Chapter 2 - The Locked Box
Panic surged through my veins as I stared at the locked metal door.
Lily whined in my arms, sensing the sudden spike of fear in the room.
"It's okay, baby," I lied, bouncing her gently on my hip.
Marcus immediately rushed to the door and pulled hard on the handle.
It didn't budge a single inch.
He turned to the digital keypad on the wall and punched in a six-digit override code.
A harsh red light flashed, accompanied by an angry buzzing sound.
"The system has been completely overridden from an external device," Marcus growled.
"You mean my phone," I realized with horror.
Marcus nodded, his expression grim and calculating.
"Vanessa is locking us in here so she can execute whatever plan she has prepared," he said.
He walked back to the computer console and furiously began typing again.
"I built a manual fail-safe into this room for emergencies," he explained.
He reached underneath the heavy oak desk and pulled a hidden lever.
A loud mechanical clank echoed through the walls, but the door remained sealed shut.
"She disabled the mechanical release too," he whispered.
The air in the small room suddenly felt incredibly thin.
"How long can we survive in here?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"The ventilation system is independent, so we have air," Marcus replied.
He looked at one of the camera feeds showing the front gates of the estate.
"But look at what is happening outside," he pointed.
I gasped as I watched three unmarked black vans pull up to the main entrance.
A dozen men dressed in dark tactical gear poured out of the vehicles.
They were carrying heavy weapons and moving with military precision.
"Who are they?" I asked, pulling Lily tighter against my chest.
"They are a private mercenary group I refused to hire last year," Marcus said.
He watched the men effortlessly bypass his exterior guards.
"Vanessa just sold my life to my worst enemies," he stated coldly.
Suddenly, the security screen showing the hallway outside our door flickered on.
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Vanessa was standing there, staring directly into the camera lens with a wicked smile.
She held up a small remote detonator and pressed the red button.
