Chapter 31: The Chase Begins

Ethan sprinted down the dimly lit corridor, his breaths coming in sharp gasps. His body still felt sluggish from whatever the facility had done to him, but adrenaline pushed him forward. He didn't know where he was going—only that stopping wasn't an option.

The hallways stretched in every direction, lined with smooth metallic walls and glowing data terminals. Each step echoed, making him hyper-aware of how exposed he was. The absence of guards felt wrong. Too easy.

Then, a voice crackled over the speakers.

"Escape attempt detected. Initiating lockdown."

Red emergency lights flashed, bathing the corridor in an ominous glow. Security drones—floating orbs with blinking blue lenses—descended from the ceiling, scanning for movement. Ethan cursed under his breath.

"Eve, I could use some help!" he hissed.

The screen on a nearby terminal flickered.

"Left door. Now."

Ethan didn't hesitate. He yanked open the side panel and slipped inside just as the drones whirred past. His heart pounded as he leaned against the door, listening. The mechanical hum faded. For now, he was safe.

Turning, he realized he wasn't alone.

A young girl, maybe 14 or 15, stared at him, wide-eyed. Her dark brown hair was messy, her thin frame wrapped in an oversized lab coat. Her name tag read "Dr. Rina Kael - Junior AI Specialist."

Ethan blinked. "You're a doctor?"

She scowled. "I'm an intern."

Before he could respond, she grabbed his wrist. "You're the guy from the AI containment project. The one they thought was lost in the system."

His stomach twisted. "They told you that?"

She nodded. "They think you're dangerous."

He exhaled. "They're not wrong."

The door's access panel buzzed violently, an alert flashing across the screen: "Unauthorized entry detected." The security drones had found him.

Rina's eyes widened. "You have a plan, right?"

Ethan glanced at the screen. Eve's message flickered.

"Run."