Chapter 5 - Hide and Seek
Dominic and Clare both froze, staring intently up at the large brass ventilation grate near the high ceiling.
The faint sound of tiny, scrambling hands echoed down the aluminum ductwork inside the walls.
Clare gasped softly and stepped forward, tears of desperate hope welling up in her red, swollen eyes.
Dominic quickly raised a finger to his lips, silently ordering her to remain absolutely quiet to avoid drawing attention.
He knew the mercenaries were highly trained killers who would be actively listening for any signs of movement.
He quietly dragged a heavy, antique wooden chair directly underneath the high ventilation grate.
Ignoring the burning warning signs from his healing leg, he climbed up onto the chair to reach the metal cover.
He used the butt of his pistol to carefully pry the decorative brass screws loose from the plaster wall.
The grate swung open with a soft squeak, revealing total darkness inside the narrow, dusty shaft.
He whispered Ellie's name as softly as he could, praying the little girl would recognize his deep voice.
A tiny, terrified sniffle echoed from the dark void, followed by the faint click of a metal buckle.
Ellie slowly crawled forward into the dim light, her little face covered entirely in gray dust and soot.
She reached her small arms out toward Dominic, looking remarkably brave despite the absolute nightmare surrounding them.
Dominic gently pulled the child out of the wall, wrapping his strong arm protectively around her small frame.
He handed the trembling girl down to her mother, who immediately buried her face in Ellie's dusty blonde hair.
Clare wept silently, rocking her daughter back and forth while whispering endless prayers of gratitude.
Dominic stepped down from the chair and quickly ushered them toward the back exit of the grand library.
He informed Clare that they needed to reach the heavily fortified panic room located deep beneath the wine cellar.
The panic room was built to withstand a military siege and had a dedicated, hardwired communication line to the police.
They moved stealthily through the dark, opulent hallways, avoiding the main staircases where patrols were likely stationed.
Clare proved to be surprisingly resourceful, guiding them through the narrow service corridors she used for cleaning.
They successfully evaded two different heavily armed patrols by hiding silently inside a darkened linen closet.
As they crept closer to the basement stairs, Dominic noticed a strange, blinking red light attached to a load-bearing pillar.
He knelt down to inspect it and felt his blood run cold when he recognized the military-grade plastic explosive.
The mercenaries were not just here to assassinate the leadership; they were planning to level the entire estate.
They were systematically wiring the structural columns to erase all evidence of their violent, bloody incursion.
Dominic realized they had less than ten minutes before the entire mansion collapsed into a burning pile of rubble.
He grabbed Clare's hand and urged her to move faster, abandoning stealth for pure, desperate speed.
They sprinted down the final hallway leading toward the heavy oak door of the basement wine cellar.
Dominic reached out and grabbed the brass doorknob, turning it quickly to push the heavy door open.
Before he could step through the doorway, a blinding spotlight hit him squarely in the face from the dark cellar stairs.
A cold, metallic voice echoed from the bottom of the staircase, ordering him to drop his weapon instantly.
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Dominic slowly lowered his gun, realizing that three laser sights were pointed directly at his chest.
A tall figure stepped out of the shadows, clapping slowly and mockingly as he ascended the wooden stairs.
