Chapter 3 - The Basement Maze
The sound of the wealthy guests clapping and laughing outside the door was absolutely sickening.
They truly believed the horrifying scene was nothing more than expensive wedding entertainment.
Marcus kept his golden revolver aimed steadily at Lucas's rapidly beating heart.
He warned Lucas that any sudden movements would result in a tragic, accidental discharge.
Lucas knew he had to rely on his instincts to save his terrified daughter from these monsters.
He noticed the heavy tactical rifle lying on the marble floor right by his polished dress shoes.
With a sudden burst of desperate adrenaline, Lucas kicked the rifle forcefully into Marcus's shins.
The older man stumbled backward in pain, firing a wild shot that shattered the bathroom mirror.
The deafening gunshot finally made the wedding guests outside realize the danger was completely real.
They began screaming and running frantically toward the main exits of the grand estate.
In the ensuing chaos, Lucas grabbed Lily's hand and sprinted out of the master suite.
They dodged panicked socialites and overturned champagne tables in the massive hallway.
Lucas knew the front gates would be heavily guarded, so he pulled Lily toward the kitchen.
They pushed through the swinging doors and found the hidden stairwell leading down to the wine cellar.
The basement was incredibly dark, damp, and smelled strongly of aged oak and stale earth.
Lucas locked the heavy iron door behind them and pulled out the crumpled letter again.
He used the dim light of his watch screen to read the next crucial paragraph from Elena.
The letter stated she was being held captive at an abandoned shipping warehouse on Pier 44.
She begged whoever found the note to bring the police because she had gathered enough evidence to destroy Marcus's empire.
Heavy footsteps suddenly pounded against the wooden stairs right above their heads.
Someone was aggressively trying to break down the iron door with a heavy battering ram.
Lucas hid Lily behind a massive stack of dusty wine barrels in the darkest corner of the cellar.
He grabbed a heavy glass wine bottle, preparing to fight to the death to protect his child.
The iron door finally gave way, crashing loudly against the concrete wall.
A single guard shined a blinding tactical flashlight directly into Lucas's eyes.
Lucas raised the glass bottle high above his head, ready to strike the intruder.
But the guard quickly lowered his weapon and took off his black tactical mask.
May you like
The man looked at Lucas with desperate, pleading eyes and whispered a shocking truth.
Please put the bottle down, Lucas, because Elena secretly sent me here to get you out alive.
