Chapter 12 - The Architect of the Trap
Speeding through the torrential downpour in a commandeered tactical SUV, David pushed the vehicle past its absolute limits, the tires hydroplaning across the flooded asphalt. The coordinates on the GPS screen guided him straight toward the industrial sector on the outskirts of the city, where the monolithic concrete block of the Apex biomedical facility loomed against the stormy sky. As David rammed the vehicle through the rusted security gates, a team of private contractors opened fire from the loading dock. Ducking behind the armored dashboard, David returned fire with calculated precision, neutralizing the threat before kicking open his door and sprinting into the main lobby. The interior was eerily quiet, the emergency red lights bathing the long, sterile corridors in a crimson glow. He burst through the double doors of the central laboratory, only to find the room completely empty—except for a single desktop terminal glowing brightly in the center of the room, displaying a live countdown timer with less than three minutes remaining.
