Pride.
Pain.
Love.
All mixed together.
“You’re both impossible.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Genetics.”
I turned to Margaret.
“Can we speed it up?”
“Maybe.”
She started typing.
Rebecca began counting.
“Twenty-nine.”
Margaret rerouted power.
“Twenty-eight.”
The transfer jumped.
47%.
“Twenty-seven.”
Daniel locked the server room door.
50%.
“Twenty-six.”
Hayes, still bleeding, stood slowly.
Everyone watched him.
He looked at me.
Then at Margaret.
Then toward the corridor.
“I can stop her.”
Margaret laughed.
“You can barely stand.”
“I know the old fuel system.”
Russell stared at him.
“Thomas.”
Hayes looked at me.
“Emily.”
For the first time, his voice carried no manipulation.
No cleverness.
Just exhaustion.
“I have failed you in every way a father can fail a daughter.”
I said nothing.
“I’m not asking forgiveness.”
He took the emergency flashlight.
“I’m just going to do one thing right.”
Then he left.
Rebecca reached ten.
The transfer hit 71%.
“Nine.”
