Chapter 8 - The Override
"Vanessa!" Elias shouted, dropping to his knees beside the unconscious saleswoman.
He gently shook her shoulders, desperately trying to wake her up.
The red emergency lights cast eerie shadows across the cold steel walls.
Arthur sat heavily on the floor, his breathing becoming shallow and labored due to his injury.
"Daddy, I feel sleepy," Lily mumbled, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Don't go to sleep yet, sweetie, keep your eyes open for me," Elias pleaded, his heart pounding with raw fear.
He realized he only had minutes left before the lack of oxygen caused permanent brain damage to his daughter.
Elias rubbed his knuckles hard against Vanessa's sternum, a painful trick used to wake unconscious people.
Vanessa gasped loudly, her eyes fluttering open as she greedily sucked in the thin air.
"The code... what is the code?" Elias demanded, holding her up.
Vanessa blinked, her mind foggy and confused.
"It's... it's the founding year of the company," she whispered weakly.
Elias quickly turned to the keypad and punched in the numbers.
The screen flashed red again, denying the entry.
"No, Marcus changed it today," Elias yelled in frustration.
Vanessa grabbed Elias's arm, her fingers digging into his worn hoodie.
"Marcus... he is obsessed with himself. Try his birthday," Vanessa gasped.
Elias did not hesitate, rapidly typing the date he remembered from Marcus's employee file.
The keypad beeped twice, and the screen turned a bright, welcoming green.
The heavy locking mechanisms clanked loudly, and the massive vault door slowly began to swing outward.
Fresh, cool air rushed into the room, and everyone took deep, desperate breaths.
Elias picked up Lily, ready to carry her out to safety.
As the door opened fully, a dark figure stood waiting in the hallway.
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Marcus stood there, holding a stolen mercenary rifle directly at Elias's chest.
"You ruin everything, Elias," Marcus screamed, pulling the trigger.
