Chapter 9 - The Final Betrayal
The doctor’s cruel laugh echoed through the damp tunnel, shattering our brief moment of relief.
Dominic instinctively threw his body in front of Ethan, acting as a human shield for his son.
"You have made a very fatal mistake, Harris," Dominic stated with cold, lethal precision.
The doctor simply shrugged, keeping his heavy weapon aimed squarely at us.
"Vincent is going to take over the family tonight, and he pays much better than you do," Harris replied.
I sat frozen on the dirt floor, my arm wrapped tightly around my shivering daughter.
My mind raced desperately, trying to remember the layout of the estate grounds above this tunnel.
This specific tunnel led out toward the garden shed, right where the main electrical junction box was located.
I noticed a thick bundle of heavy black cables running along the dirt wall right next to my left hand.
"Dr. Harris, you took an oath to save lives," I pleaded loudly, hoping to distract him.
"Is killing an innocent child really worth clearing your gambling debts?"
Harris sneered at me, completely ignoring my emotional plea.
"In this world, sweetheart, money is the only thing that actually matters," he mocked.
While he was looking at me, Dominic slowly moved his hand toward the backup knife strapped to his ankle.
But Harris caught the movement and pumped the shotgun loudly.
"Don't try it, Boss, or the kid loses his head right now," Harris warned.
I knew Dominic couldn't throw the knife faster than a bullet could fire.
I wrapped my fingers tightly around the thickest electrical cable protruding from the damp dirt wall.
"Hey, Doctor," I yelled, channeling every ounce of courage I had left in my body.
Harris glanced at me just as I violently ripped the main power cable directly out of its rusty conduit.
A massive shower of blue sparks exploded from the wall, instantly short-circuiting the emergency lighting grid.
The tunnel was plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness.
A deafening shotgun blast echoed through the confined space, followed by the sickening sound of a blade piercing flesh.
Someone hit the dirt floor with a heavy, lifeless thud.
I squeezed my eyes shut, too terrified to ask who had just died in the dark.
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Warm blood splattered across my hands, and I stopped breathing entirely.
"Mommy?" Lily whimpered softly in the blackness.
