Chapter 5 - The Locked Cage
My father reacted with terrifying speed, stepping in front of my stretcher to block the needle.
He grabbed the fake paramedic's wrist and twisted it violently until a loud snap echoed in the small elevator.
The man screamed in agony, dropping the syringe onto the metal floor.
The liquid hissed as it spilled, eating through the rubber matting like acid.
My father shoved the man against the elevator wall and knocked him unconscious with a single, devastating punch.
He quickly searched the man's pockets and pulled out an encrypted two-way radio.
"They hacked the elevator controls," my father muttered, prying open the emergency panel.
The radio suddenly crackled to life, echoing with a dark, raspy voice.
"Colonel Bennett, I hope you are enjoying the ride," the voice taunted.
"My men are waiting for you in the basement parking garage, and you have nowhere left to run."
My father grabbed the radio and spoke directly into the microphone.
"If you touch one hair on my daughter's head, I will bring the entire United States military down on you."
The man on the radio laughed coldly.
"I run this city, Colonel, and your military authority means nothing in my territory."
My father dropped the radio and began hot-wiring the elevator override switch.
He managed to bypass the system, sending the elevator moving upward toward the roof instead of down to the basement.
The doors opened onto the cold, windy rooftop, revealing a waiting military extraction helicopter.
My father had planned for every possible disaster, calling in a private favor from his commanding general.
The crew rushed forward and helped load my stretcher into the back of the chopper.
As we lifted off, I looked down at the dark streets of Chicago shrinking below us.
I grabbed my father's hand, thanking him for saving my life over and over again.
He smiled softly, but the expression on his face remained incredibly tense.
He looked at the pilot and asked for an estimated time of arrival at the secure military base.
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The pilot turned around, revealing a face completely covered by a black tactical mask.
"We aren't going to the military base, Colonel," the pilot said, drawing a pistol.
