CHAPTER 116: COUNTDOWN TO MIDNIGHT

The circle slowly broke apart. No one said anything for a few seconds, as if speaking might shatter the fragile possibility we’d just decided on.

I stood there breathing hard, my fists unclenching and clenching at my sides. My whole body was vibrating like I’d touched an exposed wire.

Theo stayed by my side, arms folded. "Tonight, huh?"

"Yeah," I said. "It’s our only chance."

Theo hesitated, glancing toward Zaara. "You... gonna talk to her before this goes down?"

My gaze followed his. Zaara stood a few feet away, shoulders rigid, arms hugging herself so tight.

She was staring at a crack in the floor.

My chest squeezed until it hurt.

"I don’t know if she wants me to," I said.

Theo snorted. "Doesn’t matter if she wants it. You need it."

Before I could answer, Kira appeared at my side. "Vincent, I still don’t think it’s a good idea."

Suri was hovering near Jacob, whispering furiously. I caught words like die and no way out. Jacob kept trying to hush her, but she

jerked away from his grip.

Nomi still hovered beside me, one hand pressed to her belly. I saw how pale she looked.

I lowered my voice. "Nomi... you need to rest. Sit down. Please."

She blinked, looking like she wanted to argue. But finally, she nodded and let herself sink down onto a bench. "Are you sure about this?"

"I’m sure we don’t have a choice," I murmured.

"I’m scared."

"So am I."

I looked away, unable to meet her eyes.

After a moment, she reached out, fingers grazing my arm. "Whatever happens tonight... thank you for trying."

I gave her a tight nod, then slipped away from her gentle touch.

I found Zaara leaning against a cold steel. Her gaze flicked toward me as I approached, but she said nothing.

For a second, I just stood there, the words clogging my throat.

Finally, I murmured, "Zaara... talk to me."

She didn’t look at me. "About what? About how we’re all going to die tonight?"

I flinched. "About us."

A dry laugh escaped her lips. "Us?"

She finally turned her eyes on me. They were shining with unshed tears.

"You made your choice, Vincent."

"That’s not fair," I hissed. "You know I didn’t—"

"You didn’t even see me standing there," she cut in, her voice kept trembling. "I thought... I thought I’d lost you. And maybe... maybe I have."

Part of me wanted to drop everything and beg her forgiveness. The other part knew there was no time left for hearts and promises. We were either breaking free tonight.... or dying inside these walls.

My stomach twisted into a sick knot. "Zaara... I’m trying to save all of us. Including you."

"I don’t want to be just ’one of all of us,’" she whispered. "I want to be your person. And right now... I don’t know if I am."

I reached for her, but she jerked back, wiping at her eyes furiously.

Her voice cracked. "Just... don’t promise me anything tonight. Please."

An alarm buzzed, through the metal chamber.

Theo appeared at my elbow. "Guards coming in. We gotta look normal."

Zaara turned away, wiping her face again. My hand dropped to my side.

Heavy doors slammed open. A pair of masked guards stomped in, weapons slung over their shoulders. One of them barked:

"Gather up. New instructions coming."

We all formed a ragged circle. My heart raced.

The lead guard scowled at us through the mask. "The Aetherions commend your perseverance. However..." He paused, letting the silence stretch. "...the next trial will begin at midnight."

Gasps echoed around me. Kira let out a tiny sob.

The guard continued. "This will be the final stage before the closing rounds. Be prepared. No further warnings will be given."

He turned sharply, boots thudding, and the guards filed back out, the doors banging shut behind them.

I exhaled. "Now. That’s our queue."

Theo swore under his breath. "We’ve got, what, a few hours?"

"Less," I said. "We can’t wait for the next trial to start. We hit the systems room tonight."

Zaara whispered, "Vincent... what if it’s a trap?"

"It probably is," I said. "But waiting around guarantees we die."

Theo cleared his throat. "Okay, boss. How do we start?"

I turned to the group. My voice came out stronger than I felt.

"We split into pairs. One team scouts the systems hallway. One team watches for guards. Everyone else waits here for the signal."

Theo nodded. "And if the Aetherions see us?"

"Then we improvise," I said grimly.

I turned to Theo. "You and me. We’ll check the east hallway first."

Theo gave a tight nod. "Right. The control room. Kira’s keypad code."

Zaara shifted beside me. Her arms were still folded.

"I’m coming with you," she said.

My chest twisted.

I wanted to say no. To keep her safe. To lock her away where the Aetherions couldn’t touch her.

But I knew I couldn’t. She’d never forgive me for shutting her out again.

"...Fine," I said. "But you stay behind us. And if anything happens, you run."

Her chin lifted stubbornly. "I’m not running without you."

The sharp ache in my chest pulsed harder.

Theo cleared his throat. "Okay, Romeo and Juliet, can we move it along?"

I shot him a glare, but it broke quickly. My mouth twitched almost into a smile.

Almost.

I exhaled. "Kira, come here."

She looked up, eyes still red-rimmed, and shuffled over.

"Repeat that keypad code again. Slowly."

She nodded. "Four... nine... two... something. I didn’t see the last digit."

"Good enough," I said. "Theo and I will try every combination. You remember the door’s location?"

"Left side of the east hallway," she said. "It’s grey. Plain. No sign except for ’Systems.’ And there’s a red light above the frame."

I nodded. "Perfect. Keep thinking if you remember anything else. Suri, Jacob, Kira you three stay with Nomi. Keep your eyes open. If guards show up or they start moving cameras around, you signal us."

Suri widened her eyes. "How?"

I glanced around. My gaze landed on a thin metal rod sticking out of an overturned supply crate. I snapped it off, bent it into a rough shape, and handed it to Jacob.

"Bang this against the pipes. Three quick hits. Loud. That’s our alarm."