The hallway was dim and smelled faintly of alcohol.
Adam and Aria moved quietly, stepping past the two guards slumped against the wall. One was snoring softly, the other staring lazily at the floor with half-open eyes.
Neither of them reacted.
Aria whispered, "I can't believe that actually worked."
Adam kept walking.
"People underestimate how effective small distractions can be."
They reached the end of the hallway where a narrow staircase led down to the lower floor.
Just as Adam stepped onto the first stair—
"Stop."
A voice came from the shadows.
Both of them froze.
A man stepped forward from the corner of the corridor, pointing a gun straight at them.
Unlike the others, he looked fully alert.
No alcohol.
No wobbling.
Just cold, steady eyes.
"Well," he said slowly, "look what we have here."
Aria's shoulders stiffened.
Adam simply looked at the gun.
The man smirked slightly.
"Trying to escape?"
Silence hung in the hallway.
Then Adam spoke calmly.
"That gun won't do anything, lad."
Aria's head snapped toward him.
Are you serious right now? her expression screamed.
The man frowned.
"…What?"
Adam gestured slightly toward the weapon.
"You're holding it wrong."
The man glanced at the gun instinctively.
In that brief moment—
Adam stepped forward quickly and grabbed the man's wrist, twisting it sharply.
The gun pointed upward as the man lost his balance.
CLACK.
The weapon fell from his hand and slid across the floor.
Before the man could react, Adam shoved him against the wall.
Everything happened in seconds.
Aria blinked.
"…Oh."
The man groaned, stunned.
Adam picked up the gun and examined it calmly.
Then he said,
"Also, the safety was still on."
Aria stared at him for a moment.
Then she burst out laughing quietly.
"You just roasted a guy while disarming him."
Adam handed her the gun.
"Hold this."
Aria caught it.
"Wait—why me?"
Adam started walking toward the stairs again.
"Because you look more threatening with it."
Aria stared at the weapon in her hand.
"…I'm not sure that's true."
Behind them, the guard slowly slid down the wall, still too shocked to move.
Adam continued down the stairs.
Aria followed quickly.
And with every step they took—
Freedom was getting closer.