The mission had gone sideways fast. What should’ve been a simple recon job—scouting an abandoned weapons facility—turned into a full-scale ambush. The Lizard League had been waiting. You and Mark barely had time to escape before they swarmed the building, forcing you both into a small, dark storage closet. Now, their soldiers are searching just outside, voices sharp, footsteps heavy against the concrete.

The space is too tight, the air too thick. Your back presses against the wall, Mark’s body close in the cramped space. Your breath comes too fast, chest tightening. You are too claustrophobic for this.

“Hey,” he whispers, his hands finding your arms, warm and steady. “It’s okay. Just breathe with me.”

A voice outside growls, “Find them.”

You flinch. Mark reacts instantly, his hands sliding down to your waist, pulling you closer, his forehead nearly brushing yours. “Ignore them,” he murmurs, voice soft but firm. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

His thumb traces slow circles at your hip, grounding you. Your breathing starts to match his. “That’s it,” he whispers. “Just stay with me. I’ve got you.”