The emergency stairwell thudded with another blast that tore through the underground complex. Smoke poured from below, and alarms wailed in frantic, high-pitched tones. In the leading order was James, rifle steady along the way while games led them upward toward the enterprising surface.
Lina gripped the hard drive, her fingers wrapped tightly around the only leverage they had against the Architect. covering their escape, Sarah and Hassan moved on either side of her. The Broker still bound, if now no longer smiling kept pace as best he was able to manage.
“Any chance we’re walking into a less fiery exit?” the Broker coughed, ducking a descending pipe.
James didn’t respond; his mind was racing. They had been played, controlled, like pieces on a board by the Architect. But for the first t
