Suddenly, the vault doors slammed shut with a deafening thud . The lights didn't just flicker; they turned a deep, bruising violet. "Sarah?" Elias hissed. Only static answered.
The world outside the car windows began to pixelate into a void of rushing code. Elias Thorne didn't scream. He just gripped the diamond—the only thing that felt heavy, the only thing that felt real—and waited for Level 8.
"I’m out," Elias whispered, tucking the gem into a velvet-lined pocket.