Chapter 9 - The Final Dive
The small silver case tumbled through the rainy night air, reflecting the faint moonlight before plunging toward the deadly rapids.
I did not pause to consider the freezing temperature or the dangerous, jagged rocks hiding beneath the dark water.
I sprinted to the edge of the concrete platform and dove headfirst into the violent, churning river.
The icy water shocked my system instantly, stealing the breath completely from my burning lungs.
I fought desperately against the powerful, overwhelming current that tried to drag me down into the muddy depths.
I forced my eyes open underwater, searching frantically through the murky darkness for any sign of the silver case.
A faint glint of metal caught my attention just as the case was about to smash against a massive, submerged boulder.
I stretched my arm to its absolute physical limit, closing my fingers tightly around the padded case mere seconds before impact.
I kicked furiously toward the surface, breaking through the dark waves and gasping loudly for sweet, life-saving air.
I paddled exhaustedly toward the muddy riverbank, dragging my battered, freezing body out of the treacherous water.
I collapsed onto the wet stones, clutching the precious blue vials tightly against my freezing chest.
When I finally managed to look up, I found Elias standing directly over me with his gun aimed squarely at my face.
"You always were too stubborn to just die quietly," Elias sneered, ignoring the blood pouring from his own wounded shoulder.
He placed his finger heavily on the trigger, preparing to end my life and secure his criminal empire permanently.
A deafening gunshot echoed sharply through the cavernous storm drain, ringing painfully in my frozen ears.
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But it was Elias who suddenly gasped, dropping his weapon as a dark red stain blossomed across the center of his chest.
The traitor collapsed lifelessly onto the muddy riverbank, revealing Sarah standing weakly behind him with a smoking pistol in her trembling hands.
