The timer hit zero, and for a fraction of a second, nothing happened, no sound, no visible shift, just a silence so sharp it felt deliberate. Caro's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the screen, waiting for impact that refused to arrive immediately. That pause didn't calm her. It made everything worse. It meant the damage was already in motion, already beyond her reach. Across from her, Peter didn't react the way she expected. He didn't move toward the phone, didn't issue commands, didn't even glance at the door. Instead, his attention remained fixed entirely on her.
"When did it start?" he asked quietly.
