The fifth floor was a secure zone, dedicated to storing equipment, with locks as
tight as those on the labs below ground. The guards figured there was no point in checking every room, especially since they didn't have clearance for that anyway, and they weren't too worried about anyone hiding in there.
So, they honed in on spots where someone might actually hide, weapons cocked and ready, poised to fire at the slightest hint of trouble. They soon reached the corridor's end, but without spotting any intruders, they paused.
The team leader, flashlight in hand, swept the area while radioing the control center. "You sure they're on the fifth floor? We haven't found anyone," he asked.
The control center, still struggling to fix the sabotaged surveillance, replied, "Yes, they have to be there. The elevator only went to the fifth floor, and they can't open the stairwell doors. The elevator's their only option."
With that, the team leader cut the call, squinting in thought. He signaled his team to continue searching while he stayed put, trying to figure out where the intruder might be hiding.
Behind him was a wall of glass windows. If he had turned around, he would have noticed a glaringly obvious hole in the glass. Nick had climbed out but attempted to reattach the glass, leaving visible scratches.
Soon, the guards regrouped, shaking their heads, having found nothing. The team leader frowned, "Did they just vanish?"
"Maybe they're hiding in one of the equipment rooms?"
"If they broke into the sub-basement lab, they could crack these locks too."
The team leader considered this and nodded. "I'll update Dr. Ray. You go grab the spare access card."
He pulled out his phone, ready to make the call. Just then, a guard, about to leave, glanced at the glass behind the leader. He did a double-take, pointing. "This glass..."
The team leader, phone still to his ear, turned to follow the guard's gaze and saw the scratches on the glass. Looking outside, he immediately ended the call.
Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he ran a hand over the glass, catching on. With a push, the panel fell outward.
Outside, it was pitch black except for faint building outlines. The team leader aimed his flashlight into the dark.
Meanwhile, Nick was at the end of his escape route, steadying himself while slicing through glass with a knife.
The flashlight beam hit the glass, momentarily blinding the team leader. He paused but quickly continued.
Spotting Nick, the team leader remarked, "Quite the escape artist, getting through there."
But Nick was a fraction too late. With a slight grin, the team leader passed his flashlight to another guard and slowly raised his gun, taking aim at Nick.