Chapter 6 - The Ticking Clock
Adele did not say a single word.
She raised the heavy shotgun and pulled the trigger, sending a deafening blast through the kitchen.
Silas was thrown backward down the basement stairs, his weapon clattering harmlessly against the wall.
Adele quickly pumped another shell into the chamber and turned to look at us.
"Are you and the boy hurt?" she asked, her voice sharp and commanding.
"We are okay, but the Chief is down there with him," I stammered, pulling Oliver close to my chest.
Adele grabbed my arm and dragged us toward the front window of the living room.
"The Chief knew the risks when he signed up to protect me," Adele said grimly.
"Silas was wearing a dead-man switch on his belt."
She pointed to a small blinking red light attached to the main load-bearing pillar in the center of the room.
It was a block of C4 explosive, and the digital timer read exactly forty-five seconds.
"We have to go right now," Adele ordered, smashing the front window with the butt of her shotgun.
She practically threw me and Oliver out onto the front lawn, diving into the grass right behind us.
We covered our heads and pressed our bodies flat against the cold earth.
A massive shockwave ripped through the neighborhood, followed by a deafening roar.
Adele's yellow house exploded into a brilliant ball of orange fire and splintered wood.
Debris rained down around us, shattering the windshields of parked cars and filling the air with thick gray smoke.
I coughed and sat up, checking Oliver for any injuries.
He was covered in dust, but he was completely unharmed.
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I let out a sob of relief, but my joy was immediately cut short.
Through the smoke, three black armored SUVs screeched to a halt, completely surrounding our front yard.
