Reynold stepped into his dimly lit bedroom and rang the silver bell on his nightstand. The soft chime echoed like a signal of secrecy. Moments later, two guards entered silently, standing at attention.
"Attend to me," he ordered, gesturing vaguely toward his desk. As they busied themselves, Reynold glanced at the door, his expression unreadable. Behind their backs, Vicky slipped out undetected, the shadows swallowing her form.
But the illusion of calm shattered when the guards spotted a third man lying unconscious near the door.
"Sir!" one of them exclaimed, alarmed.
"Don't concern yourselves," Reynold replied coolly, not even turning. "He tripped over the rod and landed headfirst. He'll wake up soon—no need to fuss."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances but dared not question him further.
Deep in the cell block, Simone trembled in silence. The scraping sound of metal tools outside his door grew louder—someone was working the lock. Hope flickered like a candle in a storm.
Meanwhile, Vicky moved through the corridors, her steps light and sure… until an irritating clink echoed from the pocket of her coat. The gift Reynold had given her. She ducked behind a wall and quickly unwrapped it.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"AID..." she whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. The device—the one from her fragmented memories. It was real. She remembered Paige working tirelessly to perfect it. Was she… Paige?
Elsewhere, chaos was beginning to crackle.
Karen's voice rang out through the compound, sharp with panic. "Kyle! Answer your phone!"
Ndeshi clung to her, her voice trembling. "Please, Karen... something's wrong. We need to get to Dad…"
Inside the surveillance room, the Boss's voice was venom.
"The Shikongo bastard should be dead by now! What's the delay?" He slammed a fist against the table. "Bring the girl. My work is nearly done."
A subordinate hurried to check the cells.
"Sir, please," Ndeshi pleaded again. "We can't live without our father."
The Boss turned, eyes burning. "Your father tried to protect Nathan. He tried to sabotage my plan. And anyone who hinders my work… dies."
The guard reached Roger's cell only to find it empty—until a noise from the toilet drew his attention. He pushed open the door and there stood Roger, shirtless, disoriented.
"Roger? Where's the girl?"
"She escaped…" Roger stammered. "Please don't tell the boss…"
The guard's eyes narrowed. "Escaped? Are you that weak? You were overpowered by a girl?"
"She's not just a girl," Roger defended, rubbing his jaw. "She didn't even fight. One slap—and boom. I woke up in here."
The guard pursed his lips in disgust.
"Take me to Reynold."
"Go," the guard waved him off. "We need to find Paige. It hasn't been that long, has it?"
"Maybe… over half an hour."
"Over half an hour?" the guard snapped, panic rising. He bolted down the hall, yelling for backup.
Vicky crouched against a wall, holding the AID device, her mind racing with flashes of memory—Paige building the prototype, a man calling her name with affection… Paige…
Across the compound, the Boss received the news.
"She's gone, sir."
"What?! Nathan's fate is still uncertain, and now his wife escapes?" he roared. "Are you all incompetent?! Find her! She can't get through the security puzzle. Move!"
"She's Paige," Ndeshi thought silently. "She must have already figured it out."
In the chaos, Ndeshi made a run for her father's cell.
Karen's path intersected with someone unexpected. Her heart skipped as she saw a familiar yet foreign face—Vicky.
"Paige…?" she whispered.
Vicky stared blankly. Flashes struck her again—a man's voice, warm and familiar, calling her name. She clutched her ears, wincing from the sudden storm inside her head.
In Simone's cell, a guard raised his weapon, aiming for the trembling man.
"Don't!" Ndeshi cried, grabbing his arm. "The Boss wants everyone out searching for Paige. You'll miss her if you waste time here."
The guard hesitated, suspicious. "You're acting strange."
"You can lock us back in after. We're not going anywhere. Paige escaped—and you know the Boss. If he finds out we're not helping, we're all dead. So please… stop looking at me like I'm a traitor."
The guard lowered the gun and left reluctantly. Ndeshi rushed to her father, wrapping him in a desperate hug.
Karen stood before Vicky, confused and broken.
"Paige… stop this. Please. We brought you here to save our father. We didn't mean for things to go like this…"
Vicky shook her head, trembling. "What?"
"Please," Karen begged, her voice cracking. "I'm sorry. I'm begging you—Paige!"
"I'm not Paige!!" Vicky screamed, startling them both. The denial rang through the hallway like a bell tolling the truth.
Karen took a step back, her expression frozen in shock.