Chapter 1 - The Locked Door
The heavy click of the door latch echoed like a gunshot in the sterile hospital room.
My heart hammered aggressively against my ribs as the two security officers crossed their muscular arms.
They completely blocked the only exit.
The doctor stared at my mother with an intensity that made my blood run cold.
"I will ask you one more time," the doctor said.
"Where did you get the syndicate mark?"
My mother refused to look at him.
Her trembling fingers desperately tried to pull her sleeve back down over the tiny blue flower.
"I do not know what you are talking about," she whispered.
The doctor let out a harsh, mocking laugh.
He reached into the deep pocket of his white medical coat.
He did not pull out a stethoscope or a knee brace.
He pulled out a thick glass syringe filled with a glowing, neon green liquid.
"The Syndicate has been hunting for you for twenty-two years, Helen," the doctor stated coldly.
I could not just stand there and watch this lunatic threaten my mother.
I grabbed the heavy metal IV pole standing next to the hospital bed.
I swung it with all my strength directly into the doctor's face.
The metal crashed into his jaw with a sickening crunch.
He dropped the glowing syringe and collapsed onto the sterile linoleum floor.
The two security officers immediately lunged forward to grab me.
My mother suddenly leaped from the bed with an athletic grace I had never seen her display.
She drove her elbow viciously into the first guard's throat.
As he gagged and fell, she swept the legs out from under the second guard.
Both massive men were groaning on the floor in a matter of seconds.
I stared at my quiet, suburban mother in absolute shock.
"Do not just stand there, Sarah," she ordered sharply.
"We have to leave this building right now."
We sprinted out into the bustling hospital corridor.
Nurses and patients screamed and scattered as we ran toward the emergency stairwell.
We burst through the heavy fire doors and raced down three flights of concrete stairs.
I pushed the heavy exit door open, expecting to find the safety of the parking garage.
May you like
Instead, I found my fiancé standing directly in front of our car.
Mark was pointing a black handgun straight at my mother's chest.
