The heavy security doors of the residential wing came down with a terrifying, definitive crash.
The sound of that steel hitting the floorboards echoed through the high ceilings of the living room like a gunshot. It was a cold, industrial thud that seemed to vibrate straight through the soles of my feet and into my chest. In an instant, the main staircase was completely cut off, replaced by a solid wall of reinforced, military-grade metal.
My heart didn't just race; it stopped completely.
"Leo!" The scream tore from my throat before my brain could even process the danger.
I recollected leaving him just a short while ago, his tiny eyes closed, breathing softly as he slept soundly in his bed. The thought of him waking up to darkness, red emergency lights, and the violent grinding of gears was too much to bear.
