Chapter 94: A Heartbeat Away

The smoke filled Ava’s lungs as she sprinted through the narrow corridors of the facility, her heart hammering in her chest. The explosion had been deafening, the ground shaking beneath her feet, and now the only thought racing through her mind was Lucas. She had to find him. Had to make sure he was okay. “Lucas, answer me!” Ava shouted again into her comms, her voice trembling with desperation. But the only response was static, the silence a cruel reminder of how close they were to disaster. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she rounded a corner, the dark hallway stretching before her. The south wing had taken the brunt of the explosion, and Ava’s chest tightened with fear as she navigated through the debris. She couldn’t lose Lucas—not like this. As she moved deeper into the facility, the smoke began to clear, and the sound of distant gunfire echoed through the building. Ava’s pulse quickened as she followed the noise, her mind racing about what might have happened. Had Lucas be