Axel’s urgent whisper jolted Leila into action, adrenaline surging through her veins. They had only seconds to hide—or to fight. The muffled footsteps from above grew louder, the sound of more than one set of boots echoing down the stairs.
Axel shot her a look, his face a mask of calm as he pulled her towards a side door hidden behind a stack of dusty crates. “Through here,” he mouthed, guiding her into the shadows. They slipped through the door, careful not to make a sound, and found themselves in a narrow, poorly lit corridor.
Leila’s heart raced as she heard the footsteps draw closer. She looked back at Axel, who was already assessing the dim hallway. It ended in a rusted metal door marked “Access Restricted”—their only way out.
Without hesitation, Axel pulled a small multi-tool from
