Chapter 166 Whispers in the Dark

The silence in the decommissioned server room was deafening after the abrupt end of their communication with Dr.Sharma. Relief warred with a gnawing anxiety in John's gut. They had pulled off the near-impossible – freeing Marie and Sarah, forging a digital keycard, and navigating the labyrinthine world of the consortium's security protocols. Olivia, sensing his worry, squeezed his hand. "They'll be alright," she said, her voice firm but laced with concern. "Dr.Sharma gave them a clear path to the extraction point." John nodded, forcing a smile. He knew Olivia was right, but the weight of their situation pressed down on him. Escaping the facility, a maze of security cameras and patrolling guards, seemed like an insurmountable challenge. "We should get going too," he said, rising from the dusty server chair. His muscles ached from the cramped space and the hours spent hunched over the terminal. Olivia followed suit, her eyes scanning the room one last time. "Anything else we can grab