The narrow alley behind the police station reeked of rust and stale oil. Pyra stood rigid, her fingers twitching near the hilt of her blade, while Olivia paced a short, frustrated line on the cracked pavement. The towering robot sentinel at the entrance gleamed under harsh floodlights, its red optic scanning every shadow. One wrong move and alarms would scream. One hesitation and their only lead on the control room would vanish.
"How do we even get past that thing?" Olivia muttered, voice tight. "We can't just walk up and ask nicely."
Pyra's jaw clenched. 'If only brute force solved everything. But one alert and the whole town locks down.' She glanced at her companion, the weight of their shared goal pressing heavier with every passing second. They needed those forged IDs. Without them, Liam's careful plan crumbled—and so did any chance of keeping the group safe.
Before either could speak again, a small hand tugged at Olivia's sleeve.
