Chapter Seventy Eight: The Escape
410 Words
Xavier’s POV
The alarms blared like a warning bell across Eden’s high-security sector. Red lights flashed, sensors activated, and somewhere in the chaos, security teams mobilized. We had what we came for — the files — but leaving would be a different kind of battle.
“Mila, the service tunnel — now!” I shouted, grabbing her hand.
She nodded, eyes sharp, scanning every hallway. The clone had been neutralized — for now — but Eden’s forces were still active, searching for intruders. Every step had to be precise.
We sprinted through corridors, dodging guards and automated drones. I used a stun device to disable cameras while Mila hacked doors ahead of us, opening pathways that weren’t supposed to exist.
> We can’t get caught. Not now. Not ever.
Then, a voice crackled through the intercom:
“INTRUDERS DETECTED. ALL UNITS TO SECTOR DELTA. SUBJ: MILLER, X. REED.”
Mila’s jaw tightened. “They know us by name. That means Eden’s higher-ups are online. They’re watching.”
I glanced at her, eyes narrowed. “Then we move faster. No mistakes.”
We dove into the service tunnel just as guards rounded the corner. The metallic clang of weapons and boots echoed behind us, a constant reminder that Eden’s reach was vast.
As we emerged from the tunnel onto the streets above, the city felt like an ally — dark alleys, quiet corners, and abandoned warehouses. But I could feel her tension beside me.
“What is it?” I asked.
Mila hesitated, fingers still on the terminal. “It’s not just Eden we have to worry about. Someone… inside our circle. Someone knew exactly where we’d be tonight. Someone feeding them information.”
My gut tightened. Betrayal wasn’t a theory anymore — it was real.
> Who could it be?
We ducked into a hidden vehicle, packed and ready to move. The files hummed quietly in a secure case, holding the secrets that could topple Eden — if we survived long enough to use them.
Mila exhaled, eyes scanning the horizon. “We have the proof, Xavier. But proof alone won’t save us if someone close is helping Eden.”
I gripped her shoulder. “Then we find them. And we make sure Eden regrets ever underestimating us.”
As the city disappeared behind us, shadows of danger and deception followed — relentless, patient, and waiting for the right moment to strike.
> But we’re ready. And we won’t run.
- Writer
