Chapter 3 - The Bloodline
Mira dropped the medical folder onto the stone floor as panic consumed her.
She spun around and raised the silver pistol with severely trembling hands.
Tariq stood in the doorway of the vault, accompanied by six heavily armed mercenaries.
A cruel, victorious smile spread across the security chief's scarred face.
"I knew you would eventually lead us right to the vault, Samir," Tariq sneered.
Samir stepped protectively in front of Mira, completely shielding her from the weapons.
"You are committing treason, Tariq," Samir declared with absolute authority.
Tariq laughed a dark, menacing laugh that echoed off the cold stone walls.
"Treason is a matter of perspective, especially when the true heir is about to suffer a tragic accident."
Tariq raised his hand, signaling his ruthless mercenaries to open fire on them.
Samir lunged forward and tackled Mira aggressively to the hard ground.
Deafening gunshots completely shattered the eerie silence of the underground catacombs.
Sparks flew wildly as bullets ricocheted off the ancient stone pillars around them.
Mira covered her ears and screamed as dust and debris rained down on her head.
She heard a sharp gasp of pain and saw Samir clutching his shoulder.
Dark crimson blood rapidly soaked through his expensive white silk shirt.
He had taken a bullet meant to kill her.
Tariq ordered his men to cease fire and slowly stepped into the vault to finish the job.
He aimed his pistol directly at Mira's head as she knelt helplessly beside bleeding Samir.
Suddenly, the lights in the catacombs flickered and died, plunging the room into absolute pitch black.
A strange, suffocating smoke rapidly filled the confined underground space.
The mercenaries began shouting in confusion and choking on the dense chemical fumes.
Mira felt a strong, unknown hand grab her aggressively by the collar of her uniform.
She was dragged forcefully through a hidden crack in the wall just as Tariq fired blindly into the dark.
The stranger pulled them into a safe, dimly lit maintenance tunnel and sealed the entrance.
Mira gasped for clean air and finally looked up at the mysterious person who had just saved their lives.
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The woman pulled down her tactical mask, revealing a deeply scarred, older face.
Mira stopped breathing entirely, staring at a woman who looked exactly like her supposedly dead mother.
