Chapter 8 - The Ascent
Laura stood on the handrail of the elevator car and pushed the ceiling hatch open with all her might.
She pulled herself up onto the dirty, grease-covered roof of the metal box.
The elevator shaft was pitch black, freezing cold, and smelled heavily of old machine oil.
"The manual override panel should be on the wall about twenty feet above you," Dr. Doyle called out from below.
Laura grabbed the thick steel hoisting cables and began the terrifying climb into the darkness.
Her hands were slick with grease and sweat, making every inch a deadly struggle.
Below her, she could hear the mercenaries prying at the outer doors on the fourth floor.
Sparks flew into the shaft as the hitmen used a portable blowtorch to cut through the heavy steel locks.
Laura ignored her burning muscles and forced herself to climb faster.
She finally reached a small metal catwalk bolted to the concrete wall of the shaft.
She swung her leg over the railing and collapsed onto the grating, gasping for air.
On the wall next to her was a large, red electrical box marked with the words "Emergency Override."
Laura opened the heavy metal cover and searched for the primary reset switch.
Before her fingers could flip the breaker, a loud metallic clang echoed from the catwalk above her.
Agent Vance dropped down from the upper floor, holding a tactical combat knife.
"You are incredibly stubborn, Laura, I will give you that," the corrupt agent sneered.
He lunged forward, swiping the razor-sharp blade dangerously close to her throat.
Laura dodged backward, completely trapped on the narrow metal platform suspended fifty feet in the air.
Vance kicked her hard in the chest, sending her sprawling across the steel grating.
He raised the knife high above his head, preparing to deliver the final, fatal blow.
Laura desperately kicked her leg out, catching Vance squarely in the knee.
The agent lost his balance and stumbled sideways, completely missing his target.
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His foot slipped on a patch of fresh grease, and he fell backward over the metal railing.
Vance screamed as he plummeted into the dark abyss, crashing violently onto the top of the elevator car below.
