Her face was pale, and she was breathing in shallow, ragged gasps.

Caleb watched her, his eyes tracking her every movement.

He looked back at me, his forehead slick with sweat.

“You don’t understand what they have out there,” Caleb whispered.

“Tell me,” I said, keeping my voice low and steady.

“They have the codes to the security bypass,” he said.

He shifted his weight, his boots scraping against the gravel floor.

“And they aren’t here to negotiate with you,” he added.

A third impact rattled the heavy iron hinges of the door.

The wood groaned, and a thin crack appeared near the center panel.

“Daniel, watch him,” I said, reaching for my radio.

“Marcus, what is your status?” I spoke into the transmitter.

Static hissed back at me, followed by a faint, distant pop.

“Marcus, report,” I said, louder this time.

“We have movement on the north terrace,” Marcus’s voice cracked through.

“How many?” I asked.

“At least four, heavily armed,” Marcus said. “They bypassed the perimeter sensors.”

“They had the keycard,” I said, looking directly at Caleb.

Caleb did not deny it.