Echoes of the Algorithm

Escape plan

Maeson stared at the small black weapon. His hands stayed hovering over the glowing keyboard. The cold air inside the basement room felt heavy. He did not move a single muscle. Ava held the gun very steady. Her bright eyes were sharp and full of anger. She walked slowly down the narrow aisle between the tall black computer towers. Her shoes clicked against the hard floor. The loud sound echoed in the quiet space. She stopped a few feet away from his chair. She looked at the two progress bars frozen on his computer screen.

The numbers sat at ninety nine percent. Step away from the machine right now, she ordered. Her voice was cold. Maeson kept his hands visible. He slowly pushed the chair back. He stood up and took one step away. You do not understand what is happening, he said softly. Your father is making a terrible mistake. He is trying to drill into that metal object. If he breaks the seal, he will destroy us. Ava let out a dark laugh. Do you expect me to believe a computer technician knows about artifacts? She pointed the weapon directly at his chest.

I know you are hiding something, she continued. I saw your strange tattoo. I know you are sneaking around. You are stealing my files. Tell me who you are. Maeson looked into her eyes. He saw fear hiding behind her thick anger. He knew he had to tell her the truth. I am trying to save your life, he whispered. That object is not just old metal. It is a machine. It holds a dangerous power. If the laser touches it, we all die. Ava shook her head. You are lying, she said. Stop playing these stupid games right now.

Suddenly a loud beep came from the computer desk. The two frozen progress bars jumped to one hundred percent. The screen flashed bright green. Maeson let out a massive breath of relief. He had successfully deleted her research. More importantly, he had shut down the laser drill. He locked the lab doors to keep her father safe. What did you just do? Ava demanded. She stepped closer and pressed the weapon against his shoulder. I stopped the drill, he answered. I locked them out. They cannot open the cylinder today.

Ava glared at him. My father will fire you now.

He will send you to prison. Maeson nodded slowly. Maybe he will, he said. But at least he will be alive. The room fell quiet again. Ava studied his calm face. She saw no lies. She slowly lowered the weapon. She stopped pointing it at his heart. Who are you working for? she asked. Are you a spy? Maeson opened his mouth to answer, but a violent shake hit the floor. The ground rumbled beneath their feet. The tall computer towers rattled. Thick dust fell down from the ceiling. Ava gasped and tightly grabbed the edge of the large desk.

The shaking stopped after ten seconds. The basement was dead silent. Then a deep alarm started ringing through the whole building. It was not a normal fire alarm. It was a heavy, low sound that rattled their bones. Maeson spun around and looked at the computer monitor. He pulled up the live video feed from the testing lab. The screen showed a nightmare. He had successfully turned off the laser drill, but it was already too late. The ancient cylinder glowed with a harsh purple light. Thick black smoke poured out of the metal object. It looked like dark magic.

Ava pushed past him and stared at the bright screen. She watched in pure horror. The dark smoke moved like a living snake. It wrapped around the four men in the bright yellow suits. They fell to the ground instantly. Her father was trapped behind the thick glass wall. He was beating his fists against the heavy door. He was screaming, but there was no sound on the video. Dad! Ava shouted. She turned and ran toward the exit. Maeson reached out and grabbed her arm. Let me go! she yelled. She raised the gun and hit his face hard.

Pain exploded in his jaw. He stumbled backward and let go of her arm. He tasted warm blood in his mouth. Ava did not wait. She ran out the heavy door. She disappeared into the dark hallway. Maeson wiped his mouth and looked back at the screen. The purple light in the lab was growing brighter. The glass wall shattered into tiny pieces. The dark smoke rushed out into the rest of the building. His system flashed a new warning on the monitor. The text was huge and bright red. It read, Protocol Zero Started. The whole world will end.

Maeson knew he could not stop the spreading dark magic now. He had to run. He had to find his sister before the smoke reached her hospital. He packed his bag fast. He rushed out the door. The hallway was flashing with bright red lights. People were screaming loudly above. He ran toward the stairs. Ava stepped out from the deep shadows. Her weapon was gone. Her hands were shaking. The dark smoke was creeping down right behind her. She looked at Maeson with terrified eyes. He is dead, she whispered. My father is gone. We must find the child.