Page 124 of Twist of Fate

Somewhere behind them, metal slammed open. One of the security doors had fallen.

Voices spilled into the corridor.

Luke had seconds.

Hale caught his arm. “Luke.”

Luke looked at Hale’s hand, then at his face. Fear and calculation warred there, along with the first trace of guilt Luke had seen since confronting him.

None of it changed the decision.

The stairwell offered open air and a chance to survive long enough to find his way back to Connal.

The server room offered everyone else the same chance.

If Luke ran, the system stayed alive.

If the system stayed alive, Connal remained exposed.

“Open the server room.”

“Luke—”

“Now.”

Hale swore, vicious and low, but he moved. He pressed his keycard against the reader.

Red.

He tried again.

Red.

Luke’s pulse kicked once, hard.

“They’ve locked down the system,” Hale said.

“Override it.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try faster.”

Hale entered a code on the second panel. The keypad flashed yellow, demanding another form of authorization. He swiped his card again and held it against the reader until both panels finally turned green.

The lock released.

Luke shoved his shoulder against the door before it had fully opened. Cold air spilled through the widening gap.

Rows of black server racks stood beyond the threshold, their status lights blinking in ordered lines. The sound inside was louder, a wall of fans and circulating air, steady and relentless.

Hale caught the edge of the door. “Once you’re inside, I can seal it.”

Luke looked at him.

Hale’s face had gone pale beneath the harsh lights, but his hand remained steady on the control panel.

“You mean lock me in.”