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He checked around the corner and cursed. “Six guards coming this way.”

“Let’s try the other way,” said Tobias. “It will take longer to get out, but it loops around to an exit door.”

Octavia’s heart slammed in her chest as they dashed to the other end of the corridor.

Jude poked his head around the corner. “Shit! More guards. Shooting that lock must have triggered an alarm.”

“That’s our ways out blocked.” Horror slid through Octavia’s veins. They couldn’t be caught now, not when they were so close to beating the State.

Jude grabbed her arm. “We’re not done yet. We’ll hide, wait for the guards to pass. We’ll get out.”

“Hopefully before the explosives go off,” muttered Tobias.

Jude tried the first door in the corridor but found it locked. The second was open. The three of them hurried in. He eased the door shut. They were just in time. A few seconds later, the sound of several feet hurrying toward the power room could be heard.

“If they find the explosives, they’ll disarm them,” muttered Tobias.

“We need to cause a distraction.” Jude’s hand went to the door.

Octavia grabbed his arm. “You can’t go out there.”

“If we don’t take their minds off the disturbance in the power room, this will have been for nothing,” said Jude.

“We go together,” said Octavia. There was no way in hell she would let him sacrifice himself so she could get out.

“Octavia’s right,” said Tobias. “We go together. We can cause more damage that way.”

Jude smiled at his brother before winking at Octavia. “Okay then. Let’s go and cause some trouble.” He inched open the door and checked along the corridor.

The three of them crept out, Octavia being sure to keep a grip on Jude’s arm to stop him from doing anything stupidly heroic.

They made it to the end of the corridor before a shout rang out behind them.

“Run!” Jude grabbed hold of Octavia and propelled her along the corridor. Tobias was right alongside them.

“We’ve got them,” yelled a guard as he rounded the corner behind them.

“Keep going,” said Tobias. “We can get out up ahead.”

Octavia pumped her arms, certain the guards’ footsteps were getting closer by the second.

The door they headed toward opened. Three armed guards stepped through.

Octavia skidded to a halt. She shoved Jude and Tobias along the corridor that branched off to the left.

“This won’t take us outside,” said Tobias.

“It will stop us from getting our heads blown off,” said Octavia.

“Good point.”

“We’re running out of time,” said Tobias.

“We’ve got ten minutes,” said Jude. “We’ll find a way out.”

Octavia glanced over her shoulder. Six guards pursued them.

“Lab workers up ahead,” yelled Jude.