Chapter 4 - The Escape Route
The remaining three mercenaries spun around in total shock and confusion. Elias had somehow drawn a massive silver revolver from his coat in a fraction of a second. He moved with a lethal, graceful fluidity that entirely defied his apparent old age. Two more deafening shots rang out, and two more elite mercenaries hit the floor instantly. The very last mercenary frantically scrambled for cover behind the crushed service counter. "Boy, get over here right now!" Elias barked at Noah with a voice full of absolute authority. Noah did not hesitate for a single second and crawled frantically toward the old man. Bullets chewed aggressively through the vinyl booths as the hidden mercenary fired blindly. Elias grabbed Noah roughly by the collar and dragged him toward the kitchen area. "Why are these people trying to kill us?" Noah yelled desperately over the deafening gunfire. "They want what I am carrying, and now you are an unfortunate loose end," Elias replied grimly. Elias kicked open the heavy metal door of the diner's industrial walk-in freezer. He quickly pulled Noah inside and slammed the thick door, locking it from the inside. The freezing, biting air instantly chilled Noah's skin through his thin uniform shirt. "We are trapped in here like rats," Noah panicked, seeing absolutely no other exit. Elias simply smirked and pressed a hidden button underneath the metal shelving unit. The entire back wall of the freezer suddenly slid open, revealing a dark, descending staircase. "Welcome to the real underworld of this city," Elias whispered with a mysterious glint in his eye. Before they could take a single step down, heavy tactical explosives detonated outside. The immense blast blew the freezer door clean off its thick steel hinges.
