𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐦 & 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦

Chapter 11

Her heart nearly stopped as she realized she had been caught red-handed in the Archive Hall - of MDA's department, no less.

Erum Zamurd, the chief representative of Khandan-e-Zamurd, had been caught.

She looked up and saw a security guard pointing a torch at her. The guard stood still, but alert. Her mind raced with ideas. She needed to act fast. Her hand slowly moved toward the gun hidden in her waistband. She almost pulled it out - until she saw something that confused her.

The guard walked away.
Casually.

Her hand remained fixed on the gun, still on high alert. But watching the guard walk away so casually - as if he hadn't even seen anyone, let alone a chief representative breaking into the Archive Hall - was baffling.

She was confused. So damn confused.

Everything about this heist was throwing her off. First, the door to the Archive Hall had opened on its own, practically inviting her in. Then, the guard saw her - literally inside the Archive Hall - and just walked away like it was nothing. Something was clearly off.

Maybe her decision to go through with this heist had been a mistake. She got the access. She got the answers. But that didn't change the fact that what she did was illegal. And even if she'd managed to get ahead of Yusra - who couldn't access the Archive Hall at all - she was still just a chief representative, not the leader.

If MDA found out, there would be consequences.
Dangerous ones.

She carefully stepped out of the Archive Hall, her mind racing with possibilities. What if the guard had informed the others? What if they were coming for her?

Pressing her back against the wall, she now held the gun in her hand. Her steps were slow but calculated. As she reached the corridor, she peeked around the corner, checking if anyone was approaching - but it was all clear.
Weird.

Wasting no time, she rushed ahead. Her boots made barely a sound. The gun was clenched tightly in her grip. When she reached the next turn, she halted and peeked again.
Still empty.

Taking a deep breath, she moved quickly toward the exit. Soon, she arrived at the same door she'd entered through. She hesitated for a moment, possibilities flooding her mind. Then she shoved them aside - and the door open - bracing herself for a wall of security, guns raised.

But no.
It was clear.
And so damn weird.

She looked around and saw the guards still searching for the cause of the breakage that had knocked out the lights. Just like before, the darkness was in her favor - first when she entered the department, and now, as she left it.

She walked quickly to her car and slipped inside without drawing attention.

As soon as the door closed, she let out a deep sigh, the tension slowly easing from her shoulders. She glanced at her watch.

50 seconds left.

She made it.
She had found the answers - within her time limit.
But she couldn't shake the feeling that something about it all was... off.

Erum started the engine and eased the car toward the main road. Before turning away completely, she stole one last glance at the department - and the guards.

That's when she noticed it.
Every single guard had a Bluetooth device in their ear.

She chose to ignore it.
She made it out.
And for now, that was enough.

Merging onto the main road, she reached for her phone lying on the adjacent seat. She planned to call Zoya, to let her know she'd made it out safely.

She wasn't going to mention the weird parts.