Story 364: The Gauntlet

The sharp blare of alarms echoed through the steel corridors, chasing Zara Kincaid as she sprinted down the narrow hallways. The USB drive, now securely tucked into the tactical pouch on her belt, felt heavier than it should have. She wasn’t just carrying data—she was carrying proof, leverage, and a target on her back.

“Zara, you’ve got company,” Vex’s voice crackled in her earpiece, laced with urgency. “Heat signatures are converging on your position. They’re sealing exits. You need to move fast.”

“I’m already running,” Zara muttered, her voice breathless.

Ahead, the corridor split into two paths. The left led toward the hangar bay, her original extraction route, but the sound of heavy boots growing louder made it clear it wasn’t an option anymore. She veered right, darting into a darker, less traversed passageway.