Somewhere behind them, in the dark ruins of the facility, a figure stepped out from the shadows, watching the helicopter disappear into the night. A slow smile curved across Vivienne's lips.
"Run," she whispered to the empty air.
Then she turned, already planning how to make sure there was nowhere left for them to hide.
By the time the helicopter touched down, the night had begun to thin at the edges.
Dawn was not yet visible, but it was coming.
Lucia stepped out first, Ari's hand still clasped in hers. The air inside the hidden compound felt different now. Tighter. More charged. As if the very walls understood that what had been brought inside them would change everything.
Dominic followed, issuing quiet commands into his comms as he moved.
"Elena, full lockdown," he said. "No external signals. No incoming traffic. Nothing leaves without my authorization."
"Already in effect," Elena replied.
Lucia did not slow until they reached the inner chamber.
