Chapter 7 - The Hostage Situation
I kept my face completely blank, refusing to give the armed men the satisfaction of seeing my fear.
I walked stiffly toward the hidden service corridors, surrounded by the loud music and laughter of the gala.
They pushed me into a stainless steel elevator normally used by the kitchen staff.
"Where is the package your father promised us?" the taller man demanded as the doors slid shut.
"Ship security already confiscated it," I answered truthfully, keeping my voice steady.
The shorter man cursed loudly and slammed his fist against the metal wall of the elevator.
"Your father said you were a smart girl who would handle the delivery quietly," the tall man growled.
"My father is a pathological liar who is currently rotting in the ship's jail," I informed them.
The elevator lurched to a halt on the lowest deck, deep within the industrial bowels of the ship.
They dragged me into a dark laundry facility filled with massive, roaring washing machines.
"If we do not get our merchandise, we are taking you off this ship in a crate," the short man threatened.
He pulled a zip-tie out of his pocket and reached for my wrists.
I did not spend my entire adult life surviving my toxic family just to become collateral damage in their criminal schemes.
As he lunged forward, I grabbed a heavy iron steam wand hanging from the industrial press beside me.
I pulled the emergency release valve, spraying a massive cloud of scalding hot steam directly into his face.
He screamed in agony, dropping his weapon and falling to his knees.
The tall man raised his gun, completely blinded by the thick, hot fog filling the small room.
I swung the heavy iron wand like a baseball bat, striking him squarely in the temple.
He collapsed instantly, hitting the wet floor with a heavy thud.
I stepped over their unconscious bodies and ran toward the nearest emergency communication panel.
I smashed the glass with my shoe and hit the red lockdown button.
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A loud siren began to wail, and a heavy steel blast door began descending from the ceiling to seal the room.
Just as the door was about to close, a bloody hand reached underneath and grabbed my ankle.
