Chapter 9 - The Sacrifice
"Get down!" Elias roared.
The thermal grenade detonated inside the vat. It wasn't an explosive blast, but a horrific chemical reaction. The vat ruptured violently, spewing a geyser of boiling, highly toxic, deep crimson liquid into the air.
The factory alarms shrieked. Emergency lockdown steel doors began slamming shut across the exits.
"The fumes are highly corrosive! The ventilation system is locking down!" Elias yelled over the deafening sirens, dragging one of the mercenaries toward a side exit.
The factory floor was rapidly filling with a thick, red, choking smoke. Serena laughed hysterically, backing away toward a service elevator. "Enjoy your empire, Ronnie!"
Maya was closest to the ruptured vat. A wave of boiling chemicals splashed across the steel walkway, cutting off her escape route. She coughed violently, dropping to her knees as the toxic smoke burned her lungs.
"Maya!" Veronica screamed.
Veronica didn't think. The ruthless, calculated ice queen vanished. She sprinted through the blinding, burning red smoke, her ivory silk coat instantly dissolving and scorching as the caustic chemicals hit the fabric. She felt the searing agony on her arms and legs, but she ignored it.
She reached Maya, pulling the gasping girl to her feet.
"Aunt Veronica, it burns!" Maya cried.
"I've got you," Veronica rasped, throwing her ruined coat over Maya’s head to protect her face.
Veronica half-carried, half-dragged Maya through the maze of machinery. The smoke was blinding. Every breath felt like inhaling broken glass. They reached the heavy steel emergency doors just as they were sliding shut.
Veronica shoved Maya through the narrow gap. "Go! Run to Elias!"
Maya tumbled out into the cool, clean night air. She turned back, holding her hand out. "Come on!"
But the gap was too small. Veronica looked at Maya, a sad, exhausted smile crossing her blistered face.
"I didn't try hard enough to save her that night, Maya," Veronica whispered, the heavy steel door groaning as it closed. "I won't make the same mistake with you."
The door slammed shut with a definitive, metallic boom, sealing Veronica inside the burning red inferno.
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"No!" Maya screamed, pounding her fists against the unyielding steel. "Elias! Get her out! Get her out!"
Elias and his men rushed the door with hydraulic rams, the frantic sounds of metal tearing echoing into the night as the AURAINE factory burned against the London sky.
