Beneath the bed lies the truth; above it stands the nightmare.

Elara clipped the stolen radio to her belt and continued down the extravagant hallway, her heart pounding against her ribs. She was now armed with a taser, a baton, and the knowledge that Victoria’s forces were entirely distracted by the unfolding digital apocalypse.

Suddenly, her radio crackled again. It was Julian’s voice, hurried and breathless, broadcasting on a dead channel he had managed to isolate.

"Elara, I'm in the security hub. The cameras are glitching, but I have eyes on Leo. He’s incredibly smart. He crawled into the HVAC maintenance shafts above the grand dining room. He's heading toward the rooftop access."

"Is anyone near him?" Elara whispered back into the receiver.

"Two squads are converging on the dining room now. They spotted an open vent grate. You have to hurry, Elara. They are heavily armed."

"I'm on my way," she replied, breaking into a full sprint.

She navigated the labyrinthine penthouse, blowing past indoor water features and marble statues. She reached the grand double doors of the dining room just as two heavily armored guards kicked them open from the other side.

Elara didn't break her stride. She fired the taser at the first guard, the prongs burying deep into his tactical vest, sending a massive electrical charge through his body. He spasmed and collapsed violently into a towering crystal vase, which shattered with a deafening crash.

The second guard raised his weapon, but Elara was already airborne. She tackled him mid-stride, her momentum carrying them both over a long, polished mahogany dining table. They crashed heavily onto the floor on the other side.

The guard scrambled for his dropped rifle, but Elara was faster. She brought the baton down hard on his wrist, listening to the sickening crunch of bone, followed by a swift strike to his temple. The guard went limp.

Panting heavily, Elara looked up at the ceiling. High above the crystal chandelier, a large metal ventilation grate was hanging open by a single screw.

"Leo!" she called out, her voice echoing in the massive room. "Leo, it's Mommy!"