Chapter 2 - Shadows of the Past
I hammered my fist against the steel door, but it was completely useless.
Victor had trapped me in the west wing corridor with a dead man.
I quickly searched the fallen guard's tactical belt and found a spare radio.
"Daniel, can you hear me?" I whispered urgently into the microphone.
Static hissed in my ear for a terrifying second before Daniel’s voice broke through.
"Maya, where are you, and what the hell is going on?" he demanded.
"The west entrance guard is dead, and the door is barricaded," I explained quickly.
I heard Daniel curse under his breath as the panic of the situation set in.
"The man in the photo is Victor Hale, an international mercenary," I told him, deciding to reveal the truth.
"I am a former intelligence operative, and I was placed here because someone knew Victor was coming for you."
Daniel fell silent, clearly struggling to process that his entire life had become a battlefield.
"I need you to take Vanessa and lock yourselves in the panic room immediately," I ordered him.
"Vanessa is gone," Daniel replied, his voice echoing with betrayal.
"She slipped away in the confusion when we were moving the guests."
My stomach tied itself into a cold, hard knot.
Vanessa was not a victim in this game; she was an active player.
I used the guard's baton to smash the reinforced window of the corridor and climbed out into the gardens.
The rain was pouring down, turning the immaculate lawns of the Sterling estate into a slippery mud pit.
I sprinted toward the main driveway, hoping to intercept Vanessa before she could escape.
Through the heavy rain, I saw her sprinting toward a sleek black sports car.
She was clutching a heavy leather duffel bag that had definitely not been at the party.
"Vanessa, stop right there!" I shouted, raising my stolen radio like a weapon.
She froze, turning to look at me with eyes full of absolute hatred.
"You ruined everything, you stupid maid!" she screamed over the thunder.
She reached for the door handle of the sports car, desperate to flee the estate.
"Do not open that door!" I yelled, recognizing the faint red blinking light under the chassis.
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Vanessa ignored my warning and yanked the handle with all her strength.
A deafening explosion ripped through the night sky, throwing me backward onto the wet grass.
