He stayed by my side all these years.
Michael and Eason were violently knocking on the tiles, trying to get Joel out.
However, I couldn't pry them open, and neither could they.
Zion knelt on the floor, his hands covered in blood. His fingers were still in the gap in the floor tiles, adamant about getting them open. He screamed and struggled in despair.
My numbed senses seemed to have gradually sharpened.
This was what despair felt like.
I knew it for a fact—this was despair.
"The first person who triggers the destructive mechanism can get out of here alive. The price being… everyone else will end up dead," the creepy voice said once again.
I instinctively looked toward the far end. Taylor, who was usually unnoticeable, had already run to the end of the hall without us knowing.
He stared at the red button on the wall. Then, he turned to look at us with a shaky gaze.
"Press it and the exit will appear," the voice said, tempting him to press it.
Everyone held their breath and stared cautiously at Taylor.
He shook his head, sobbing. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm too afraid. I want to leave. I'm so sorry…"
This was human nature—sacrificing everyone else was a valid option if it meant one could live.
"Taylor!" Quinn screamed his name while crying.
But he pressed the button anyway.
"I know I've made mistakes in the past, but I've corrected them," Taylor cried, shaking his head. "I've been doing endless good deeds these last few years in order to make up for my mistakes."
He continued, "I know I shouldn't have left Steve and Simmy to fend for themselves during the fire, but what choice did I have…
"I wasn't as strong as them. I just wanted to live. Where's the fault in that? All these years, I've worked hard at my job in order to live life like a regular person. Why was I brought to a place like this? Why?"
He screamed and cried in agony. Subsequently, he bolted for the exit without hesitation as soon as it appeared.
"Autonomous device, on."
Just as Steven grabbed my hand and wanted to escape, a metal barricade dropped down where the exit was. We were all trapped inside.
There was no way out.
Behind us, the lights dimmed. Countless red sensor beams were aimed directly at each and every one of our foreheads and chests.
I knew for a fact that there were multiple machine guns being operated in the dark.
There was nowhere to run or hide.
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