Chapter 15 · Apex Loop: Glitch Evolution - Chapter 15: Cat and Mouse

"Kane, darling, you missed a camera."

Vivian's voice drops right into my ear from the vent speaker and my claws slip.

I freeze. Flat against the duct. Sweat running down my spine, blood still wet on my knuckles.

"Did you really think the blind spot was still blind?" she says, soft, amused. "I left it for you. I wanted to see how you'd crawl."

"Turn it off," I snarl.

"No. Keep going. You're doing so well."

I don't move. The metal under me is cold. Too cold. It hums with her system. Everywhere I look there's a little red eye blinking. God-mode surveillance. She sees everything.

"Come on," she purrs. "You came to kill me. Don't stop now."

I force my breath down. She wants me to panic. She wants me to run. I don't.

I drag myself forward. Inch by inch. My claws make no sound this time. I learned. I keep my body low, my tail tucked. The blood from the guard I took down is still on my forearm, sticky, starting to dry.

"Left turn in three," she says. "Then down. My lab is waiting. I'm waiting.