The fifth floor was a secure zone, dedicated to storing equipment, with locks as


    tight as those on thebs 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, shlight 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 surveince, 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 ss windows. If he had turned around, he would have noticed a ringly obvious hole in the ss. Nick had climbed out but attempted to reattach the ss, 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-basementb, they could crack these locks too."


    The team leader considered this and nodded. "I''ll update Dr. Ray. You go grab the spare ess card."


    He pulled out his phone, ready to make the call. Just then, a guard, about to leave, nced at the ss behind the leader. He did a double-take, pointing. "This ss..."


    The team leader, phone still to his ear, turned to follow the guard''s gaze and saw the scratches on the ss. Looking outside, he immediately ended the call.


    Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he ran a hand over the ss, catching on. With a push, the panel fell outward.


    Outside, it was pitch ck except for faint building outlines. The team leader aimed his shlight into the dark.


    Meanwhile, Nick was at the end of his escape route, steadying himself while slicing through ss with a knife.


    The shlight beam hit the ss, 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 toote. With a slight grin, the team leader passed his shlight to another guard and slowly raised his gun, taking aim at Nick.