Chapter 6 - A Descent into Madness
Adrian stood in the cabin, gripping a smoking revolver with trembling, blood-stained hands.
He had somehow realized he was being double-crossed and fought his way back to the main airfield.
Vanessa collapsed into the leather seat, clutching her bleeding shoulder and cursing his name.
Adrian didn't even look at her; his manic gaze was locked entirely on me.
He demanded that I hand over the silver flash drive immediately.
He screamed that I had ruined his life, his business, and his perfect reputation.
Marcus raised his rifle again, warning Adrian to drop the revolver before he put a bullet between his eyes.
Adrian just laughed, a broken, hysterical sound that sent shivers down my spine.
He pulled a small tablet from his pocket and tossed it onto the floor at my feet.
The screen displayed a live video feed of my sister, Lily, tied to a chair in a dark, concrete room.
Standing directly behind her was one of the cartel mercenaries, holding a blade to her throat.
Adrian explained that if he didn't transmit a specific code in the next five minutes, the mercenary would kill her.
He told me the code was hidden inside the encrypted files on the flash drive in my hand.
He had brilliantly set up a dead-man's switch to ensure his own survival against the cartels.
I was paralyzed by the impossible choice laid out in front of me.
If I gave him the drive, he would escape with billions and leave me to die on this wired plane.
If I refused, I would watch my innocent sister die on a live video feed.
Vanessa coughed up blood, weakly whispering that Adrian was lying and didn't actually know the abort code.
She urged me to run while Marcus distracted him, claiming it was the only way to survive.
I ignored her, staring deep into Adrian's desperate, bloodshot eyes.
I slowly lowered my hand, offering the silver flash drive out toward him.
Marcus yelled at me to stop, saying I couldn't trust a single word out of Adrian's mouth.
I told Marcus to stand down, taking a slow step toward the man I almost married.
Adrian smiled victoriously, reaching out to snatch the drive from my trembling fingers.
The moment his fingers touched the metal, I didn't let go.
Instead, I used my free hand to grab the heavy champagne bottle resting on the table beside Vanessa.
I swung it with every ounce of strength I had, smashing it directly against the side of Adrian's head.
The thick glass shattered upon impact, sending him crashing heavily to the floor.
His revolver clattered across the aisle, sliding safely out of his reach.
I dove for the tablet on the floor, frantically studying the background of the live video feed.
I noticed a distinct, flashing neon sign visible through a small window behind the mercenary.
It was the sign for an abandoned brewery located just three miles from the airfield.
I tossed the tablet to Marcus, yelling at him to go secure my sister immediately.
Marcus nodded, scooped up the tablet, and sprinted out of the plane without a second thought.
I stood alone in the cabin with the bleeding mistress and my unconscious fiancé.
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Suddenly, the cabin door slammed shut behind me, and the locking mechanism clicked ominously.
I spun around just in time to see the backup pilot standing in the cockpit doorway, holding a stun gun.
