Chapter 4 - The Chemical Distraction
The massive shockwave from the explosion violently threw Mr. Henderson completely off balance.
The heavy ceiling plaster cracked loudly, raining thick white dust down upon the expensive hotel carpet.
Patricia instantly seized the chaotic opportunity and forcefully hurled the heavy brass table lamp directly at the manager's head.
The solid metal base struck Mr. Henderson squarely in the face, sending his silenced pistol clattering uselessly to the floor.
"Run into the hallway right now!" Patricia screamed, aggressively shoving Melissa toward the open doorway.
They sprinted wildly out of the room, entering the long, heavily decorated corridor of the hotel's fifth floor.
The fire alarms were blaring deafeningly, and the emergency strobe lights flashed blindingly in the smoke-filled air.
"What in the world was that massive explosion?" Melissa coughed, completely blinded by the thick grey smoke.
"Thomas is actively trying to destroy the top floors to completely cover up his massive crimes and our murders," Patricia yelled back.
They ran frantically toward the main stairwell, but the heavy fire doors were completely chained and padlocked from the outside.
Patricia quickly realized that the corrupt hotel manager had systematically sealed off their entire escape route.
"We have to use the hidden service elevator at the end of the hall, only the housekeeping staff has the biometric access," Patricia instructed.
As they rapidly approached the dead end of the hallway, they heard heavy, aggressive footsteps sprinting toward them from the smoke.
Mr. Henderson emerged from the grey cloud, his face covered in dark blood, holding a large tactical combat knife.
"You are not leaving this floor alive, Patricia, because Thomas pays me entirely too much to fail," the manager sneered viciously.
Patricia looked around desperately and spotted an abandoned housekeeping cleaning cart parked near the service elevator.
She remembered the strict safety training she had received regarding the highly dangerous industrial cleaning chemicals they used daily.
She aggressively grabbed a large plastic bottle of industrial bleach and a heavy jug of high-concentration ammonia.
"Close your eyes tightly and hold your breath right now, Melissa!" Patricia ordered with absolute authority.
Patricia violently smashed both heavy plastic bottles forcefully against the hard marble floor in front of the approaching manager.
The highly toxic chemicals instantly mixed, rapidly creating a massive, suffocating cloud of deadly chloramine gas.
Mr. Henderson ran directly into the invisible chemical cloud, instantly dropping his heavy knife as his lungs violently seized up.
He fell aggressively to his knees, clawing desperately at his own throat as he gasped uselessly for breathable air.
Patricia quickly swiped her employee badge card against the hidden scanner, and the service elevator doors immediately slid open.
They rushed inside the small metal box, and Patricia forcefully smashed her bloody fist against the button for the ground floor lobby.
The heavy metal doors closed, finally cutting off the horrifying sounds of the choking, corrupt manager.
Melissa slumped heavily against the steel wall, weeping quietly in sheer, unadulterated terror.
"We are going directly to the crowded lobby to scream for help, they cannot possibly kill us in front of hundreds of witnesses," Patricia stated firmly.
But instead of stopping at the grand lobby, the elevator violently accelerated downward, completely bypassing the ground floor altogether.
The digital floor indicator rapidly descended into the negative numbers, heading straight for the highly restricted sub-basement levels.
"I am not pressing these buttons, the elevator has been entirely hijacked from the main security room!" Patricia panicked.
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The elevator screeched to a sudden, violent halt, and the heavy doors slowly slid open to reveal the dark, underground parking garage.
Standing in a massive semi-circle around the elevator doors were heavily armed mercenaries, all aiming automatic rifles directly at them.
