Chapter 5 - The Corrupt Authorities
The heavy, metallic footsteps echoing directly above our heads made my blood freeze instantly in my veins.
Someone was actively prying the emergency escape hatch open with a heavy steel crowbar.
Dust and small debris showered down onto our heads as a harsh beam of light pierced the darkness of the elevator car.
I shielded Lily with my body and fully prepared to fight to my absolute death against whoever was coming through that ceiling.
But instead of a mercenary, the pale, bleeding face of Malcolm Reyes appeared in the narrow opening above us.
"Give me your hands, quickly," Malcolm groaned painfully while reaching his uninjured arm down into the trapped car.
Mara helped lift me upward, ignoring my screams of intense pain as my fresh surgical stitches stretched to their absolute limits.
Malcolm grabbed my arms with surprising physical strength and hauled me forcefully onto the dusty roof of the elevator.
Mara quickly climbed up right behind me, easily carrying the heavy stolen radio and tactical flashlight.
Malcolm led us quietly through a narrow, dark maintenance shaft that ran parallel to the main elevator system.
He explained that he had successfully escaped my father in the hallway by locking himself inside a reinforced pharmacy vault.
He had managed to completely stop his own bleeding using combat bandages before navigating the ventilation system to find us.
We finally kicked open a heavy ventilation grate and tumbled out into the main lobby on the ground floor.
I immediately cried tears of joy when I saw two fully uniformed local police officers standing near the front reception desk.
I sprinted toward them as fast as my injured body would allow, screaming desperately for their immediate help and protection.
The taller officer turned around, placed his hand casually on his holstered weapon, and smiled warmly at me.
"Calm down, ma'am, you are completely safe now," the tall officer said while slowly reaching out to take Lily from my arms.
I eagerly stepped forward to hand over my child, truly believing that the long nightmare was finally over.
But Malcolm suddenly tackled me hard to the ground just as the officer aggressively lunged forward to grab my baby.
"They are working for your father," Malcolm yelled loudly while scrambling frantically across the slippery tile floor.
The two corrupt police officers immediately drew their service weapons and aimed them directly at our heads.
May you like
My mother slowly walked out from behind the reception desk, clapping her hands together in mock celebration.
"You really thought you could outsmart me in my own city, Trisha?" my mother laughed with pure, unadulterated evil.
