Then Clay grabs my wrist from behind and shoves me forward with brutal force.
I slam across the other side just as the blast door crashes shut inches behind my boots.
The impact shakes the corridor.
Silence.
For half a second I can only hear my own breathing.
Then Clay’s voice explodes through the steel barrier.
“HANNAH!”
“I’m okay!”
My heart pounds violently as I scramble toward the emergency control panel buried inside the wall.
Come on.
Come on.
My fingers fly across the hidden release switches.
Nothing.
No response.
Wu locked the system remotely.
Of course he did.
Behind me—
slow clapping echoes through the corridor.
I freeze instantly.
No.
Slowly—
I turn.
Director Wu stands at the far end of the reactor corridor.
Perfectly calm.
Perfectly composed.
Like the world around him isn’t collapsing.
White dress shirt.
Dark slacks.
Silver at his temples.
No weapon visible.
