Chapter 8 - THE FINAL STAND IN THE WOODS
The air inside the wrecked sedan was thick with the acrid smell of airbag powder and burning rubber. Leo groaned, his head resting against the steering wheel, a small trickle of blood running down his forehead.
“Are you... are you both alive?” Leo muttered weakly.
“I’m alive,” Elena coughed, kicking her door open against the bent metal frame. She scrambled out into the damp grass, raising her weapon.
Victor rolled out of the opposite door, his shoulder throbbing with sharp pain, but his instincts were razor-sharp. He drew his pistol and scanned the tree line above them.
Headlights cut through the pine trees from the road above. Heavy footsteps crunched rapidly down the embankment. Emerging from the fog was Arthur Vance himself, holding a heavy assault rifle, his face smeared with soot and rain, looking like a vengeful specter from the underworld.
“End of the line, Victor!” Arthur roared, his voice echoing through the silent forest. “Hand over the flash drive, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll let my daughter say a quick prayer over your grave before I finish this!”
Victor stepped in front of Elena, shielding her with his body. “It’s over, Arthur. The federal police are five minutes away. Every record you have is on this drive. You’ve lost.”
“I haven't lost anything until I’m dead!” Arthur screamed, raising his rifle to his shoulder.
He pulled the trigger—CLICK.
Arthur frowned, pulling the charging handle back again and squeezing the trigger. CLICK.
From the shadows behind Arthur, a calm, commanding voice spoke up.
“Your magazine was empty the moment you stepped out of the SUV, Arthur,” Marcus said, stepping out from behind a thick pine tree with his sniper rifle leveled squarely at Arthur’s spine. Behind him, three federal tactical vehicles with flashing blue lights crowned the ridge above the embankment.
May you like
Arthur slowly lowered his weapon, his chest heaving with rage and exhaustion. He looked around, realizing he was completely surrounded. There was no escape.
“You’re finished, Arthur,” Elena said, stepping out from behind Victor, walking slowly toward her father with her head held high. “The fire is finally out.”
