"We’ll find out soon enough," Corey said grimly.
Lucy nodded once, wiping her mouth neatly.
After finishing, they rose as one, the meal forgotten, the dark business ahead pulling them back into the storm. They descended into the basement again.
Rebecca still lay crumpled on the floor, her breathing ragged, tears streaking her dirty face.
Damian and Byron hauled her upright like she weighed nothing, setting her back in the chair.
She whimpered as her broken wrist dangled uselessly.
"Please..." she gasped. "Please release my arm. It’s broken..."
Lucy knelt in front of her, tilting her head slightly.
Her eyes were empty.
"Of course," she said softly, almost kindly. "As soon as you tell me what I need to know."
Rebecca sniffled, blinking rapidly.
Lucy stood again, her voice cutting through the basement air.
"Simple question, Rebecca. Why?"
Rebecca licked her cracked lips.
"Because... your father shouldn’t have ran!”
"He stopped us from progressing”
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.
The security alarm exploded into life overhead, a harsh mechanical shriek.
Everyone stiffened instantly.
Corey’s hand flew to his earpiece.
Damian swore under his breath.
"There's a breach." Corey said, his voice hard.
Lucy’s body tensed.
Rebecca’s head snapped up.
"No!" she screamed hoarsely. "Wait! Don’t go!"
But they were already moving.
Lucy, Corey, Byron, and Damian sprinted upstairs toward the chaos.
Outside, the property grounds were flooded with light, shadows stretching long over the grass.
The guards were scrambling, barking into their radios.
Something had triggered the outer sensors — but when they reached the perimeter, there was nothing.