emergency flashlight strapped to the side of her workstation. Somewhere in the darkness, sh

inated Luis perched awkwardly on the corner of a desk, holding a half-empty can of soda like it wa

d in by now," Amira said, her

e seemed to conjure out of nowhere. "Give me a sec to bypass the sy

ver sent that message is more sophisticated than I anticipated.

glance. "You don'

someone might try to interfere once

keyboard. "And you didn't think to mention it before? Maybe give us a heads-u

til now," Alex said wi

great. Classic Alex. 'Irreleva

lights flickering to life. Luis leaned back in his chair, looking both relieved

aying a live satellite feed of the Earth. Red energy waves rippled ominously

"That's the epicenter. It

the data. "The energy signature is escalating. If this

that island look like it's straight out of a survival show? No bu

uggest advanced technology. Whoever

loring an island with secret underground labs and active volc

ercom crackled to life. A distorted voice

w, or face the

ightening on the flashl

sharp. "It's a scare tactic. T

f expecting the intercom to grow teeth and attack. "I vote we

, silencing the intercom. "They're trying to buy ti

asked, stepping beside him. "

intense. "We won't. I've already arra

look like someone who's ready for a trop

Alex said witho

a knot of anxiety tightened in her chest. The stakes were rising faster than she co

aming exterior practically screamed, "I'm expensive, please don't scratch me." Standing beside it was a four

man greeted, grinning like he'd already read their obituaries. "Name's

re our guide? What happened t

alified," Jonah shot back, climbing aboard the boat. "No

nt, staring at the horizon like a stoic protagonist in a disaster film. Luis fiddled with a portable d

er thoughts kept circling back to the message on the intercom. Who were they u

in mist. The sight was both beautiful and foreboding, like a postcard sent from a ni

id, standing.

at pep talk, buddy

istance-a flash of metal among the trees. Amira squinted

t?" Jona

ion of water erupted beside the boat, sending them all sprawling

e. "They've set up defen

ed the boat. She grabbed onto the railing, her mi

the engine. "Hold on tight.

iling, adrenaline coursing through her veins. But just as they neared the shore

wide-eyed. "Well,

aring to fire. Amira braced herself, her h

een of Alex's portable device lit up, and

t. Sh