The door burst open with a loud, startling bang, and for a second, everything seemed to slow down. Mara froze, her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. The guards, dressed in black protective suits, stormed into the room. Their faces were blank, but their sharp focus was obvious. Their weapons glinted in the faint light, and their eyes darted between Aveline and Mara, quickly assessing the situation.

Aveline’s fingers moved swiftly and confidently, tapping a few keys on the computer to lock down the data. “Get ready,” she said, her voice steady but with a touch of urgency.