Chapter139:

Chapter 139 XENOIS I strained my ears. Voices from somewhere above me—at least two people, maybe three. The sound of a television or radio. Normal sounds that meant whoever was up there didn't know I'd gotten free yet. *How far away is the exit?* I couldn't see one from where I was standing. The hallway extended in both directions, with doors on either side. I picked a direction at random and started moving, keeping the gun up and ready. *Your form is terrible. Adjust your grip—thumb forward, both hands on the weapon. And stop tensing up. You're going to shake yourself into missing if you have to shoot.* I adjusted my grip as instructed, and it immediately felt more natural. Muscle memory again, my body knowing what to do even if my conscious mind didn't understand why. I cleared three rooms—all empty—before I heard footsteps descending stairs somewhere ahead of me. Multiple people, moving quickly. *They know you're out. Someone must have found the guard. Get ready.* I ducked into one