had just happened sinking in. Darwin was the first to speak, breaking the spell. "We’re alive," he said softly, his voice filled with both disbelief and gratitude. "We