The Boss raised his gun without hesitation and opened fire on the guards. One by one, they dropped like dominos. From behind a cracked door, Karen peeked through, trembling.
One of the wounded guards crawled toward Vicky for help. Just as he reached her, Vicky's eyes snapped open. Without hesitation, she slapped him hard enough to knock him out cold.
"I don't sleep. I act," she muttered, then frowned. "Why do I keep saying that?"
Before she could make sense of it, a pair of arms grabbed her from behind, dragging her backward. She twisted her head and froze.
"You?" she gasped.
Karen stared back at her. "Why are you back here?" Vicky asked, voice sharp.
"To save you. But... it seems like you don't need saving. After all, you're Paige."
"I don't need saving," Vicky snapped, glancing toward where the Boss had last been.
Karen chuckled softly. "Rude as usual. I missed that part of you, Paige."
"I'm not Paige," Vicky said firmly, striding off without another glance.
Gunshots cracked through the silence, halting her. She reached for her belt and realized—her device was off. She flicked it on.
The Boss was now on his knees, his gun useless in his hands. Around him, the surviving guards twitched and whimpered, unable to stand.
"Why aren't you standing properly?" Vicky barked.
Karen approached behind her. "Did you forget? AID made their legs useless…"
"AID? Who's AID?" Vicky asked, turning toward her.
Karen's voice dropped, almost pleading. "Paige… drop your cover."
Vicky suddenly clutched her head, her ears ringing again.
"Stop!" she screamed, shaking.
Karen stepped closer. "The device you're holding—it emits a signal. Anyone with a loaded, dangerous weapon can't stand. Their knees just... give out. It only lasts for an hour."
Vicky blinked in awe. "Wow... whoever made that is a genius. Otherwise, I'd be dead by now."
Karen stared at her in disbelief.
Vicky grabbed her wrist. "Come on. Don't you want to see who wanted to kill you and your father?"
Karen nodded, then stepped forward to remove the Boss's mask. But before she could, the Boss jabbed himself with syringes in both legs. With a sudden surge of strength, he lunged and dragged Karen away.
"Hey!!" Vicky shouted, giving chase—but they vanished.
The mansion was a labyrinth of rooms and sealed doors. She stormed through each one, calling out.
"Masked Sir... look, I don't know what happens to me sometimes, but this—this is wrong. Please, take me instead. Let her go, I'm begging you…"
She froze.
"Paige…" Karen's voice trembled behind her.
Vicky turned. Her heart stopped.
Karen stood, strapped into a bomb jacket, eyes wide with terror.
"This is simple," the Boss said, stepping forward with the detonator. "Unlock the device. Give me AID. Your friend lives."
"Paige… just do it," Karen whispered.
"What do you mean?" Vicky asked, shaken.
The Boss pressed a button. The bomb began its countdown—five minutes.
"You have five minutes to unlock AID. Hand it to me, and your friend goes free," he said, calm as ice.
Vicky activated AID, trying to disable the bomb—but nothing happened.
"Come on… come on…" she muttered, hands shaking.
"It won't work," Karen cried. "AID can only disarm it if you unlock it—please, just unlock it!"
"Unlock it? How?" Vicky snapped.
The Boss stepped closer. "Why are you so damn stubborn? One minute's already gone. Just enter the passcode before your friend is scattered across this room."
Vicky froze.
"Paige… you're the only one who knows the passcode," Karen pleaded.
"What are you saying?" Vicky whispered, backing away.
"Paige… time is ticking…" Karen's voice broke.
"I'm not Paige!!" Vicky screamed, her voice cracking with fury and fear.
Karen broke down into helpless sobs. The bomb kept ticking.