Chapter 6 - The Tunnel Standoff
The blinding glare of the tactical flashlight locked onto us like a physical cage, casting long, grotesque shadows against the damp concrete walls of the subway maintenance tunnel.
I clutched the heavy Glock in my trembling hands, my finger hovering just above the trigger guard, exactly where Sebastian had told me not to put it. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
“Drop the bag, Sebastian!” the amplified voice echoed again, bouncing off the curved ceiling and distorting into something inhuman.
Sebastian didn't drop the bag. Instead, his body shifted into a combat stance, his fingers tightening around the grip of his Sig Sauer as he shielded me with his broader frame.
“You’ve got the wrong tunnel, boys,” Sebastian called back, his voice steady, cold, and utterly devoid of fear. “If you want a war, you should’ve brought more men than a three-man scouting party.”
“Scouting party?” A harsh, mocking laugh cut through the flashlight beam. A figure stepped forward into the edge of the light, lowering his weapon just enough for us to see a jagged, pink scar running from his jawline down to his collarbone. It was a face I didn't recognize, but Sebastian’s whole body stiffened instantly.
“Kane,” Sebastian whispered, the name slipping out like a curse.
“Long time, boss,” Kane grinned, showing teeth stained in the dim red light. “The ghost sends his regards. And he specifically requested that we bring the girl back intact. The rest of you... well, recycling is expensive.”
Before Kane could finish his sentence, Sebastian didn't negotiate. He fired twice.
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The muzzle flashes lit up the dark tunnel in blinding succession, the deafening cracks of the gunshots bouncing off the concrete until our ears rang with pain.
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