Chapter 8 - The Crushing Blow
The heavy iron chandelier swung through the damp air with terrifying speed.
It slammed violently into Mister Vance's chest just as he released the flaming lighter from his hand.
The old man was thrown forcefully backward, completely knocked unconscious against the hard concrete wall.
The silver lighter clattered harmlessly onto the wet floor, the small flame instantly sputtering out in a puddle of muddy water.
The massive force of the swinging chandelier also completely shattered the rusted locking mechanism on the cage.
The heavy steel door swung open, and Claire immediately pushed Ethan out into the open basement.
Richard roared in sheer anger and aggressively raised his weapon, aiming it directly at Ethan's back.
Before he could pull the trigger, Claire lunged forward with the fierce strength of a desperate mother.
She slammed her full body weight into Richard, sending the loaded gun skidding across the concrete floor.
Richard struck her brutally across the face, knocking her hard into a stack of empty wooden pallets.
He scrambled frantically toward the dropped weapon, his desperate fingers inching closer to the cold steel handle.
Ethan knew his mother could not take another vicious hit from the large man.
He spotted a heavy red fire extinguisher hanging securely on a nearby concrete pillar.
Ethan ripped it from the bracket, pulled the metal safety pin, and sprayed a massive cloud of toxic white foam directly into Richard's face.
Richard screamed in agony, clawing blindly at his burning eyes as the chemical powder choked him.
Ethan dropped the heavy canister and quickly kicked the handgun far away into the dark shadows beneath the stairs.
He grabbed his mother's hand again, pulling her up from the cold floor.
"We have to get out of here right now," Ethan yelled over Richard's painful coughing.
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They sprinted toward the heavy metal basement doors leading up to the street level alleyway.
Just as Ethan pushed the heavy doors open, three blinding police spotlights hit them directly in the face.
