Chapter 4 - The Race Against Time
They climbed out of the tunnels through a rusted maintenance grate two blocks from Arthur’s building.
The rain had stopped, leaving a thick, eerie fog rolling through the empty streets.
Arthur told Lily to stay hidden in the shadows with Max.
He promised he would be back with the bear in less than five minutes.
Lily grabbed his jacket, her clear eyes filled with absolute terror.
She begged him not to leave her in the dark again.
Arthur kissed her forehead, swearing on his life that this was the last time they would ever hide.
He crept across the street, slipping through the broken back door of his apartment complex.
The hallways were deathly quiet, the silence broken only by the sound of his own breathing.
When he reached the fourth floor, he saw that his front door had been kicked open.
The wood was splintered, and faint light spilled out into the hallway.
Arthur gripped the steel pipe tighter and moved silently toward the entrance.
Inside, two men in black tactical gear were tearing the living room apart.
The sofa was slashed open, and books were thrown everywhere.
Arthur peeked into Lily’s bedroom and saw the stuffed bear lying on the floor, untouched.
The men were too busy destroying the kitchen to notice the toy.
Arthur took a deep breath, calculating his next move.
He tossed a small ceramic vase into the hallway to create a distraction.
The men instantly turned their weapons toward the noise and moved out of the room.
Arthur dove into the bedroom, grabbing the stuffed bear and clutching it to his chest.
He could feel the hard, rectangular shape of the flash drive hidden inside the stuffing.
Just as he turned to leave, a cold, metallic voice echoed behind him.
Evelyn was standing in the doorway, holding a silver pistol aimed directly at his head.
May you like
She looked at the bear and smirked, her eyes gleaming with wicked satisfaction.
She told him he was always too predictable.
