The staircase creaked softly under their steps.
Adam moved first, calm and steady. Aria followed close behind, gripping the gun he had handed her.
"I still don't know why I'm the one holding this," she whispered.
"Because if I hold it," Adam replied quietly, "people assume I'm the threat."
Aria frowned.
"And me?"
"They underestimate you."
She sighed.
"…Fair point."
They reached the bottom of the stairs.
A narrow hallway stretched ahead, leading toward what looked like the main exit of the building. A faint night breeze slipped through the cracks of the door at the far end.
Freedom.
Almost.
But just as they stepped forward—
A loud voice echoed from behind them.
"Don't move!"
Adam and Aria stopped.
Footsteps rushed down the stairs above them.
Several men appeared at the top, pointing weapons downward.
The leader stepped forward.
"Well, well," he said slowly. "The clever kids tried to escape."
Aria quietly raised the gun she was holding.
The men above immediately raised theirs in response.
The hallway fell silent.
Adam glanced upward calmly.
Then he spoke.
"Count to ten."
Aria blinked.
"…What?"
"Just count."
She stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"We are literally surrounded."
"Trust me."
The leader laughed.
"You think you can threaten us with one gun?"
Adam shook his head slightly.
"No."
Then he looked straight at the leader.
"Because the chance isn't one."
Everyone paused.
Aria hesitated… but then started counting softly.
"One…"
Adam's eyes scanned the hallway.
The loose ceiling light.
The old fire alarm box near the wall.
The cracked electrical wiring hanging slightly loose.
"Two…"
The men tightened their grip on their weapons.
"Three…"
Adam stepped slightly to the side.
"Four…"
Aria's voice grew more nervous.
"…Adam?"
"Five."
Adam suddenly reached up and slammed his hand against the fire alarm.
SCREEEEEEECH.
A deafening alarm exploded through the building.
Red lights began flashing violently.
The men flinched in confusion.
"Six!"
Aria shouted over the noise.
Adam grabbed her arm.
"Now."
They ran.
Behind them, the men shouted and scrambled in the blaring chaos.
The flashing lights, the screaming alarm, the sudden confusion—
Everything turned into pure disorder.
As Adam pushed open the exit door, cold night air rushed toward them.
Aria burst outside beside him, still half-laughing, half-panicking.
"You insane genius!"
Adam finally slowed down.
"Did you finish counting?"
Aria grinned breathlessly.
"…Seven."
Adam nodded.
"Good enough."
Behind them, the alarm continued screaming into the night.
And somewhere inside that building—
The men realized their prisoners were gone.