My fingers were wet with sweat, the knife slipping slightly in my grip.

I looked back toward the entrance of the vault.

A shadow fell across the doorway.

A tall figure clad in black tactical gear stepped into the room.

He raised a rifle, pointing it directly at my chest.

“Step away from the device,” the man said.

I did not move.

My knife remained pressed against the blue wire.

“Shoot me and we all die,” I said.

The man paused, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Behind him, another figure appeared in the shadow of the doorway.

The second man held a small, black device that looked like a remote receiver.

A tiny blue light on the receiver began to pulse.

I kept my hand steady.

The silver blade of my pocket knife rested against the blue wire.

“Lower the receiver,” I said.

The second man did not move his hand.

The blue light on his device pulsed faster, casting a faint glow on his black glove.

“You have five seconds to step away,” the first mercenary said.

His rifle remained level with my chest.