Chapter 7 - The Dead End
Derek stared at the glowing dashboard radio in absolute, paralyzed disbelief.
The military was not just trying to arrest him; General Hale had officially declared him dead to the world.
This meant Hale had dispatched a black-ops wet squad to ensure Derek actually died tonight without a messy public trial.
Derek slammed his foot on the accelerator, tearing out of the gas station and flying blindly down the dark, winding mountain road.
He needed to reach the shipping yard and get out of the country before Hale's assassins found him.
As he approached a steep, treacherous curve on the mountain pass, he pressed his foot hard against the brake pedal.
The pedal pushed completely down to the floorboard without the slightest bit of resistance.
Derek pumped the brakes frantically, but the heavy maintenance truck continued accelerating aggressively downhill.
Someone had severed the brake lines while he was using the payphone.
The truck smashed violently through the metal guardrail, launching off the steep edge of the cliff into the pitch-black night.
Derek crossed his arms over his face just as the heavy vehicle slammed brutally into the dense forest canopy.
The truck rolled multiple times, shattering glass and crushing metal before finally slamming into the muddy ground.
Derek hung upside down in his seatbelt, coughing up blood as thick smoke filled the ruined cabin.
He unbuckled the belt and crashed heavily onto the crushed roof of the truck.
Every bone in his body ached, and a deep, jagged cut poured warm blood down the side of his face.
He kicked the shattered windshield out of its frame and dragged his battered body into the freezing rain.
He knew Hale's cleanup crew would be arriving in minutes to confirm the kill.
He had no money, no passport, and his only bargaining chip was buried in the burning wreckage.
Running away was no longer an option, because a dead man had absolutely nowhere left to hide.
Derek checked his service weapon, relieved to find it fully loaded and completely functional.
If he was going down tonight, he was going to take the people who orchestrated his ruin down with him.
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He began the painful, agonizing trek back toward the wealthy suburbs of the city.
He was going straight to Eleanor Bennett’s private estate to force her to broadcast the truth about General Hale.
