Chapter 20: The Chessmaster's Endgame

The alarms blared loudly, their terrible wail echoing through the Chancellor's office. Avery switched her attention between The Architect's smug expression and the chaos on the screens around her, her mind racing.

"Tick tock, Avery," The Architect said, his finger sliding over another button. "Your move."

At that moment, something inside Avery changed. She shed the uncertainty and fear that had troubled her and instead developed a fierce determination. She had defended herself for too long; it was time to act.

"You're right," she said in a calm, steady voice. "It all depends on me."

To The Architect's surprise, Avery lunged across the desk at lightning speed. She pushed his hand away from the controls and quickly slammed her palm down on a large red button she had noticed earlier. The result was immediate. The room fell into a disturbing silence as the alarms stopped. The screens darkened and went blank.