Chapter 9 - The Last Ghost
The gunshot echoed off the prison walls and caused the entire courtyard to freeze in terror.
Elias felt a sharp burning sensation graze his ribs but the bullet miraculously missed his vital organs.
FBI agents immediately raised their weapons and aimed their flashlights toward the dark corner of the yard.
Officer Miller stepped out of the shadows holding a smoking revolver with a trembling hand.
"I cannot let you expose the network, Commander Thorne," the corrupt guard cried hysterically.
"They will kill my family if I do not finish the job Julian started."
Miller cocked the hammer of his weapon and aimed it directly at Elias's chest for a fatal shot.
Before Miller could pull the trigger a massive shadow completely eclipsed him from behind.
Marcus Vance wrapped his giant blood-stained hands around the guard's wrist and crushed it effortlessly.
The revolver fell to the concrete and Marcus tossed Miller into the arms of the waiting SWAT officers.
Marcus clutched his bleeding shoulder but managed to flash a wide and victorious smile at Elias.
"I told you I would watch your back, Grandpa," Marcus chuckled before leaning heavily against a police cruiser.
The FBI director secured the portable drive and ordered his medics to attend to the injured men.
Julian Cross was placed in heavy iron chains and dragged away to a maximum security transport van.
The evidence on the drive immediately cleared both Elias and Marcus of the Warden's murder.
It also exposed a massive web of political corruption that Julian had been orchestrating for years.
The morning sun slowly rose over Blackgate Penitentiary and cast a warm golden light over the ruined walls.
Elias stood outside the main gates as a free man and took a deep breath of crisp fresh air.
The heavy steel doors buzzed open one final time and Marcus walked out wearing civilian clothes.
The governor had granted Marcus an emergency medical pardon for saving hundreds of inmates from the fire.
"So what does a legendary ghost do when he finally retires for real?" Marcus asked as he shook Elias's hand.
"I think I am going to buy a small diner and serve terrible coffee," Elias smiled warmly.
They parted ways as brothers forged in the absolute darkest fires of hell.
Six months later the entire criminal syndicate run by Julian Cross was completely dismantled by federal authorities.
Elias finally found peace in a quiet little coastal town far away from violence and death.
He was wiping down the counter of his small diner when the bell above the door chimed loudly.
A man wearing a dark trench coat walked in and placed a sealed black envelope on the counter.
Elias opened the envelope and pulled out a recent photograph of a beautiful woman.
It was his daughter who had supposedly died in a car crash over fifteen years ago.
May you like
The handwritten note on the back of the photo made Elias's blood run completely cold.
"She is waiting for you in Moscow, Commander."
