Chapter 8 - The Sky and the Earth
The wind roared like a furious monster as Elias dangled precariously beneath the ascending helicopter.
His injured shoulder screamed in agony with every sudden sway of the aircraft.
Below him the burning courtyard of Blackgate Penitentiary looked like a glowing pit of hell.
Julian looked out the open side door of the chopper and his eyes widened in absolute shock.
"You simply refuse to die like a normal man!" Julian screamed over the deafening rotors.
Julian leaned out of the cabin and aimed his silver pistol directly at Elias's head.
Elias swung his body with all his remaining strength and kicked Julian's wrist hard.
The pistol fired wildly into the dark sky before slipping from Julian's grasp and plummeting to the earth.
Furious and desperate Julian grabbed a heavy metal fire axe from the emergency wall mount.
He swung the axe down viciously toward the landing gear where Elias's hands were gripping.
Elias let go with his right hand just in time to avoid losing his fingers.
The sharp blade sparked brightly against the metal strut.
Elias used the momentum to swing his body upward and grabbed the edge of the cabin floor.
He pulled himself into the helicopter just as Julian prepared to swing the axe a second time.
Elias tackled his former student and sent them both crashing violently into the copilot's seat.
The pilot panicked and jerked the flight stick causing the helicopter to spin wildly out of control.
"You destroyed everything we built!" Julian roared as he wrapped his hands around Elias's throat.
"I built an honorable unit and you turned it into a cartel," Elias choked out as his vision darkened.
Elias reached into his pocket and pulled out the heavy gold coin he had used in the cafeteria.
He slammed the solid metal edge of the coin directly into Julian's temple with brutal force.
Julian's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed heavily onto the cabin floor.
Elias quickly climbed into the cockpit and shoved the terrified pilot aside.
He grabbed the flight controls and fought to stabilize the spinning aircraft before it crashed into the mountains.
With sheer willpower and decades of flight experience Elias leveled the helicopter just above the tree line.
He turned the chopper around and flew it directly back toward the prison courtyard.
The FBI and SWAT teams had completely secured the area and were arresting the remaining mercenaries.
Elias gently landed the helicopter in the center of the yard under the glare of dozens of spotlights.
He stepped out of the cabin dragging the unconscious body of Julian Cross by the collar.
The FBI director pushed through the crowd of heavily armed agents and stared at Elias in pure disbelief.
Elias tossed the portable drive containing all the evidence directly into the director's hands.
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"I believe you will find the real criminal mastermind on that drive, Director," Elias said calmly.
But before the Director could speak a loud gunshot echoed from the darkest corner of the courtyard.
