LOGINDing!The elevator doors slid open. A sharp wave of disinfectant hit first, followed by the stench of rotting corpses.Hayley's Ghost Mode was fading fast. She slipped inside in one swift step.Then she saw rows upon rows of iron cages stretched out in front of her.Hayley stared in stunned shock at the zombies confined inside them.They weren't just contained, but strapped down to metal examination tables, tubes running into them from every direction. Machines beside them hummed steadily, something like dialysis units, pulling thick, black blood from their bodies.It looked just like what she had seen back at the Sovereign Academy, when Eric had turned.But this was different. That blood wasn't going back in. It was being drained out, funneled into long, clear tubes.The same tubes she had seen being transported upstairs.Right then, a sharp beep echoed from one of the cage rooms.Hayley turned toward the sound.Inside, a zombie lay completely drained, shriveled like a drie
Anyway, it all came out of District Two.Hayley grabbed a piece, and no one paid her any attention.After changing, she headed over to the long, connected wall. On this side, someone had carved out a rough tree stump, just enough to use as a step.People were still climbing in and out.Watching the person ahead of her, Hayley copied their movements and swung herself over. The moment she dropped down on the other side, the scene shifted again.Unlike Districts One and Two, which sprawled across acres with countless factory buildings, District Three was just a single structure.Emerson had told her before. The ground level was where they produced the serum. Everything underground was restricted.Right now, it was a shift change.Hayley quickened her pace, closing in behind the person ahead as they approached the gate.The second he swiped his access card, she slipped in right behind him, practically brushing against his back as she crossed through the door.The guy she piggybac
But if Ruby really was being held in District Three…Hayley stared at the paper, taking a slow breath.If so, he would have no choice but to slip in with the extraction team that day, grab Ruby, and force her way out.She mapped out plan after plan in her head. Then she and Griffin stayed up most of the night getting things ready.The next morning, she entered District Two under the pretense of delivering equipment, just like she had said the day before.The second she got inside, she activated Ghost Mode and headed straight for the parachute workshop to find Willow.Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Everyone was locked in, completely focused on their stations, hands moving nonstop along the assembly line.What happened yesterday had spread. Harrison had dragged their team lead out to test a parachute pack, and everyone knew it.The entire workshop felt suffocating. No one dared slack off. Every pair of eyes stayed glued to the work in front of them.Hayley spotted Willow on o
Getting caught red-handed trying to poach someone right in front of his boss, Hayley didn't even flinch. She gave Scott a casual wave like nothing had happened."Nope, no other questions. I'm heading out.""Stop." Scott's voice came out slow and lazy.She paused, turning back. "What now?"He lifted a sheet of paper between his fingers. "Funny. I just got a file on your aunt today. Came straight to find you as soon as I saw it."The moment she heard that, Hayley spun around and lunged for it.Scott pulled his hand back effortlessly, holding it out of reach. He looked down at her, eyes glinting. "What were you just saying about me? Ruthless, cold, calculating, petty, and selfish?""No way!" Hayley shot back instantly. "You've always been generous and kind, upright and honorable. You're a freaking gentleman!"A smile tugged at his eyes. "Say something nicer. And what do you call me?""Big Scott!""Didn't hear that.""Big Scott!"She raised her voice, loud and clear this time.
"Are you talking to me?"Hayley stopped and glanced at Sawyer.A few minutes later, the two of them stood in a quiet, empty corner.Sawyer kept his eyes locked on her, his expression stiff and serious.They had history.The first time they met was when Hayley had dropped in out of nowhere at the Wetlands Park where they had been trapped. That very first encounter ended with him chopping off one of his fingers.To this day, he was still missing it.Later, he had picked a fight with one of her new followers and gotten sent flying with a single slap.Between them, there was no shortage of bad blood.And yet, she had also saved his life.He still remembered that night clearly. He had followed Scott and her into the castle at the canyon. In the middle of the night, his condition spiraled out of control. Scott had been ready to put him down right there, but Hayley stepped in.She had given him a detox pill.The same person he had always seen as an enemy hadn't taken the chance
Bottom line, Hayley needed to stay calm.She snapped a photo of the email. Right then, she heard footsteps coming back from outside.She instantly reset the email window, returned everything on the screen to how it was, and even adjusted the mouse with obsessive precision, making sure the cursor rested exactly where it had been before she shut the display off.Only after everything matched perfectly did she move, slipping into position behind the door.She had just hidden when the door swung open.Harrison was back.The moment he stepped inside, Hayley glided past him, slipping out in one smooth, silent burst.Harrison paused. Something felt off behind him.But when he turned, there was nothing there.Ever cautious, he stopped and stepped back into the hallway, scanning the area. All he saw was an unremarkable security guard walking away down the corridor.There was nothing suspicious.His gaze brushed past Hayley without a second thought before he turned and went back int
After Scarlett's message, Hayley received another one."My dear Ms. Reid, you have an incoming call from your devoted Liam. Would you like to answer the call?""Yes.""Hey, there. I sent out your plan about forming a league and recapturing the cities. Other than Ember Base, no one else responded.
Before anyone else could answer, a voice rang out."Wait… Are you Scarlett?"The only middle-aged woman among the group looked at Scarlett with obvious excitement.Scarlett froze and looked at her carefully. "Ms. Fox?""That's right!" Wilona Fox replied happily.Scarlett immediately explained t
Hayley was only halfway through her cigarette when she heard footsteps outside."Who the hell is that woman, anyway? Why is everyone from Base K1 so polite to her? Why are they spoiling her so much?""No idea. Wallace said she's some small base leader.""So what if she is? She's just a woman. Wha
An hour later, everyone's abilities were nearly drained.After they switched to cold steel and went in to finish the rest, the entire street finally fell quiet.This was Haylight League's very first purge.Hayley had chosen the outer edge of Aecraton, the High-Tech District, as their opening targ







