Chapter 9 - The Runway Chase
The roaring flames devoured the underground corridor rapidly, creating an intense, suffocating wall of blistering heat.
Mark knew they could not run back the way they came without being burned completely alive in the horrific inferno.
"Stay exactly behind me!" Mark yelled to Sarah over the deafening roar of the massive fire.
He grabbed a heavy, thick wool emergency blanket from a nearby supply cart and threw it entirely over both of their heads.
Using the heavy metal fire extinguisher as a battering ram, Mark charged blindly straight through the weakest part of the burning wall.
They burst aggressively through a set of burning wooden doors, tumbling violently into a massive, underground laundry facility.
The air here was still breathable, and Mark spotted a large industrial freight elevator used for transporting heavy hospital linens to the surface.
He slammed his fist aggressively onto the call button, praying the raging fire had not yet destroyed the electrical grid.
The massive metal doors groaned loudly and slowly slid open, welcoming them into the dark, spacious metal box.
As the elevator slowly ascended toward the loading dock, the entire hospital building shook violently from a massive structural collapse below.
They emerged onto the rainy loading dock, greeted by the chaotic, terrifying sight of the entire Blackwood Institute completely engulfed in raging flames.
Mark spotted a heavy, armored security transport van parked haphazardly near the exit gates, its engine still running perfectly.
He shoved Sarah safely into the passenger seat and jumped aggressively behind the steering wheel, throwing the heavy vehicle into gear.
He slammed his foot firmly onto the gas pedal, crashing the massive armored van directly through the heavy chain-link security gates.
"Which way to the hidden airstrip?" Mark demanded, his eyes fiercely scanning the dark, treacherous mountain road.
"Take the next dirt logging road on the left, it leads straight into the dense valley," Sarah directed, gripping the dashboard tightly.
Mark steered the heavy vehicle aggressively onto the slick, muddy path, tearing fiercely through the thick, dark pine forest.
The van fishtailed wildly in the thick mud, but Mark's sheer, terrifying determination kept them completely on track.
"Jax, are you still there?" Mark yelled desperately into his earpiece, hoping the connection had survived the fire.
"I am here, Mark, and I have already dispatched a massive federal tactical team to the airstrip," Jax responded quickly.
"But they are exactly ten minutes away, and the private jet is already actively preparing for immediate takeoff."
Mark pressed the accelerator entirely to the floor, pushing the heavy armored van far beyond its maximum intended speed.
They finally burst completely out of the dense tree line, arriving at a highly illuminated, secluded private runway carved into the valley.
A sleek, massive luxury private jet was sitting at the very end of the long tarmac, its powerful engines whining loudly as they spooled up for flight.
Through the bright, blinding rain, Mark could clearly see Richard aggressively dragging a crying, terrified Lily up the mobile boarding stairs.
"He is taking her!" Mark roared in absolute panic, slamming his hands fiercely against the steering wheel.
He drove the heavy van directly onto the active runway, speeding desperately toward the accelerating aircraft.
The massive jet began to roll forward slowly, gaining terrifying speed as it prepared to leave the country forever with his little girl.
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Mark realized he would never be able to catch the speeding plane from behind before it successfully lifted off the ground.
In a desperate, incredibly reckless maneuver, Mark violently jerked the steering wheel to the right, steering the heavy van directly into the path of the accelerating jet's front landing gear.
