The corridor smelled like dust and static, humming low with electricity beneath the walls. Harper moved quietly, her bare feet pressing against the cold metal floor. Her breath came in slow, controlled bursts. She couldn't afford to run out of energy. Despite the throbbing pain in her head and backbone, she pushed forward. She had counted the guards, observed their shifts carefully, and most importantly, she had stolen a small access chip during her last ‘examination.’ Now, all she needed was to escape… or she might never get this chance. A sharp buzzing sound echoed in her ears as she passed under the sensor array. The bio-manipulator flared in warning, but she kept her pace steady. Panic would only make the situation much, much worse.She pressed the chip into the wall panel… and for a few moments, nothing happened.“Shit!”She muttered a curse under her breath, ready to try again. But the soft sound of footsteps behind her froze her blood in her veins. She turned, ready to fi