Page 60 of Rescuing Sophia

Tears prick at my eyes. My fingers shake as I delete and retype.

The process continues, each mistake ratcheting up Malfor’s anger and my terror. My heart pounds so hard I’m sure it’s audible over the phone. I’m alternately flushed and chilled, my shirt sticking to my back.

“S-sorry,” I choke out after another error. “I’ll get it right, I swear.”

“You’d better,”Malfor warns, his voice low and menacing.“Or your son will pay the price.”

The threat sends a fresh wave of panic through me. I force myself to breathe, to focus.

Finally, mercifully, I input the last command correctly. Lines of text scroll by in a dizzying blur, meaningless to me but significant to Malfor.

“Excellent,”he says smoothly, his mood shifting instantly. The sudden approval does nothing to calm my frayed nerves.“Now, we need to?—”

The door handle jiggles. Voices approach.

My blood turns to ice. I’m trapped.

“Someone’s coming,” I whisper urgently into the phone. “What do I do?”

“Hide, you idiot.”Malfor snarls.“Don’t get caught.”

NINETEEN

Sophia

I yankout the thumb drive, my heart thundering in my chest. Eyes darting wildly, I search for a hiding spot. The server banks offer no cover, just endless rows of blinking lights.

Footsteps echo closer. Panic rises in my throat.

There—a maintenance closet. I lunge for it, wrenching the door open. I squeeze inside. The space is tiny, crammed with cleaning supplies. The door clicks shut just as I hear voices enter the room.

“Did you see the game last night?” A man’s voice, casual and unaware.

“Nah, missed it. How’d it go?” Another voice responds.

I curl into myself, willing my breathing to slow. The closet is stifling. The scent of chemicals burns my nostrils. Sweat trickles down my back, my shirt sticking uncomfortably to my skin.

Minutes crawl by like hours. My muscles cramp, protests ignored. I dare not move.

In the darkness, faces flash before my eyes. Luke, my beautiful boy, his future hanging by a thread. Blake’s trust is a warm blanket I don’t deserve. Jenna’s friendship is a lifeline I’m slowly severing.

Guilt twists my stomach. I’m betraying them all, every moment, every breath.

The voices drone on, oblivious to my presence. I check my watch. Fifteen minutes. Thirty. An hour ticks by.

The Guardian Grind will be bustling now. Jenna will be wondering where I am. Another betrayal to add to my growing list.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the techs leave. I wait another agonizing five minutes before creeping out, muscles screaming in protest.

I retrace my steps and climb the stairs. Each footfall is a countdown to discovery. At the ground floor, I pause, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.

The guards from earlier are still at their post. The taller one spots me, waving cheerfully.

“Enjoy your tour?” he calls out.

I force a smile, praying they can’t see how I’m trembling. “Yeah, it was… illuminating.”

“You look a bit flushed,” the shorter guard observes. “Those VR sims can be a real workout, right?”

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