Chapter 4 - The Fire Escape Protocol
The gunshots inside the confined space of the apartment were deafening, ringing in Alara’s ears like a concussive blast.
A sharp, agonized cry echoed from the hallway, followed by the heavy thud of a body crashing against the exterior wall. But the second set of footsteps didn't retreat. Instead, the handle of the door rattled violently, and a booted foot slammed against the wood, splintering the frame around the ruined lock.
"Through the window! Now!" Jack roared, firing two more suppression rounds through the upper panels of the door.
Alara didn't hesitate anymore. She sprinted into the bedroom alcove, scooped up both sleeping babies—wrapping them tightly in a thick wool blanket against her chest—and threw open the sliding window that led to the iron fire escape.
The cold night air rushed in, carrying the smell of rain and ozone.
"Jack, come on!" she yelled back over her shoulder.
He was backing away from the door, his pistol raised, tracking the smoke billowing from the bullet holes. The wooden door finally gave way with a thunderous crash, splintering inward. Two men in tactical black gear poured through the threshold, their suppressed rifles snapping upward.
Jack fired twice, dropping the lead operative, but the second man rolled hard to the side, returning fire. A chunk of plaster exploded inches from Jack’s head, and a spray of lead clipped his left shoulder, coating his gray sweatshirt in a fresh bloom of crimson.
"Go!" Jack shouted, firing his last round and diving backward toward the window.
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Alara scrambled out onto the rusted metal platform of the fire escape, the twins clutched desperately to her chest. The wind whipped around her, but she didn't stop, half-climbing, half-sliding down the steep, narrow steps toward the dark alley below.
Jack tumbled out of the window right behind her, his bad leg buckling as he hit the metal landing. He stifled a groan, grabbed the iron railing to haul himself up, and pushed Alara down the final flight of steps into the safety of the shadows.
