Chapter 9 - The Sacrifice
The burning roof groaned loudly, threatening to completely collapse onto them at any second.
Adrian pulled Evelyn and Tessa behind a massive steel shipping container for temporary cover.
The air was growing incredibly thin, making it completely impossible to breathe properly.
Adrian frantically searched the floorboards, desperately looking for an old drainage hatch he knew existed.
He finally found the rusted metal ring and pulled with every ounce of his remaining strength.
The heavy grate lifted, revealing a dark, muddy tunnel that led directly to the nearby river.
Adrian shoved Tessa down into the hole first, ordering her to crawl as fast as she could.
He then turned to Evelyn, his face covered in dark soot and fresh blood.
He kissed her passionately, tasting like smoke and heartbreaking desperation.
He told her he had to stay behind to manually hold the heavy grate open so it would not crush her.
Evelyn violently shook her head, tears streaming down her dirty face.
She fiercely declared that she had never been kissed before him, and she was not going to lose him now.
She noticed a thick metal pipe nearby and quickly wedged it under the heavy iron grate.
The makeshift brace held the heavy door open just long enough for both of them to slide into the dark tunnel.
They crawled through the suffocating mud as the entire warehouse completely collapsed above them in a deafening roar.
They finally emerged on the muddy banks of the cold river, gasping for fresh, sweet air.
They held each other tightly as police sirens wailed loudly in the distance.
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Suddenly, a cold, metallic gun barrel pressed firmly against the back of Evelyn's head.
Sterling's top lieutenant stepped out of the shadows, smiling a wicked, toothless smile.
