Chapter 2 - The Blood in the Sand
The guards hesitated as the pride of lions formed a defensive wall around Elara.
"Fire, you idiots!" Alexis screamed through the stadium speakers.
The sound of automatic gunfire shattered the tense silence of the arena.
Bullets kicked up clouds of white sand around Elara's feet.
Hélio lunged forward with terrifying speed.
He tackled the closest guard to the ground before the man could pull his trigger.
The other lions followed suit, moving like synchronized shadows of death.
Panic erupted in the VIP stands as wealthy spectators rushed toward the exits.
Masked billionaires shoved each other aside, slipping on spilled champagne in their desperation to flee.
Elara grabbed the hand of a terrified woman beside her, Candidate 03.
"Stay behind me if you want to live," Elara commanded.
The young woman nodded frantically, tears streaming down her bruised face.
Elara picked up a discarded stun baton from a fallen guard.
She swung it upward, striking another mercenary perfectly under the jaw.
The man collapsed in a heap of black tactical gear.
Elara looked up at the balcony where Alexis was frantically dialing his phone.
Their eyes met through the reinforced glass.
She pointed the crackling stun baton directly at him.
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound echoed through the chaotic arena.
A heavy tranquilizer dart buried itself deep into Hélio's shoulder.
The massive lion stumbled, letting out a confused whine before collapsing heavily into the sand.
Three laser sights immediately locked onto Elara's forehead.
A voice boomed from the ground-level entrance behind her.
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"Drop the weapon, Miss Vance, or you die right here."
Elara turned slowly to see Marcus, the ruthless head of security, aiming a sniper rifle at her head.
