Chapter 5 - The Desperate Escape
Julian grabbed Elena's hand and dragged her out of the dead vehicle just as the black SUVs converged.
They sprinted down a narrow, rain-slicked alleyway lined with overflowing trash dumpsters.
Heavy boots splashed through the puddles behind them as Victor's mercenaries gave chase.
Julian pulled Elena behind a rusted fire escape ladder, pressing a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.
Two armed men ran past their hiding spot, shining their flashlights into the heavy rain.
Julian knew they could not keep running through the open streets like hunted animals.
He looked up and saw a small, flickering neon sign for a late-night subway station.
He guided Elena down the concrete stairs into the humid, echoing underground terminal.
The station was mostly empty, smelling intensely of ozone and wet pavement.
They jumped the turnstile and rushed toward the platform just as a southbound train was pulling in.
Julian pushed Elena through the sliding doors the second they opened.
Just as Julian stepped on, a massive mercenary tackled him fiercely from behind.
The two men crashed onto the dirty floor of the train car, trading brutal, heavy punches.
The mercenary pulled a tactical knife, swinging it wildly at Julian's throat.
Julian used his powerful legs to kick the man squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward out the doors.
The electronic chime rang, and the train doors slid shut, separating them from the attacker.
Julian slumped against the plastic seats, breathing heavily and bleeding from a fresh cut on his jaw.
Elena rushed to his side, tearing a piece of her expensive dress to bandage his wound.
She cried quietly, terrified that they would never see their little boy alive again.
Julian pulled her into his arms, promising her on his life that he would bring Leo back safely.
He borrowed a phone from a sleeping passenger across the aisle and logged into a secret, untraceable email server.
He contacted an old friend from his youth who ran a network of underground street racers.
The friend agreed to meet them at the end of the subway line with untraceable transport and heavy weapons.
The train screeched to a halt at the final station, located in the industrial district of the city.
Julian and Elena stepped out into the cold night air, looking for his friend's customized car.
They spotted a heavily modified, matte black muscle car idling under a broken streetlamp.
Julian smiled with relief and walked toward the vehicle to greet his old friend.
The driver's side window slowly rolled down, revealing the person behind the wheel.
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It was not Julian's old friend sitting in the driver's seat.
It was a terrifyingly calm Victor, holding a suppressed pistol aimed directly at Elena's chest.
