Chapter 3 - The Falling Shells
Declan moved with a violent, explosive speed that completely defied his massive injuries.
He shoved Norah flat against the floor, covering her fragile body with his own heavy frame.
He raised his handgun and fired three deafening shots directly upward through the opening in the ceiling.
The enclosed space magnified the gunshots until they felt like physical blows against her eardrums.
A man screamed from the roof of the cab, followed by the heavy thud of a body collapsing against the metal.
The assault rifle tumbled through the open hatch, clattering loudly onto the elevator floor just inches from Norah's head.
Empty brass shell casings rained down on them, burning hot against the expensive carpet.
Declan kept his weapon aimed at the ceiling, his breathing ragged and shallow from the sudden exertion.
Norah covered her ears, her entire body shaking uncontrollably as the smell of gunpowder filled the air.
She waited for a second wave of bullets to rain down on them, but the roof remained eerily silent.
Declan slowly rolled off her, clutching his bleeding side as a fresh wave of crimson soaked through her makeshift bandage.
He told her to grab the dropped rifle, knowing they would need every piece of firepower they could get.
Norah hesitated, having never touched a real firearm in her entire life.
She forced herself to pick up the heavy, cold weapon, holding it awkwardly against her chest.
Declan offered her a grim smile of approval, blood now dripping steadily from his chin.
He warned her that the gunfire would have alerted the rest of the hit squad waiting on the upper floors.
He pointed to a small blinking light that had just appeared on the control panel near the door.
Someone was manually overriding the braking system from the main security terminal.
The elevator suddenly lurched violently, dropping another terrifying foot before catching on the emergency brakes.
The grinding sound of stressed metal screamed through the dark shaft, vibrating through the soles of their shoes.
Declan cursed under his breath, realizing Marcus was planning to simply drop the cab all the way to the basement.
Norah looked up at the open hatch, knowing it was their only viable exit before the brakes completely failed.
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Suddenly, a thick, acrid gray smoke began pouring down through the opening, rapidly filling the small space.
Marcus had dropped a toxic smoke grenade into the shaft to flush them out or suffocate them in the dark.
