Chapter 67: Racing Against Time

The cold night air hit Ava’s face as she and the team burst out of the Meridian facility, their breaths coming in rapid bursts as they ran toward the extraction point. The emergency exit had brought them into a desolate area at the edge of the facility’s grounds, and the darkness provided enough cover for their escape. Still, Ava knew that wouldn’t last long. They had walked right into Meridian’s trap, and now the stakes had been raised beyond anything they could have imagined. Project Eclipse wasn’t just a threat—they were racing against time to stop a global disaster already set in motion. Lucas moved beside her, his jaw clenched and his eyes burning with fury. He hadn’t spoken since they left the facility, but Ava could feel the tension radiating off him. Whatever internal battle he had been fighting since his father’s death had now merged with their mission, fueling his determination to take Meridian down. “Jess,” Ava panted into her comms as they reached the cover of the trees,