Chapter 9 - The Last Stand
The beams of multiple tactical flashlights cut through the darkness of the underground cistern.
Principal Hayes stepped into the light, his expensive suit now ruined, covered in soot and water.
He was flanked by three remaining mercenaries, all of whom had their assault rifles aimed squarely at David's chest.
Hayes laughed breathlessly, aiming his own weapon at the heavy iron gate trapping them.
He mocked David, stating that a man can only run so far before his past finally catches up to him.
David slowly pushed Lily and Julian behind him, his mind calculating impossible odds of survival.
He knew he could not fight four heavily armed men with his bare hands.
But as the principal stepped closer, Julian suddenly spoke up from the shadows.
The wealthy boy casually mentioned that his smartwatch was not just a flashlight, but a direct link to his father’s private security network.
Julian pressed a button on his wrist, and a loud, piercing alarm began echoing from the watch.
The boy calmly informed the principal that a team of heavily armed private military contractors was already breaching the school above them.
Hayes hesitated, his eyes darting toward the ceiling as if he could hear the boots stomping above.
That single moment of hesitation was all the opening David needed to strike.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small piece of C4 he had secretly removed from the teacher's vest earlier.
David slapped the explosive putty directly onto the titanium padlock securing the iron gate.
He jammed the severed green wire into the putty and sparked his silver lighter against the metal.
The principal screamed for his men to open fire, but the improvised explosive detonated instantly.
The blast shattered the titanium lock and blew the heavy iron gates wide open.
David grabbed Lily and Julian, diving through the opening just as a hail of bullets struck the metal bars.
The teacher followed closely behind, rushing into the massive concrete pipe that sloped upward toward the street level.
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They scrambled up the slick concrete incline, seeing the faint glow of streetlights pouring through a storm drain above.
But before David could reach the top, a rough hand grabbed his injured ankle and violently yanked him backward.
