Chapter 6 - Fire and Blood
The overpowering stench of gasoline coated the back of Norah's throat, making her gag.
The syndicate henchmen were not planning to search the basement, they were planning to incinerate it.
She heard the heavy basement door at the top of the concrete stairs slam open.
"Burn the evidence!" a rough voice shouted from the landing above.
Norah moved with desperate, frantic energy, grabbing Declan by the collar of his ruined shirt.
She spotted the massive, industrial-sized washing machines lined up against the far wall.
She threw open the heavy circular glass door of the largest machine and shoved Declan inside.
A small, glowing object bounced down the concrete stairs, illuminating the darkness for a split second.
It was a standard silver lighter, spinning end over end.
Norah dove headfirst into the washing machine just as the lighter hit the soaked concrete floor.
The entire basement erupted into a blinding, deafening inferno.
The force of the explosion rocked the heavy machine, slamming Norah against Declan in the cramped metal drum.
Thick black smoke instantly filled the room outside the thick glass door, completely obscuring their view.
The metal walls of the washer grew terrifyingly hot within seconds.
"We will roast alive in here," Declan choked out, struggling to breathe the limited air.
Norah kicked the glass door open, squinting against the blinding wall of orange flames.
She grabbed a heavy, soaking wet fire blanket from a nearby emergency hook and threw it over both of them.
"Stay low and move toward the ventilation grate!" she yelled over the roaring fire.
They crawled on their stomachs across the scorching floor, the wet blanket shielding them from the worst of the flames.
Norah kicked out the metal grate of the air duct and pushed Declan inside, scrambling in behind him.
They dragged themselves through the narrow, dusty shaft, coughing violently as smoke trailed behind them.
The duct finally opened up, dropping them unceremoniously onto the cold concrete of the underground garage.
The cool, clean air felt like an absolute miracle to Norah's burning lungs.
She looked up and saw Declan's sleek, black armored SUV parked near the exit ramp.
"We made it," Norah gasped, stumbling toward the vehicle.
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She reached the car and felt her entire world collapse into absolute despair.
Every single tire on the armored vehicle had been completely slashed to the rims.
