But first, we had to get out of this room.

A loud metal clang echoed from the hallway outside.

The heavy steel door of the server room rattled on its hinges.

Someone was trying to override the lockdown from the outside.

“They’re here,” Marcus said, raising his gun.

Damon pulled me behind his back, his body shielding mine.

The red emergency light pulsed once, twice, and then went entirely black.

The electronic lock on the door clicked open.

The heavy steel door swung inward with a low, scraping groan.

Damon did not wait for the dust to settle.

He lunged forward, his shoulder slamming into the silhouette standing in the darkened doorway.

A man gasped as the impact sent him crashing back into the tiled corridor.

“Go,” Damon barked, his voice a low, gravelly command.

Marcus stepped out next, his weapon raised, covering our flank.

I gripped the strap of my bag, my sneakers squeaking on the polished concrete floor as I followed them.

The hallway was illuminated only by the faint, green glow of the exit signs.

Behind us, another shout echoed from the far end of the corridor.