Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 594: Run For Your Life

Outside, the siren in the yard began to wail, a high-pitched warning that made one’s head throb. The temperature sensors pinged red, and the room-control monitors lit up with angry, flashing warnings.

"Ace!" someone shouted.

Ace spun around just in time to see his brother Alaric and Violet sprinting toward him through the smoke and haze. Relief crashed over him, and he caught Alaric in a rough hug. They held on for a heartbeat before pulling apart.

"What’s the status?" Alaric demanded.

Ace’s jaw tightened. "The first bomb went off. We intercepted the second, but we still haven’t found the third’s location."

As if mocking his words, a deafening boom rippled through the warehouse, the ground trembling beneath their feet. The lights above swayed, and the smell of burning chemicals intensified.

"Another volatile compound must have ignited," Ace muttered, his face grim.

"We need to cut power to the HVAC system and kill the main. Now!" Alaric barked.

Violet asked. "HVAC?"

"The HVAC controls airflow and temperature stability in this facility," Alaric explained quickly. "If it’s not shut off, it’ll pull toxic fumes into other areas and feed oxygen to the flames, making the fire spread faster."

Violet nodded in understanding. "So cutting it isolates the area and keeps the poison from spreading?"

"Exactly," Alaric confirmed. "Then we kill the main power to prevent sparks that could ignite another chemical explosion."

Ace didn’t hesitate. He raised his radio. "Control room, report!"

Static crackled, then a voice shouted back, panicked. "We’re in position, pulling the emergency red lever now!"

low, deep rumble vibrated through the ceiling as the massive fans powering the HVAC whirred to

and

next!"

warehouse into red emergency strobes. Shadows

Alaric shouted over the roar of alarms and fire. "Tell them to flip the

to the cooling system line only, not

Moments like this made her realize how much raw courage and loyalty ran in

open the nitrogen valves and deploy the cooling hoses. That’s the only way to stabilize the temperature around the volatile compounds." His grip on Violet’s hand tightened. "We’re heading there

set. "Be careful out there. The flames aren’t the only threat—" His gaze flicked upward to the cracking beams overhead. "The entire structure’s

Alaric promised. He pulled Violet close and sprinted toward

Ace raised his radio, barking into it, "Move!

had been the ones sent to

the purge," the team leader

had been wired to the main panel, but he knew the manual line.

a cluster of valves and gauges at the far

integrity!"

tapping gauges and calling out over the

stable!" one

Three unresponsive, manual override needed!"

leader’s jaw clenched.

the wheel and heaved with all his strength. The metal groaned, resisting him, but finally gave way with a grinding shriek.

from the pipes as

fog burst upward, rolling through

someone yelled, panic edging

steady!" the leader barked through gritted teeth. "If it