The team dropped into the control room, landing in a crouch. The air was thick with electricity, monitors flickering, displaying live footage of the facility.
Evelyn's voice whispered through the speakers.
"You're persistent. But persistence won't save you."
Ethan ignored her, scanning the room. One console. One chance.
"Valerie," he said, "shut her down."
System Override
Valerie slid into the chair, hacking into the system. Red warnings flashed—firewalls, countermeasures, encrypted locks.
"She's got military-grade security," Valerie muttered. "But she's not invincible."
Ethan, Noah, and Olivia stood guard, weapons ready. Blaze and Shadow were tense, ears flicking at every sound.
Then—the walls shook.
The creatures were coming.
Noah reloaded. "Work faster, Val."
"I'm trying!"
Valerie's fingers blurred over the keys. One barrier down.
Then another.
Evelyn's voice hissed.
"I warned you."
The doors burst open.
The Last Stand
Three creatures. Faster, stronger—deadlier.
Ethan fired—direct headshot. The thing staggered but didn't fall.
Olivia unleashed a burst of bullets, but the second dodged with inhuman speed.
Noah swung his pipe, catching one in the ribs. It barely flinched before backhanding him across the room.
Blaze lunged, teeth sinking into a creature's arm. Shadow moved like a shadow, slashing at its legs.
But they weren't winning.
They were surviving.
Ethan clenched his teeth. "Valerie!"
"Almost there—"
The creatures charged.
Then—
SYSTEM OVERRIDE INITIATED.
Evelyn's voice glitched.
"No… you—"
Valerie slammed a button. "SHUTTING YOU DOWN."
The facility shook.
The creatures froze. Their glowing eyes flickered.
Then—one by one—they collapsed.
Silence.
Ethan exhaled.
Noah groaned from the floor. "Someone remind me to never do this again."
Olivia checked her gun. "If we survive long enough, sure."
Valerie leaned back, exhausted but victorious. "She's gone."
Ethan looked at the screen. The New Dawn network was offline.
The nightmare was over.
Or so they thought.
Final Message
As they turned to leave, the monitors flickered.
One last time, Evelyn Carter's face appeared.
Not angry.
Not defeated.
Smiling.
"Well played. But this is only the beginning."
The screen cut to black.
Ethan's fists clenched.
Noah muttered, "I really hate this woman."
Valerie swallowed hard. "If she's still out there…"
Ethan nodded.
"Then we have work to do."
The fight wasn't over.
It was just beginning.