Chapter 4 - The Underground Labyrinth
Elara stared at the face she had mourned every day of her life.
Julian looked older, his face hardened by a jagged scar running down his cheek.
"Julian?" Elara choked out, her vision blurring with sudden tears.
"Lower your voice, they are sweeping the tunnels," Julian ordered, keeping his gun raised.
Candidate 03 grabbed Elara's arm, ready to run the other way.
"You're alive," Elara whispered, stepping closer to the barrel of his weapon.
"Why didn't you come find me?"
Julian's expression remained perfectly cold.
"I did find you, Elara, exactly when Alexis told me you would surface."
The betrayal hit Elara harder than any bullet could have.
Her own brother was working for the monster who destroyed their family.
"He promised me the original deeds to the reserve if I brought you to him alive," Julian explained.
He gestured with his gun toward a heavy security door at the end of the hall.
"Walk."
Elara wiped her tears, her sadness instantly transforming into cold, calculated rage.
They walked through the labyrinth of underground maintenance tunnels.
Julian keyed a code into an electronic keypad, opening a massive steel vault.
Inside was a private elevator leading directly to the billionaire's penthouse suite.
"Get in," Julian commanded.
Elara stepped into the elevator, pulling Candidate 03 safely behind her.
Julian stepped in last, turning his back for a fraction of a second to press the top floor button.
Elara did not hesitate.
She drove her elbow viciously into her brother's throat.
Julian gasped, dropping the silver handgun as he fell against the mirrored wall.
Elara kicked the gun out into the hallway just as the elevator doors began to close.
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Julian recovered faster than she anticipated, pulling a hidden combat knife from his boot.
He lunged at her with lethal intent.
