Chapter 4 - The Underground Escape
Emily screamed and rushed forward to tear the heavy duct tape from her brother's terrified face.
Leo gasped for air, his eyes wide with absolute panic as he hugged his sister tightly.
"Vivian's men kidnapped me last night and locked me down here to ensure you kept your mouth shut," Leo cried.
Christopher realized the true extent of the bravery Emily had shown in the dining room that morning.
She had risked her own brother's life to save a billionaire she barely even knew.
"I owe you a debt I can never possibly repay," Christopher said, looking deeply into her tear-filled eyes.
Emily wiped her face and stood up with a fierce, unwavering determination.
"We cannot just sit in this dark vault waiting to run out of oxygen," she stated firmly.
Christopher pointed his flashlight toward a rusted iron grate set deep into the floor of the vault.
"That old drainage pipe connects directly to the estate's private underground marina," he explained.
They worked together to pry the heavy iron grate open using a metal pry bar found in the corner.
The pipe was incredibly narrow, slick with ancient moss, and smelled heavily of stagnant water.
Christopher insisted on going first to clear any dangerous obstacles in their path.
They crawled on their hands and knees for what felt like several agonizing hours in the pitch black.
The sound of rushing water slowly grew louder, giving them a small glimmer of desperate hope.
They finally tumbled out of the pipe and landed on the damp concrete dock of the underground marina.
A sleek, black speedboat was moored perfectly in the water, fully fueled and ready for a rapid escape.
Christopher quickly hotwired the expensive boat engine and motioned for Emily and Leo to jump aboard.
Before he could untie the heavy docking ropes, the massive floodlights of the marina suddenly snapped on.
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Vivian stood on the overlooking balcony with a sniper rifle aimed directly at Emily's chest.
"Did you honestly think I would leave this exit unguarded?" the wicked woman laughed coldly.
