Chapter 9
"Where did he go?!" the lead hitman shouted, his voice cracking with sudden panic.
They fired blindly into the dark, the muzzle flashes blinding their own night-vision goggles.
Bullets ricocheted dangerously off the curved brick walls, sparking brightly in the damp air.
Silas used the flashes of light to memorize their exact positions.
He moved with the terrifying speed and fluidity of a ghost.
He lunged from behind a concrete pillar, grabbing the second hitman by the tactical vest.
He used the man's own momentum to throw him violently against the brick wall.
A sickening crunch echoed through the tunnel as the man’s skull connected with the masonry.
Two down. Two remaining.
The lead hitman realized they were being hunted by a phantom and completely lost his nerve.
"Retreat! Fall back to the diner!" he screamed, splashing frantically toward the exit.
The remaining trailing man tried to run, but he tripped over a submerged piece of rebar.
Silas emerged from the water right beside him like a nightmare.
He clamped a hand over the man’s mouth, dragged him under the freezing water, and ended it with one swift motion.
The leader was now sprinting blindly toward the maintenance platform where Nora and Victor were hiding.
He saw the dim outline of the concrete stairs and raised his assault rifle to fire.
Victor stepped out of the shadows, absorbing two rounds into his thick Kevlar vest.
He didn't even flinch.
Victor raised his heavy pistol and fired a single, thunderous shot.
The lead hitman was thrown backward by the massive caliber round, landing motionless in the dirty water.
The tunnel plunged back into total, ringing silence.
Silas slowly waded back to the platform, his white dress shirt completely soaked in blood and muddy water.
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He wiped his blade clean on his slacks and looked at Nora.
"It is done," Silas said simply.
