Chapter 8 - Escape Through the Dark
"Wake up Arthur!" Elena commanded, sprinting back inside the cabin.
I followed her, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to break my ribs.
We rushed into the bedroom and shook my father awake, pulling him out of bed.
"We have to move, right now," I told him, handing him his coat and shoes.
Arthur groaned in pain but didn't argue, recognizing the sheer terror in our eyes.
Elena led us toward the back door of the cabin, bypassing the main living room completely.
"Viktor's men use thermal imaging," she whispered, keeping her body low to the floorboards.
"We have to get into the basement and use the old storm drain to access the river behind the property."
Suddenly, the front door of the cabin exploded inward in a massive shower of splintered wood.
Smoke grenades were tossed into the hallway, filling the air with thick, blinding gray fog.
I grabbed Arthur's hand and pulled him blindly down the basement stairs, coughing violently.
Elena followed close behind, locking the heavy metal basement door and sliding a steel deadbolt into place.
Heavy boots immediately began pounding against the door from the other side.
"The drain is behind the boiler!" Elena shouted, turning on a small flashlight.
We rushed across the damp concrete floor and squeezed behind the massive metal water heater.
There was a rusted iron grate set into the foundation of the wall.
With a burst of pure adrenaline, I helped Elena kick the rusted grate until the bolts snapped.
We shoved Arthur into the dark tunnel first, knowing he was the slowest and most vulnerable.
Just as I climbed into the tight space, the metal door at the top of the stairs blew off its hinges.
Gunfire immediately riddled the basement, shattering the lights and the concrete walls.
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Elena dove into the tunnel right behind me, pulling the heavy grate back into place just in time.
We crawled through the muck and absolute darkness, listening to the muffled shouts of the assassins above us.
