Chapter 8 - The Countdown
Elara burst through the shattered glass doors of the lobby, sprinting across the manicured lawn.
"Alexis!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the roar of the helicopter blades.
The billionaire paused, turning his cold, arrogant gaze toward her.
He smiled, raising the remote detonator high in the air.
"You are surprisingly resilient, Elara," he yelled over the engine noise.
The digital timer on the facility's main clock showed exactly two minutes remaining.
"You won't escape this, Alexis!" she shouted, closing the distance between them.
"I already have," he sneered, preparing to press the button and detonate the bombs early.
Suddenly, a massive, golden blur exploded from the bushes to Elara's right.
Hélio had somehow shaken off the tranquilizer and navigated the chaotic maze of the estate.
The majestic lion leaped through the air, tackling Alexis violently to the concrete tarmac.
The silver briefcase flew open, scattering millions of dollars in untraceable bearer bonds into the wind.
The remote detonator skittered across the pavement, coming to rest near the spinning tail rotor of the chopper.
Alexis screamed in terror as Hélio pinned him down, baring his massive, lethal fangs.
Elara ran toward the detonator, knowing a single stray spark could trigger the explosion.
She dove onto the concrete, grabbing the small plastic device just inches from the deadly helicopter blades.
She looked at the digital readout on the remote.
It read zero minutes and thirty seconds.
The pilot of the helicopter drew a pistol and aimed it directly at Elara's head.
He fired a single shot, but his aim was thrown off as Candidate 03 smashed a landscaping rock into the cockpit window.
The bullet grazed Elara's temple, sending a blinding flash of pain behind her eyes.
She collapsed onto the tarmac, her vision swimming with dark spots.
Alexis used the distraction to strike Hélio in the nose with a hidden tactical knife.
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The lion roared in pain, stepping back just enough for the billionaire to scramble to his feet.
Alexis grabbed a heavy assault rifle from the floor of the helicopter and aimed it directly at Elara's heart.
